5 Foods That Keep Joints Healthy

At Southern Maryland Foot & Ankle, we encourage our patients to take a whole body approach to health. Exercise, adequate amounts of sleep and good nutrition all contribute to good health and that includes your feet. As researchers break down the foods we eat, they are finding that certain nutrients and enzymes can benefit specific conditions. Here are 5 foods that have been found to help increase joint function. With over 30 joints in each foot, adding more of these foods to your diet can have a very positive effect on your feet.

1. Walnut oil: Walnut oil is high in omega- 3 fatty acids, which have been shown to reduce inflammation. Walnut oil actually has 10 times the amount of omega-3s that olive oil has. Try using it in place of your regular oil in salad dressings.

2. Broccoli: This vegetable packs a double joint health punch—it’s high in vitamin C, which helps decrease inflammation and also contains sulforaphane, a compound that has been shown to prevent or slow the progress of osteoarthritis.

3. Oatmeal: C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein found in your blood that is a marker of inflammation tied into rheumatoid arthritis (and also heart disease and diabetes). Whole grains help lower levels of CRP.

4. Cherries: Researchers have found that patients who eat more cherries have a decreased frequency of gout attacks. Gout is an acute inflammation of the big toe. Cherries contain anthocyanins which have an anti-inflammatory property.

5. Green Tea: Full of antioxidants, green tea contains two that are of particular benefit to your joints. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate has actually been shown to block the production of the molecules that cause joint damage in patients that have rheumatoid arthritis and polyphenols reduce inflammation and slow cartilage destruction.

Of course, healthy eating is not a substitute for medical treatment. If you are experiencing pain, swelling or other symptoms in your toes, feet or ankles, you should schedule an appointment at either our Clinton or Waldorf office. Our board certified foot and ankle surgeon, Dr. Larry Hotchkiss will provide a prompt and accurate diagnosis of your condition and determine the best treatment plan for you.