Simple fruits contain vitamins and nutrients that joints lack.
Joint pain often intensifies in the cold months. It is difficult to control, as it has many causes. However, medical expert Dr. Syed Nadim Abbas from the Dr SNA clinic named three simple foods that can help minimize flare-ups, Express reported.
Dr. Syed explained that certain foods can provide nutritional boosts to the joints. Of course, they won't turn back time, but incorporating these three foods into your daily diet will provide a powerful combination of vitamin C, quercetin, potassium, and antioxidants. This will help keep cartilage healthy, reduce inflammation, and strengthen bones.
Dr. Syed noted that citrus fruits, such as oranges, are rich in vitamin C. The body needs it to produce collagen—a protein responsible for maintaining the strength and flexibility of cartilage, ligaments, and bones.
"When cartilage wears down, joints experience stiffness, creaking, and pain. Vitamin C helps the body repair and maintain this tissue, and it also acts as an antioxidant, eliminating some damage caused by inflammation and daily wear and tear," he said.
The doctor added that one orange a day is a cheap and easy way to replenish the supply of joint-friendly vitamin C.
The next recommendation from Dr. Syed is an apple. He said that apples are rich in a plant compound called quercetin, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
"This helps soothe some minor inflammation that can slowly damage your joints over time," he noted.
Of course, an apple won't magically cure arthritis, but it is a beneficial part of a joint-friendly diet. Therefore, doctors consider apples a smart and easy way to continue providing your body with helpful anti-inflammatory compounds.
Equally important for the body is to regularly consume bananas. Dr. Syed said that bananas contain potassium. This mineral helps improve bone health, lower blood pressure, and maintain healthy muscles.
"Stronger bones and better muscle function provide your joints with a more stable and supportive environment, which can make movements easier and more comfortable. They also contain a bit of vitamin C and other antioxidants, which complement the overall support for joints," he said.
