Mailbag! Diet Hack Slashes Arthritis Pain 61%

By Natalie Moore Posted June 1, 2017

Dear Living Well Daily Reader,

You’ve got questions…

We’ve got answers!

Arthritis pain, especially in the knees, can be one of the worst parts of aging. And it can make doing the things you love nearly impossible.

And the worst part — your doctor only offers risky drugs and excruciating replacement surgeries to stop your pain.

Fortunately, a new study published in The BMJ (British Medical Journal) shows there’s an easy diet hack that can help you beat knee pain without ever stepping foot in your doctor’s office.

Let’s dive in…

Hi Natalie, 

I have arthritis in both my knees. I’ve tried every painkiller out there and I can’t seem to get lasting relief. A friend recently told me that sometimes changing your diet could help ease your arthritis pain. Do you know if this is true? If so, what kind of changes might help?

Thanks!

James K. 

Great question, James. Lots of folks suffer from arthritis pain.

And while you’ve probably heard that everything from going gluten-free to dropping dairy can help with arthritis, there’s one surefire way to slash your knee pain up to 61%.

I’m talking about fiber.

For years, researchers have known that fiber helps fight obesity and reduce inflammation — two of the key drivers behind arthritis.

Because of these powers, researchers recently decided to test fiber’s powers against arthritis pain.

For the study, scientists spent nine years tracking the medical records and eating habits of more than 1,200 older folks who were already suffering from or were at risk for knee osteoarthritis.

After crunching all the numbers, the scientists found something incredible…

Folks who ate the most fiber had a 61% lower risk of experiencing knee pain, swelling and stiffness from osteoarthritis.

This study focused on knee osteoarthritis, but it would make sense that upping your fiber intake could help quell arthritis in other part of your body.

Experts believe fiber is so effective because of its prebiotic properties. Prebiotics help promote good gut bacteria growth, which in turn helps reduce levels of inflammation.

You can get more fiber in your diet by eating foods like beans, leafy greens and root veggies.

A good place to start is with a high-fiber cookbook like The Essential High Fiber Cookbook: 40 High Fiber Foods to Make Your Mouth Water. Click here to check it out. 

Live well,

Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily

Ed. Note: Please send your feedback: feedback@livingwelldaily.com – and click here to like us on Facebook.

Sources

^[1] Older adults might be able to stave off arthritis knee pain with fiber

^[2] Fiber-rich diet linked to lowered risk of painful knee osteoarthritis

Written By Natalie Moore

Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.

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