Omega 3 for Joint Inflammation & Joint Pain
As we age, no matter how perfectly, there are little aches and pains that creep into our daily lives. Some hurt more than others. Truth be told, muscle and joint pain can start at any age and are especially prevalent in people who have suffered some form of injury. Whether you are 15 or 51, finding ways to relieve joint pain can be challenging.
While the list of pharmaceutical products for pain is long, the list for natural alternatives to treat pain is far more manageable. Dietary change is one of the simplest and most effective ways to start to relieve chronic join pain, especially pain caused by inflammation. In particular, the implementation of Omega 3 fatty acids into a person’s diet is an excellent way to decrease chronic joint pain.
Omega 3 has been widely noted for its health benefits and in particular its use as a pain reliever. Additional benefits include reduced risk of heart disease and stroke and it is even noted to reduce symptoms associated with hypertension, depression, joint pain, and rheumatoid problems. Such claims can leave one wondering just how Omega 3 helps with all these things. One way research has attributed Omega 3 to such success is that Omega 3s encourage the production of body chemicals that help to control inflammation in the joints, the bloodstream and in the body’s tissues.
While all the benefits of Omega 3 are great news for people suffering from joint pain and other ailments, it is not the easiest vitamin to get into your body. Our bodies do not produce Omega 3. Omega 3 is only absorbed through the foods and supplements that we ingest. Additionally, Omega 3 fatty acids are a collection of several nutrients rather than just a single nutrient and the absorption of Omega 3 into our bodies depends largely on the source.
There are Omega 3 supplements available, but the absorption rate of supplements is much lower than making dietary changes to include foods that are naturally high in Omega 3s. Either approach will supply your body with these necessary essentials, but introducing foods high in Omega 3 into your diet is the best way to start getting relief from joint pain at the quickest rate. Coldwater fish is an excellent source of Omega 3, but many people have concerns over mercury contamination in fish. While these concerns would be valid in a diet extremely high in fish, simply adding high Omega 3 fish such as salmon, mackerel or tuna to one or two meals a week would provide a great weekly dose of Omega 3 without raising concerns over mercury.
Other food sources of Omega 3 include broccoli, cantaloupe, kidney beans, spinach, grape leaves, cauliflower and walnuts. Flaxseed is also an excellent source of Omega 3 nutrients with ground flaxseed ranking highest of its forms for Omega 3. Combining these Omega 3 rich foods with foods high in Omega 6 like eggs, poultry and cereals and cooking oils like olive oil that are high in Omega 9, you can truly reap the benefits of Omega 3 for joint pain relief.
