Rheumatic Pain Prefers Women: 8 Foods to Fight It Off

Introduction: Rheumatism is no longer just a condition of the elderly. A current trend is its increasing prevalence among younger individuals. Office workers, long exposed to air-conditioned environments, can have cold invade their joints, easily triggering arthritis. The most prominent symptom of rheumatism is joint pain on overcast and rainy days, which significantly impacts daily life and work. So, what foods are good for alleviating rheumatism?

1. White Wormwood

White wormwood, whose formal name is Artemisia scoparia, is recorded in the "Compendium of Materia Medica": its taste is bitter, its nature is neutral and slightly cool, and it is non-toxic. It is primarily indicated for expelling pathogenic factors of wind, dampness, cold, and heat. It treats jaundice from heat accumulation, and long-term use makes the body light, replenishes qi, and slows aging. It can also treat yellowing of the entire body, difficult urination, reduce head heat, eliminate hidden abdominal masses, and unblock joints to remove stagnant heat and cold damage.

2. Fish

Medical experts recommend that patients with rheumatism increase their intake of fatty acids and consume more foods rich in omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids, because omega-3 helps regulate blood lipids and reduce various types of inflammation. Fish, soybeans, and nuts are all rich in omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids.

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3. Olive Oil

A study published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found that people who regularly consume extra virgin olive oil are less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis. Research indicates that olive oil inhibits complex chemicals that trigger inflammation. When fighting inflammation, choose extra virgin olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil is cold-pressed olive oil with the highest nutritional content.

4. Black Beans

Black beans have the effects of tonifying the kidneys and nourishing yin, strengthening the spleen and draining dampness, and expelling wind and relieving bi-syndrome. They are suitable for rheumatoid arthritis pain, muscle spasms in the four limbs, and insufficiency of the liver and kidneys. The effect is even better when used together with coix seed and chaenomeles.

5. Ginger

Ginger is a natural analgesic. In recent years, ginger has gained attention for relieving pain and assisting in the treatment of arthritis. In fact, traditional Indian medicine has long used ginger to treat rheumatism and arthritis.

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6. Ricefield Eel

The meat of the ricefield eel has a sweet and warm nature and enters the liver, spleen, and kidney meridians. According to the "Compendium of Materia Medica," ricefield eel has the effects of nourishing blood, replenishing qi, reducing inflammation, disinfecting, and expelling dampness and rheumatism. It is used in folk medicine to treat conditions such as deficiency cough, damp-heat body itching, hemorrhoids, bleeding hemorrhoids, and deafness.

7. Strawberries

Strawberries have a good therapeutic effect on neuralgia and rheumatic diseases. For joint pain, it is recommended to eat more foods rich in vitamin C, such as strawberries, oranges, and kiwis, because vitamin C can reduce joint wear and tear and promote the synthesis of collagen, which is an important component of cartilage and bone.

8. Whole Grains

A study published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found that people who regularly eat whole grains like oats, brown rice, and barley have lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in their bodies, which is a marker of reduced inflammation in the body. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, CRP levels rise rapidly when pain worsens, and CRP is sometimes also used to track the disease or monitor treatment response.

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