Avoiding or limiting certain foods can help reduce osteoarthritis pain.
- Osteoarthritis is a disease that affects nearly 10 million French people.
- It is due to destruction of the cartilage of one or more joints.
- To limit pain related to osteoarthritis, it is important to adopt a healthy lifestyle and avoid certain inflammatory foods.
This disease affects many French people… According to the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), nearly 10 million people are affected by osteoarthritis in the country. This condition can be defined as the destruction of the cartilage of one or more joints, manifested by intense pain.
Opt for a healthy diet
Currently, there is no cure for osteoarthritis. People who suffer from it can take medication to relieve the pain. However, to limit the progression of the disease, it is important to adopt a healthy lifestyle: physical activity, weight loss if necessary, varied and balanced diet, etc. Certain foods should be avoided to reduce pain.
Osteoarthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joints. To avoid pain, you must limit inflammatory foods as much as possible. This primarily concerns red meat and cold meats, very fatty foods rich in saturated fatty acids. It is also advisable to limit fried foods, which are high in fat and generally cooked in oils containing omega-6.
Limit pain by avoiding certain foods
“Omega-6 fatty acids promote inflammatory processes so that the body can, for example, fight viruses and bacteria or break down the end products of metabolism, omega-3 fatty acids inhibit these inflammatory processes, explains Kirsten Scheuer, nutritionist, at the Swiss League Against Rheumatism. In cases of osteoarthritis with inflammation, it is therefore advisable to limit the consumption of foods rich in omega-6 fatty acids and to prefer foods rich in omega-3.” Certain vegetable fats and oils (soy, sunflower, peanut, etc.) often contain large amounts of omega-6, so they must be limited.
“Olive oil contains up to 75% omega-9 fatty acids, keep on going Kirsten Scheuer. These are monounsaturated fatty acids. Omega-9 fatty acids have a neutral effect on inflammation in the body. This means that they do not promote inflammation and can therefore be consumed without problem in cases of osteoarthritis or other forms of rheumatism.”
You should also consume refined sugar in moderation because it no longer contains the nutrients from sugar cane and it promotes inflammation. Finally, in terms of drinks, it is advisable to reduce as much as possible – or even stop – drinking alcohol and to hydrate well throughout the day.
