All Natural Foods That Help With Arthritis

In healthy joints, thin synovial membranes and smooth cartilage cover bone surfaces, which are cushioned by a layer of fluid. Problems with any of these areas may result in arthritis, a disease characterized by joint inflammation, pain and stiffness. In rheumatoid arthritis, an abnormal immune response to the synovial membrane causes cartilage to break down, limiting mobility and damaging joints. Natural foods are part of a healthy diet that may alleviate arthritis symptoms, but nutritional therapies should not be used as a substitute for regular medical care.

Ginger

Add ginger to your meals to reap the benefits of powerful antioxidant substances known as gingerols, which may have anti-inflammatory effects. Nutritionist Phyllis Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," states that gingerols inhibit the formation of prostaglandins, hormones associated with inflammation. Research conducted by the University of Arizona tested two ginger extracts on rats with rheumatoid arthritis, during both an acute phase of joint swelling and a chronic phase of joint inflammation. The animals were given either isolated gingerols or a more complex extract containing essential oils and other compounds that are found naturally in dried ginger root. The experiment, published in the March 2009 "Journal of Natural Products," found that the complex extract was more effective than gingerols alone in reducing acute swelling and preventing damage to joints associated with chronic rheumatoid arthritis.

Sulfur-rich Foods

To obtain dietary sulfur, a mineral that is needed to repair and rebuild bone, cartilage and connective tissue, eat more asparagus, eggs, garlic and onions. In a review of studies conducted by the University of Southern California at Los Angeles, researchers found that sulfur deficiency weakens cartilage and that sulfur-containing dietary supplements, such as chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine sulfate and methylsulfonylmethane, may be useful in the treatment of joint diseases.

Sulfur also aids calcium absorption and facilitates the breakdown and elimination of drugs by the liver. The UCLA study pointed out that the breakdown of acetaminophen, a medication used to treat joint pain, requires large amounts of sulfur. The findings were published in the November 2007 issue of "Nutrition and Metabolism."

Cherries

Your favorite pie filling may relieve arthritis symptoms. Balch states that eating 20 tart red cherries per day, either fresh or frozen, helps alleviate pain and inflammation. At the Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Beijing, China, researchers tested compounds called anthocyanins, which are derived from cherries, on rats with rheumatoid arthritis. In animals given the largest dose of anthocyanins, paw swelling was significantly less severe than in untreated rats. The study was published in the September-October 2006 issue of the "Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology."

Fish

Lower your cholesterol and reduce inflammation by consuming three or more servings per week of coldwater fatty fish, such as salmon. Fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, a healthy type of unsaturated fat. In studies analyzed by Australian researchers, fish oil supplements were found to reduce joint tenderness in long-term cases of rheumatoid arthritis. Omega-3 fats may also lower the risk of cardiovascular side effects caused by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are used to treat arthritis pain. The review was published in the August 2010 issue of "The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society."