ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — According to the CDC, more than 58 million people in the United States have arthritis, and it’s the leading cause of work disability. But what if there is a way to prevent your bones and joints from deteriorating? You may not need to spend money on expensive supplements, as you may be able to strengthen your bones and joints with what’s already in your kitchen.
Climbing stairs, lifting and even walking – living with bone and joint pain can make doing everyday tasks difficult. But did you know, Certain foods can boost your bone and joint health? Take, for example, extra virgin olive oil – a classic staple of the Mediterranean diet.
Elizabeth Eckstrom, MD, MPH, Geriatrician at Oregon Health and Science University says, “The Mediterranean diet is a great diet with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains.”
A study from Spain found that men who followed the Mediterranean Diet, which included virgin olive oil, had more bone formation than men who ate just a low-fat diet. Also, eating five to six prunes daily can prevent bone loss for postmenopausal women, reducing their risk for osteoporosis.
When it comes to joint health, one medium-sized bell pepper has more than a day’s worth of vitamin C, which makes it great for joints since vitamin C is an inflammation-fighting antioxidant. And milk doesn’t just do your bones good, but your joints as well.
Doctor Eckstrom says, “Some people tell me, you know, ‘I’m 75, I’m 80, I haven’t done these things all my life, what good is it going to do to start now?’ and I say, those are the people who have the most to gain.”
It’s never too late to focus on your bone and joint health.
Things to avoid for strong bones and joints include salt, soda, and caffeine. You don’t have to eliminate these completely from your diet, but limiting your intake will reduce the risk to your bones and joints.
Contributors to this news report include: Milvionne Chery, Producer; Roque Correa, Editor and Videographer.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/factsheets/arthritis.htm
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22855341/, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26902092/
https://www.livestrong.com/article/13722374-bone-health-foods/
FOODS TO BOOST BONE AND JOINT HEALTH
REPORT #3094
BACKGROUND: Arthritis is a general term for conditions that affect the joints, tissues around the joint, and other connective tissues. In the United States, an estimated 58.5 million adults have arthritis, and there are more than 100 types. Specific symptoms vary depending on the type of arthritis, but usually include joint pain and stiffness. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis. It occurs most frequently in the hands, hips, and knees. Certain risk factors make it more likely that a person will develop arthritis. There is no cure for arthritis, but it can be treated and managed. Some treatments include medication, non-drug therapies such as physical therapy or patient education, and in some cases, surgery.
(Source: https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/arthritis-fast-facts.html)
KEEPING BONES HEALTHY: Bones play many roles in the body such as providing structure, protecting organs, anchoring muscles, and storing calcium. When you’re young, the body makes new bone faster than it breaks down old bone, and bone mass increases. Most people reach their peak bone mass around age 30. After that, bone remodeling continues, but you lose slightly more bone mass than you gain. There are a few ways to prevent or slow bone loss like including plenty of calcium in your diet. Good sources of calcium include dairy products, almonds, broccoli, kale, canned salmon with bones, sardines, and soy products. Another way to slow bone loss is getting vitamin D in foods like salmon, trout, whitefish, and tuna. Additionally, mushrooms, eggs, and fortified foods, such as milk and cereals, are good sources of vitamin D. Weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, jogging, and climbing stairs, can help build strong bones and slow bone loss. Finally, avoid smoking and drinking. Women should avoid more than one alcoholic drink each day, while men should avoid drinking more than two alcoholic drinks a day.
(Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/bone-health/art-20045060)
NEW TEST FOR OSTEOPOROSIS RISK: Researchers have developed a biosensor that could someday help identify those most at risk for osteoporosis using less than a drop of blood. The most common technique used to measure changes in bone mineral density (BMD) is not sufficiently sensitive to detect BMD loss until a significant amount of damage has already occurred. Several genomic studies, however, have reported genetic variations known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with increased risk for osteoporosis. Using this information, researchers wanted to develop a portable electrochemical device that would allow them to quickly detect five of these SNPs in finger-prick blood samples in a step toward early diagnosis. The researchers say that the device offers great potential for use at point-of-care settings, rather than being limited to a centralized laboratory. Although the device does not diagnose osteoporosis itself, it might help physicians identify people whom they should monitor more closely.
(Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230719112646.htm)
* For More Information, Contact:
Elizabeth Eckstrom
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