Foods That Help Alleviate Arthritis Pain or Symptoms

Living with the pain of arthritis can be life altering. While there is no diet that will cure arthritis, recent studies suggest that there are several foods that can help alleviate the symptoms associated with arthritis pain.

1. Fish

Consider increasing your consumption of fish with higher amounts of omega 3s including mackerel, lake trout, herring, and bluefin tuna. These range anywhere from 2.6 to 1.6 milligrams in a 3.5 ounce cooked portion. Comparatively, fish like sole, snapper, and swordfish only have 0.1 to 0.2 milligrams per 3.5 ounces.

Related:7 Foods Packed With Vitamin C

2. Tart Cherries

You may be tempted to satisfy your sweet tooth with a regular sweet cherry, but for help with arthritis pain, tart cherries are best. In fact, in a 2013 article in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, researchers found that participants who drank two 8-ounce bottles of tart cherry juice each day for six weeks straight had an improvement in pain and their physical function.

To experience similar pain relief as these study participants, aim to either drink tart cherry juice daily or eat at least ten cherries a day. If you don’t love cherries, you can opt for raspberries or blueberries, as they have been shown to have similar positive effects.

3. Vitamin C

Research suggests that eating foods high in vitamin C can slow down the painful effects of osteoarthritis. These include citrus fruit, kiwis, strawberries, tomatoes, bell peppers, pineapple, cantaloupe, and broccoli. Not only are these products loaded with vitamin C, but they are also high in antioxidants, which may help combat the symptoms associated with arthritis.

4. Turmeric

Turmeric, a yellow powder that is made from the turmeric plant, contains a compound called curcumin. Recent studies suggest that curcumin modifies immune system responses and has anti-inflammatory properties.

If you are wondering how to get more turmeric in your diet, look no further than going out for Indian cuisine every so often. Indian chefs use turmeric to spice up most curries. If you don’t like Indian food, you can also buy the spice and add it to smoothies.

Consider these options as additional ways to help with the sides effects of arthritis.