With more than 58 million people dealing with arthritis in the United States, it is no surprise that it is the leading cause of work disability. If you or a loved one were recently diagnosed with arthritis, know that you are not alone. Even if it is joint health you are dealing with this can slowly lead to arthritis.

Here’s a list of the top foods you can eat to help promote joint health and also fight arthritis. Keep reading to learn what foods you need to add to your shopping list.

1. Nuts

Nuts are full of zinc, vitamin E, Omega-3, fiber, calcium, and magnesium. All of these nutrients have anti-inflammatory effects that can really help people dealing with arthritis. Plus as an added bonus, nuts also help keep the heart healthy.

Some of the nuts you want to buy next time you are at the grocery store include hazelnuts, pecans, walnuts, peanuts, and pistachios. Something else to think about is that people that have rheumatoid arthritis are twice as likely to suffer from heart disease, so adding nuts to your diet is a smart move.

2. Ginger

Another food you want to add to your diet is ginger. Ginger helps reduce pain and inflammation which is helpful for joint issues and arthritis. You can opt to add ginger to your soups, teas, and salads, or eat it raw.

3. Berries

There are plenty of minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins in every serving of berries. Berries are a perfect way to decrease inflammation. You can even opt to eat freeze-dried fruit if you prefer or powdered fruit. Blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries are great berry options.

They will also help satisfy your sweet tooth in the process. If your knee pain is still intense after removing meat, dairy and wheat from your diet for at least 21 days, then it’s important to speak with a doctor. You might  need a meniscus surgery, or some other medical intervention.

4. Spinach

Spinach is full of nutrients that help decrease inflammation. The more you ingest spinach the lower your inflammation levels will be at your next doctor’s appointment.

Spinach has very high levels of kaempferol. This is an antioxidant that decreases the effects of inflammatory agents that are linked with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

5. Olive Oil

Olive oil has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce joint pain and it is believed that it might help stop the development of arthritis. This also helps improve physical function for those that are already dealing with rheumatoid arthritis.

Extra virgin olive oil is also full of heart-healthy fats and it has oleocanthal. Oleocanthal has properties that are similar to anti-inflammatory drugs. Plus when olive oil is combined with vitamin D it also protects against bone loss.

If you are not a huge fan of olive oil you can opt for either avocado oil, walnut oil, or safflower oil. Those also have plenty of health benefits and omega-3s to help reduce inflammation.

6. Broccoli

One of the healthiest foods that you can eat is broccoli. It has been associated with decreasing levels of inflammatory markers. Broccoli has something called sulforaphane which has anti-inflammatory properties. Sulforaphane also helps improve strength in the bones and it reduces the symptoms of osteoarthritis-related gait.

Ready to Learn More about Healthy Eating?

Check out our other articles about healthy eating with vegan health tips from doctors.