Tendons are tissues that help connect your bones to your muscles. A breakdown in the tendons can result in pain, inflammation and reduced range of motion. Tendons are made up of collagen and protein, and low levels of these two substances can result in inflammation and injury, according to TendonitisExpert.com.
Eating foods that help improve your connective tissue can protect you from sports- and non-sports-related tendon injuries and improve your overall quality of life. Whether you're suffering from an injury or just trying to keep your bones and connective tissue healthy, these foods could be right for you. Be sure to talk to your doctor if you're suffering from connective tissue pain to be sure that your problems aren't the result of a more serious condition.
Bone Broth
Bone broth is made by boiling the marrow of beef thigh bones in a pot of water for hours to infuse the water with the nutrients in the bone marrow, according to TendonitisExpert.com. This broth can be used to make soups or stews that are high in the nutrients your body may be lacking, such as calcium, phosphorous, silicone, magnesium and collagen. On the website Essential Bone Broth, nurse Kerry Knox notes that bone broth is a nutritional supplement that has numerous health benefits. See Resources for a link to a bone broth recipe.
Oranges/Orange Juice
Vitamin C is a necessary vitamin for the manufacture of collagen in our bodies, according to the micronutrient information center at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. Collagen makes up a large percentage of our tendons and other connective tissue, and a reduction in collagen can lead to a breakdown in our connective tissue.
Researchers at the Oregon research center note that the USDA recommends that most should take in between 75 and 90 milligrams per day of vitamin C based on their ages, and even more if you're pregnant or a smoker. A six-ounce cup of orange juice contains between 62 and 93 mg of vitamin C, so drink a glass of orange juice every day to help keep your tendons strong.
Fish
The benefits of omega-3 fatty acids are being acknowledged nationwide, but often news reports fail to tell us why we need to consume them. Omega-3 atty acids fight elements and enzymes in our bodies that bread down collagen and increase inflammation. One condition that can result from tissue and tendon breakdown is arthritis, and a 2006 study published in the Journal of Rheumatology notes that fish oil can help treat the breakdown in your connective tissue. Fish oil is also high in vitamins A and D, which help keep your bones and connective tissue strong, according to the Nutrition Research Center. Check with your doctor or nutritionist to determine how much fish you should eat to get the right amounts of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet.
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