Foods that Fight Inflammation

02 Apr Foods that Fight Inflammation

Did you know that there are over 30 joints in each foot? One of the biggest causes of pain and discomfort in your feet is when joints get inflamed. At Great Neck Family Foot Care we see this happen due to arthritis, injury, and other medical conditions. When your foot is in pain, you should make an appointment at our conveniently located Nassau County office so that one of our podiatrists, Dr. Alec Hochstein or Dr. Diana Gagliano can properly diagnose and treat the cause of your discomfort.

You can also help protect your joints through what you eat. Increasing the amounts of the following foods in your diet can increase joint health and decrease inflammation:

Garlic—a compound known as diallyl disulphine contained in garlic and also leeks and onions, is believed to work against enzymes in the cells that damage cartilage.

Citrus Fruits—vitamin C has been shown to help prevent inflammatory osteoarthritis.

Fish—choose ones high in omega-3 fatty acids, a proven defender against inflammation: mackerel, salmon, tuna and herring. If you’re not a fish fan, you can also get your omega-3’s from soybeans.

Green tea—full of antioxidants called polyphenols, these have been shown to slow cartilage destruction and reduce inflammation.

Berries—recent studies have found that inflammation-fighting anthocyanins contained in cherries, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries, reduce the incidence of gout attacks—an arthritic condition that affects the big toe.

Olive oil—contains oleocanthal, shown to have similar properties to non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs.

At Great Neck Family Foot Care, we want our patients to take a proactive approach to foot and ankle health. A healthy lifestyle is the foundation of a healthy body. Your feet will benefit from good eating habits just like the rest of your body. If you have questions about other ways to take care of your feet and prevent medical podiatric problems, call our Great Neck office at (516) 482-5999. And remember, if you can’t get to us, we’ll come to you: Great Neck Family Foot Care offers home visits.