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Healthy Diet Plans >>  Diet Profile >>  Facts About Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis Disease And Osteoarthritis Treatment

Osteoarthritis is one of the most prevalent types of arthritis. It is a degenerative joint disease which affects cartilage- the slippery tissue covering the end of bones in joints. This degeneration causes bones to rub against each other leading to pain, swelling and loss of motion in the joint.

Fast facts about Osteoarthritis:
  • The most affected joints are weight bearing joints like the hips, the knees and the spine. It can also affect fingers and joints which have undergone trauma previously.
  • The prevalence of osteoarthritis is mostly seen in older people, but can affect people of all ages.
  • More men are susceptible to osteoarthritis until the age of 55 years than women, but more women over the age of 55 develop osteoarthritis than men.
  • Risk factors for osteoarthritis include age, heredity, obesity, overuse/injury to the joint and muscle weakness.
  • By the year 2030, about 20 percent of American will be at risk of developing this disease.
    Making the right lifestyle modifications can help to prevent the onset of osteoarthritis.

Diet And Tips For Treating Osteoarthritis

  • Maintaining a healthy weight will go along way in preventing and managing arthritis.
  • The main focus for arthritis is to exclude foods that might cause inflammation and aggravate the pain and swelling in the joints.
  • Omega 3 fatty acids prohibit the production of leukotrienes, which are inflammatory compounds. Oily fish, nuts, flaxseeds and cod liver oil are all good sources of omega 3 fatty acids which can reduce the frequency of flare-ups that may cause painful tenderness in joints.
  • Certain foods such as potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants and peppers have been linked to increased symptoms of osteoarthritis; however, the results vary from person to person. You can try an elimination diet, whereby you exclude one food at a time to try and identify foods which worsen your symptoms.
  • Many people find that the consumption of orange juice triggers osteoarthritis pain. Excluding this from your diet may help to decrease the occurrence of symptoms.
While many of the above tips may help you to manage osteoarthritis better, the only proven connection between diet and osteoarthritis is that excess bodyweight puts you at a much greater risk of developing the disease. Excess weight puts a lot of load on the joints in the body and thus they are prone to wearing out much earlier than in normal weight individuals. A healthy balanced diet and regular exercise will keep osteoarthritis at bay!
Submitted on January 16, 2014