Experts warn more and more young people are developing arthritis - a condition caused by inflammation of joints that increases stiffness and pain.
"Arthritis has more than 140 variations rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout and psoriatic arthritis," Dr Pankaj Garg, an orthopaedician based in Chandigarh, told a news portal.
Even though osteoarthritis is often considered to be a senior citizen issue, rheumatoid arthritis is affecting people in their 20s. Currently, there is no cure. Inflammation and pain-reducing medications are primarily used to treat the health condition.
However, certain foods can help strengthen bones and tackle inflammation. "Patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are encouraged to eat nutritious well-balanced meals like everyone else. Their meals should have something from each food group so that it is balanced. Plenty of grains, vegetables and fruits should be included. Diet with low fat and sugar is recommended," Delhi-based nutritionist and wellness coach, Avni Kaul, founder, NutriActivania, told a news portal.
Here are some foods that you can incorporate in your diet to tackle the condition:
Fish: Certain kinds of fish like salmon and tuna contain inflammation-fighting properties like omega-3 fatty acids. "There are two kinds of inflammatory proteins that cause inflammation of joints - C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6," Kaul explained in the report. Adding," Having fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids reduces the amount of these in the body and thereby reduces joint swelling and pain, duration of morning stiffness and disease activity among patients of rheumatoid arthritis. Those who don't eat fish should consumer 700-1000mg of fish oil daily."
Nuts: Nuts contain high amounts of inflammation-fighting elements. "And though they’re relatively high in fat and calories, studies show noshing on nuts promotes weight loss because their protein, fibre and monounsaturated fats are satiating," Kaul revealed.Consume a mix of nuts like walnuts,pistachios and almonds.
Fruits: Red and purple fruits like cherries, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries contain anthocyanins that have an anti-inflammatory effect. They also have a rich amount of antioxidants that help strengthen the body's natural defence system.
