Joint Nutrition

In 2012, the nutritional supplement industry made about $32 billion in revenue. Like many people with arthritis joint pain, you may have considered taking vitamins and supplements that promise to ease joint pain. And it’s true — the right ones could offer greater control of osteoarthritis (OA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) joint pain.

Your strength, stability, and ability to move come from your bones and the area where two bones come together, known as a joint. Maintaining healthy bones and joints requires proper nutrition. Certain nutrients help keep bones strong, and strong bones help keep joints healthy. Other types of nutrients possess anti-inflammatory properties, which reduce inflammation in joints to keep them moving smoothly. In addition, following a healthy diet helps you maintain a healthy weight. This is key because being overweight adds stress to bones and joints.

Your joints are built to withstand incredible forces. Within each is a capsule filled with synovial fluid that cushions and nourishes your cartilage. It’s your cartilage that allows bones to pass over and across each other. A poor diet, age, and genetics can cause cartilage cells to break apart, clog up the synovial fluid, and bring on an inflammatory reaction resulting in pain. Fortunately, you can shore up your joint health with certain key foods and supplements.