Proper nutrition for osteoarthritis is the basis of effective treatment. Everyone who is interested in improving their health should understand what kind of diet a degenerative knee should eat. Fundamentals, allowed and prohibited foods, sample menus - key issues for further consideration.
Dietary requirements for arthritis
The main goal of the diet for knee joint diseases is to lose weight, get enough nutrients that have a positive impact on the cartilage tissue and its symptoms. Proper nutrition must be followed for the rest of life.
General principles of the arthritis diet:
- Fractional nutrient requirements. It is recommended to eat in small portions up to five times a day. Fractional nutrition prevents overeating and thus ensures better weight prevention.
- Maximum calories per day is 3500 kcal. Such caloric content is allowed with an active lifestyle and serious physical labor.
- Need to eat dinner a few hours before going to bed.
- Weight should be monitored continuously.
- The diet includes healthy foods that contain the ingredients necessary for the knee joint. Potentially unhealthy foods are excluded from the menu.
- Food needs proper heat treatment. The benefits of food depend on this.
- Eliminate food that is too hot and too cold. It is advisable to eat warm meals.
- It is necessary to chew carefully and slowly. Compliance with this rule will prevent overeating.
- It is recommended to drink between one and a half liters per day. The focus is on clean water.
The diet was developed under medical supervision in the same way that doctors take into account the well-being of their patients when making recommendations. Experts recommend that you include products on the menu to help obtain the required amount of nutrients. Supports the body to prevent arthritis and eliminate symptoms associated with the inflammatory process.
Essential nutrients
Knee joint disease requires minerals and vitamins, so this aspect is important when planning meals.
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Vitamin C is considered one of the most important ones. Vitamin C forms connective tissue, restores cartilage of the knee. Its antioxidant properties protect the knee's cartilage tissue from free radicals. Doctors note that women need less vitamin C per day, and more for men. Vitamin C also helps to improve the immune system, allowing the body to fight off arthritis on its own.
Boron promotes bone renewal. Boron and magnesium contribute to the complete absorption of calcium, which is essential for the knee joint. Hence, boron and magnesium, as well as calcium, are required in the preparation of the diet. Three active ingredients in combination are required not only for treatment but also for prevention.
Pantothenic acid improves the cellular health of the knee joint. A useful ingredient in beef and pork liver, nuts, mushrooms, green beans. The amount of the substance is determined by the severity of the symptoms.
Include omega-3 fatty acids in the diet. Substance eliminating pain syndrome, inflammation. For a pronounced therapeutic effect, a constant supply of fatty acids is required.
Prohibited products
Many people are concerned about what not to eat when they have osteoarthritis. Some food products contain potentially dangerous substances. If food increases the risk of weight gain, it should also be ignored.
The following foods are excluded from the diet:
- Fatty meat products. Such products lead to weight gain, disrupts the condition of the knee joints, has a negative effect on motor performance and aggravates symptoms.
- Vegetables: white cabbage, bell peppers, tomatoes. These vegetables contain ingredients that are dangerous to the cartilage tissue of the knee joint. For example, the use of tomatoes for knee OA is minimized, despite the presence of nutritional ingredients in fresh vegetables.
- Fruits and berries that contain acids. Such fruits lead to the accumulation of mineral salts that are dangerous for bones and joints.
- Flour and candy products. Such foods contain simple carbohydrates that run the risk of gaining weight.
- Coffee. The abuse of this drink leads to a decrease in the amount of calcium salts in the body. This leads to joint problems. Deposition of calcium helps maintain healthy knee joints.
- Alcohol. There is a violation of metabolic processes. Nutrients are no longer absorbed.
- Semi-finished products, street fast food.
- Mayonnaise.
- Highly refined fat oil.
- Salt. Doctors recommend keeping a close watch on your salt intake. Eating too much salt has the risk of salt deposition, degeneration of the knee joint.
Doctors also ban smoking because nicotine leads to vasoconstriction, so metabolism is disrupted. Smoking reduces the effectiveness of any treatment.
Prohibit fasting during the healing period. The body needs nutrients. The use of diuretics and laxatives is prohibited. These drugs disrupt the metabolism, contribute to the loss of nutrients needed by the knee joint.
Useful Products
The diet includes foods useful for osteoarthritis of the knee. Healthy foods provide the nutrients needed to improve knee health.
- Low-fat poultry and fish. Meat and fish dishes must be natural. Soups based on meat broths are consumed regularly, but preference is still given to vegetables first.
- Fermented dairy products. The protein provided helps to improve the cartilage tissue of the knee joint. The maximum fat content in dairy products should be 3. 2%. The menu includes fermented dairy products with a high calcium content.
- Eggs. It is allowed to eat up to three eggs per day. A large number of eggs disturb the metabolism so there is a risk of adversely affecting the knee joint.
- Natural meat jelly. It contains collagen and chondroitin, which are essential for improving cartilage condition in the knee.
- Nuts. Vitamin E supplementation helps improve metabolism, stimulating the flow of beneficial ingredients into the knee joint.
- Cereals. The most useful are millet, rice, buckwheat, hard pasta. Cereals cooked in standard time provide the nutrients and complex carbohydrates that help support the body.
- Fresh vegetables and fruits. These foods contain nutrients that help your body fight arthritis of the knee.
- Still mineral water, herbs and green tea. The diet also includes freshly prepared juices and vegetables that have been previously diluted with water. Healthy drinks help provide vitamins and maintain water balance in the body.
The osteoarthritis treatment menu includes healthy foods to ensure optimal nutrition.
Sample menu for one day of arthritis
A varied and nutritious diet if the menu is suitable.
Drink a glass of clean water before breakfast. Fluids improve metabolism and cleanse the intestines.
Breakfast
Drink a fruit or vegetable juice first. After 20 minutes, porridge should be eaten with a piece of butter. If desired, for breakfast, they plan cheesecake with natural honey, cereal biscuits, sandwiches with hard cheese, soft boiled eggs, vegetable salad. After breakfast, drink green tea or herbal tea.
Lunch
Fresh or dried fruit is eaten at lunch. Nutritional supplementation is required in the diet for the purpose of improving joint health in patients.
Lunch
Make a plan for a vegetable or meat soup for lunch. For the latter, cutlets, grilled ribs, grilled and boiled fish are ideal. Attention should be paid to the presence of vegetable stew, mashed potatoes or baked potatoes, cereals. Rye bread will contribute to the addition of substances to improve metabolism.
Afternoon snack
As for the afternoon snack, they eat fresh sweet fruit, drink a cup of dried fruit with dry biscuits.
Dinner
Nutritionists recommend a snack to prevent weight gain. Recommended dishes are vegetable salad, cheese casserole with relaxing herbal tea.
When planning the proper nutrition for osteoarthritis of the knee, attention should be paid to the optimal caloric intake and the amount of useful ingredients.