Certain foods can reduce or worsen joint inflammation

While our bodies can’t “talk” to us, they do communicate with us everyday. Their language is one of physical sensations, conveying pleasant feelings (energetic, rested) and not-so-pleasant feelings (achy, feverish). However, we tend to listen to our bodies more when they are sending the not-so-pleasant messages since these get in the way of living comfortably.
One such message is that of inflammation, our body tissue’s self-healing response to harm or irritation. When we receive this message from our body it’s helpful to understand that the swelling (often accompanied by pain) is a sign (or symptom) alerting us to an underlying issue, but it is not the issue itself.
Inflammation can send a variety of messages of varying intensity, all the way from, “Hey, there’s a sliver in your finger and I’m trying to get it out,” to “Hey, there’s not enough cartilage left between these joints!” When the sliver is removed, healing advances and inflammation subsides. But if the irritant is not removed (or cannot be removed), inflammation’s message may continue to remind you that something is amiss.
We are often motivated to suppress the messages of inflammation and pain as quickly and easily as possible, as is the case with one of today’s most prevalent inflammatory conditions, arthritis: the inflammation of a joint. We commonly suppress these messages by taking prescription medication or over-the-counter drugs.
While in many cases taking medication will alleviate pain and swelling, in doing so we can be lulled into believing (and feeling) that the underlying issue has been fixed. But the situation is more akin to your home’s fire alarm going off. Upon hearing the high-pitched alarm you wouldn’t just shut it off and go about your day; you would find out what set it off, and if there was a fire, you would want to know what started it.
Turning to medications can be somewhat automatic, as drugs can provide some relief; but we must remember that drugs are powerful chemicals. Used in the short-term, medications can be very helpful in trauma or life-saving situations. But, in most cases, regular use over many years may result in unpleasant side effects.
Maintaining healthy joints or alleviating the pain and inflammation from existing arthritis (depending on the type of arthritis and extent of damage), is dependent on many factors, such as normal wear and tear; past fractures, injury or disease; and being overweight. Our daily diet also plays a large part in keeping joints healthy and pain-free, just as it does with all other systems of the body. The type of fuel (food and drink) we put into our body is directly correlated with how we look and feel.
A low-fat, plant-based diet provides a superior foundation for the human body. When our body is forced to run on foods and beverages that are not health-promoting, especially meat and dairy products, problems ensue; if not immediately, eventually. High overall protein intake from these two food groups can have harmful effects on our health, and have proven to increase the risks associated with inflammatory arthritis. Protein, when it comes to us via animal foods, also brings along with it high saturated fat, cholesterol and, if commercially processed, unknown chemicals.
One food that has been reported to be especially helpful with arthritis and inflammation is ginger, as it contains anti-inflammatory compounds called “gingerols.” Some people have experienced a reduction in pain and improvement in mobility with regular ginger consumption. (Powdered ginger is said to work, but fresh ginger is even better.) Foods rich in flavonoids (cherries, blueberries, blackberries and strawberries) are also helpful, as are sulfur-containing foods (garlic, onions, Brussels sprouts and cabbage). Nightshade foods (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant and peppers), however, have been shown to worsen arthritis symptoms in certain people. Unearthing any food allergies can also be helpful to arthritis sufferers.
Self-healing can seem overwhelming and confusing at times. But keep in mind that the body—which comes equipped with its own internal healing intelligence—is the best healer of itself. When we remove the causes of our discomfort, such as a poor diet, drugs, stress, lack of exercise, and support our body with a foundation for overall health, by way of a nutritious diet, ample rest and exercise, the maximum amount of energy for healing becomes available to us.

Cathy Fisher is a certified nutrition educator and resides in Glen Ellen. The Sun welcomes feedback from our readers. Please address comments and questions to [email protected].