Wave: your health queries answered with College of Naturopathic Medicine

Dear Jacquie,
I have Osteoarthritis. My doctor says it is to be expected at my age – I’m 63. What can I do from a nutrition point of view?
TB, Lewes

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition. It starts when cartilage repair does not keep pace with degeneration.

Omitting certain foods and having others in abundance can help, so can taking the right supplements. It’s also important to keep your weight at the right level for your height, to take strain off the joints. I recommend you see a nutritional therapist for a specific personal plan, but here’s some general advice.

Eat:
• Good quality protein such as fresh tuna and salmon, chicken, turkey, and quinoa
• Orange coloured fruits and red-blue berries which have antioxidant compounds that protect cartilage, tendons and joints
• Pineapple, high in bromelain, which is highly anti-inflammatory and good for digestion
• Goji berries, which are nutrient dense and high in many vitamins and amino acids
• Vegetables including sweet potatoes, onions, carrots, broccoli, avocado, cabbage, celery and celery seeds, kale, parsley, asparagus, peas, green beans, green-leafy veg, okra, fennel, artichokes
• Caraway seeds, alfalfa, garlic, ginger and turmeric.
• Good quality oils for Omega 3 and 6 benefits, such as flaxseed, walnut or hemp oil. Pour oils on salads and vegetables. They may help decrease pain and swelling.
Avoid:
• Processed foods
• Eat lean red meat no more than once a week
• Tea and coffee.?Replace with anti inflammatory alternatives such as nettle, green, rosehip or rooibos tea or dandelion coffee
• Foods from the ‘nightshade’ family, including white potatoes, tomatoes, aubergine and peppers. These foods contain ‘solanine’, a neurotoxin which when broken down in the body may cause inflammation in the affected joints. A lot of people see a decrease in pain by omitting them. You could try for a three-month period and re-introduce them later one by one.

It’s important to keep active. Walking and yoga are great for flexibility and you should do a weight bearing exercise to lesson the muscle wastage that can accompany your condition. Remember to tell the instructor of your condition so advice will be given on the range of movements you can do.

If you have a general health query that you would like to raise here you can email Jacquie at healthqueriesforWave@naturopathy-uk.com. Please note that Jacquie cannot enter into individual correspondence unless your query is chosen for publication.

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If you would like to train to become a nutritional therapist, please book to attend CNM’s next open evening in Brighton on 01342 410505,
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