Arthritis is a common chronic disease. According to statistics, half of people over 50 in our country suffer from arthritis, and among those over 65, 90% of women and 80% of men have arthritis.
The total number of arthritis patients is estimated to be over 100 million, and the number is still increasing. So, in addition to conventional treatment, what else should arthritis patients pay attention to in their diet?
Recently, the American magazine "Reader's Digest" recommended seven daily foods for us, along with simple and easy-to-follow recipes. Everyone might want to try them more, and perhaps there will be unexpected good results.
Soy products
Soy products such as tofu and douchi are often placed in the most prominent positions on the health food shelves. They are rich in soy isoflavones, vitamin E, and calcium. Besides protecting the cardiovascular system, their bone-strengthening effect can be comparable to that of milk.
Many Asians have lactose intolerance, so soy milk has become the best substitute for milk.
Sweet peppers
A green sweet pepper contains twice the daily required amount of vitamin C for the human body, while red and yellow sweet peppers contain even more vitamin C. In addition, sweet peppers are also an excellent source of vitamin B6 and folic acid, which can effectively relieve the pain caused by arthritis.
Sweet peppers need to be stored away from oxygen and at low temperatures. You can put sweet peppers and other fruits in a blender to make fruit and vegetable juice, or mix them with other vegetables to make a delicious salad.
Bananas
They are the fruit richest in potassium and are also a food that can treat arthritis. Bananas are not only rich in vitamin B6, folic acid, and vitamin C, but are also easy to digest and a major source of soluble dietary fiber in people's diets.
Bananas can over-ripen easily, so storing unripe bananas in a light-proof bag can extend their shelf life. Also, the storage temperature for bananas cannot be too low, so they are not suitable for refrigeration.
Ripe bananas can be made into a drink: take one banana, one kiwi, some berries, add an appropriate amount of milk and ice cubes, and blend in a blender for a few minutes. A nutritious and arthritis-treating drink is ready.
Shrimp
Shrimp is one of the most popular seafoods and one of the main dietary sources of vitamin D. 90 grams of shrimp can provide 30% of the daily required vitamin D, which is more than the vitamin D content in a glass of milk.
In addition, shrimp also contains omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, iron, and vitamin B12.
Shrimp spoils easily, so it must be eaten fresh. If you can't finish it at once, you should freeze the fresh shrimp in the refrigerator as soon as possible, which can preserve it for 6 months.
Green tea
This mild astringent tea is very rich in antioxidants—tea polyphenols. Research shows that green tea can effectively relieve rheumatoid arthritis.
In one study, scientists induced arthritis in mice and then treated them. The results showed that green tea could reduce the incidence of joint pain by 50%.
When brewing green tea, if the time is too short, the beneficial substances cannot be fully extracted; if the time is too long, the tea is easy to become bitter. Therefore, it is most suitable to brew with boiling water for 3-5 minutes.
Some scientists also pointed out that tea bags may be more effective than regular tea because the tea leaves are ground, which is more conducive to the dissolution of nutrients.
Salmon
It is the most important source of healthy fats and is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Moreover, it is not harmed by mercury poisoning like other near-sea fish.
In addition, salmon is also rich in calcium, vitamin D, and folic acid. Besides treating arthritis, it can also protect the cardiovascular system, reduce thrombosis, repair damaged arteries, and lower blood pressure.
When buying salmon, choose one with firm, elastic flesh, bright eyes, and no turbidity. To avoid adding too many calories, it is best to cook salmon with low-fat methods, such as baking, boiling, or steaming. You can also add seasonings like cilantro and thyme.
Cheese
All varieties of cheese are very rich in calcium and have a good protective effect on bones, muscles, and joint tissues.
In addition, cheese is also an important source of vitamin B6 and folic acid. Slicing hard cheese and stewing it with dishes in a pot, or using soft cheese to mix with salads are both good choices.