Arthritis can really slow you down and cause a lot of pain and discomfort. These five tips can help reduce your risk.
Have a drink
As strange as it may seem, a study in the British Medical Journal found that women who consumed more than three alcoholic drinks a week, over a 10-year period, reduced their risk of rheumatoid arthritis by about half.
Ban the beef
Protein-rich foods such as red meat, oily fish and even certain vegetables (spinach, mushrooms, beans) are high in compounds called purines. These can make gout flare up by almost as much a five times more than eating foods lower in purines.
A healthy balance
There’s no need to become super fit and lean, but a healthy balance of weight and exercise eases the strain on joints and lessens arthritic pain. Exercise strengthens muscles and joints, which can help you maintain flexibility and decrease the risk of falls.
Get spicy
Curcumin, which is used in many Indian dishes and gives the spice turmeric its trademark bright yellow colour, has anti-inflammatory properties which may help ease arthritis pain. It’s also been found to be useful in promoting brain health which can help reduce the onset of dementia.
Up the anti
Or antioxidants to be precise. Cherries contain anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants with pain-fighting properties, which can lower the chance of an attack of gout.
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