Is Watermelon Good For Arthritis

Is Watermelon Good For Gout

Lots of nutrients in watermelon will help your tissues heal after a gout flareup. Vitamin C has numerous properties and will also stimulate the production of collagen, which is extremely important for tendons, ligaments and cartilages.

On the other hand, magnesium and calcium will also heal bones. While excellent in the healing process against gout, all these nutrients will most likely help you prevent the problematic gout as well.

Protects Against Various Cancers

Watermelon is a valued source of natural antioxidants with special reference to its lycopene, ascorbic acid and citrulline. These compounds have been shown to act as protection against chronic health problems such as cancer.

In fact, watermelon has the highest concentration of lycopene of any fresh fruit or vegetable. Lycopene has been extensively researched for its antioxidant and cancer-preventing properties.

It is reported to be especially protective against cancers of the prostate, lung, colorectal, endometrial and breast.

Treats Conditions In The Renal System

Among all fruits, watermelon has the highest amount of amino acid citrulline, a word derived from citrullus, a Latin word for watermelon. This compound is found in the highest concentration in the white rind .

This is why it is beneficial to include the rind when juicing watermelon, especially if you have a kidney or bladder issue.

High concentrations of citrulline and vitamin C in watermelon rind juice help to break down kidney stones, clean out the kidneys and bladder, and reduce inflammation caused by free radicals.

The citrulline in watermelon is also key in making this fruit richly hydrating and naturally diuretic. The natural diuretic effect ensures that your kidneys and bladder are effectively flushed of toxins, thus reducing fluid retention in the body.

Ladies who have PMS issues with water retention may find relief when drinking watermelon juice a week prior to their menstruation, and also prevent bloating.

At the first sign of an urinary tract infection , start drinking freshly-extracted watermelon juiceflesh, seeds, rind and alltill symptoms are gone.

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One Potential Side Effect

Think twice before you guzzle a gallon of the juice. Yes, theres plenty of nutrition, but its Achilles heel is the sugar content.

Its impact on blood sugar is only amplified due to the fact that it has almost no fiber, so you digest it rapidly.

Using a 120 gram serving , watermelon has a Glycemic Index of 72. Low glycemic food are those which score 55 and below, so that squarely puts it within the high category .

The good news is that serving size only has 6 grams of carbs, which calculates out to a glycemic load of 5 thats low.

Its not the glycemic index, but rather the load which paints a more accurate picture as to how it will affect blood sugar .

There is no reputable source which has measured the glycemic index and load of watermelon juice, but given that the sugar is absorbed faster , the number will be higher. If you have diabetes, drinking a large glass might really mess with your blood glucose levels.

Plus, that was only for a 120 gram serving of the fresh fruit, while an 8 ounce glass of juice is twice the amount.

Even though it tastes much sweeter, juice made from this melon actually has fewer grams of sugar than oranges, so its not like its the worst offender. Though were not the biggest fans of OJ for the same reason.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Fruits To Eat To Reduce Arthritis Symptoms

Suffering from arthritis? Youre not the only one since studies show that it affects over 10 million people in the U.K. Thankfully, you can help reduce your symptoms by adding certain fruits to your everyday diet.

Top Fruits That Could Help Ease Arthritis Symptoms

Affecting mostly the knee, hip, hands and feet joints, arthritis is a common condition all across the world and affects several age groups. In fact, statistics show that the chronic musculoskeletal disorder is the most common cause of disabilities in the U.S. Characterized by the involvement of all joint structures in our body, it usually gives joint pain, reduced participation in daily activities and a generally poorer quality of life for those who are suffering from it.

Fortunately, changing your diet and making healthier food choices can do a lot to help alleviate these symptoms. One such way is by eating nutrient-rich fruits. Here are some of the best ones that can help your condition:

Tart Cherries

Avocado

Essentially considered as a superfruit, avocados are easily available, cheap and host tons of health benefits. As for people suffering from arthritis, however, theyd be glad to know that avocados are filled with vitamin E, which is a macronutrient with anti-inflammatory capabilities that can help decrease the risk of joint damage thats usually seen in early stages of osteoarthritis.

Watermelon

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, commonly affecting the hands, hips and knees. Pixabay

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What Exactly Is Arthritis

Arthritis, or joint inflammation, describes swelling and tenderness of one or more of the joints. Its main symptoms include joint pain, swelling and stiffness. Arthritis is a general term for a group of over 100 diseases causing inflammation and swelling in and around the joints.

Joint inflammation is a natural response of the body to a disease or injury, but becomes arthritis when the inflammation persists in the absence of joint injury or infection. Arthritis usually worsens with age and may even lead to a loss of joint movement.

There are different types of arthritis such as:

• Warm skin over the joints
• Redness of the skin over the joints
• Reduced range of movement.

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Why Do I Feel Sick After Eating Watermelon

In addition to diarrhea, eating too much watermelon may cause bloating and digestive distress. Thats mostly due to its high water content. If you eat three or four wedges in one serving, youll ingest about 27 to 36 ounces of water plus fiber. Therefore, its normal to feel bloated and gassy afterward.

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Whats The Link Between Diet And Arthritis

If youve been diagnosed with a form of arthritis, its likely youve been told that one of the most important steps you can take is to follow a healthy diet. Thats why youre searching for facts on bananas and inflammation after all, right?

But why is diet important for arthritis?

The foods we eat have an impact on our overall health, and the health of our joints. A change in diet cant cure arthritis but choosing the best food for arthritis can help improve everyday symptoms and protect against additional health issues.

Maintaining a healthy weight can help decrease inflammatory levels and ease the pressure on your joints , while a diet rich in vitamins and minerals helps to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes.

So far, so sensible. But what does this mean for the food choices you need to make? Most of us know we need to be mindful of our sugar, salt and fat intake but if you have arthritis, do you also need to know which foods make arthritis worse, or need to understand the best and worst foods for inflammation?

Best Fish For Arthritis

Adding more marine life to your meals could help calm inflammation

Arthritis is for the most part a disease of inflammation. When your joints swell, turn red and feel warm to the touch, what youre witnessing and feeling are inflammatory processes in motion.

One way to calm inflammation is with medicine your doctor prescribes. Another way is to add a few key anti-inflammatory foods to your diet. Among the most potent edible inflammation fighters are essential fatty acids called omega-3s particularly the kinds of fatty acids found in fish.

Omega-3s and Inflammation

Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid are called marine fatty acids because they come from fish. What makes these omega-3 sources worthwhile menu additions for people with arthritis is their ability to inhibit inflammation. Omega-3s interfere with immune cells called leukocytes and enzymes known as cytokines, which are both key players in the bodys inflammatory response.

The marine omega-3 fatty acids nip inflammation in the bud before it ignites. They really help to tamp down inflammation in the body on a cellular level, says Kim Larson, a Seattle-based nutritionist and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Spokesperson.

Research finds that people who regularly eat fish high in omega-3s are less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis . And in those who already have the disease, marine omega-3s may help reduce joint swelling and pain.

Which Fish are Best?

Farm-Raised, or Wild-Caught?

Recommended Reading: How Do You Treat Arthritis In The Shoulder

Can You Live A Normal Life With Ra

Many people can live a healthy, active life with RA. It is difficult to predict the exact impact that RA will have on a persons life expectancy because the course of the disease differs significantly between people. In general, it is possible for RA to reduce life expectancy by around 10 to 15 years.

Study Lists 33 Foods Proven To Relieve Rheumatoid Arthritis

A review of existing research, published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, lists foods that have been proven to relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in the long-term.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects approximately 1.3 million adults in the United States.

The fact that it is an autoimmune disorder means that the body does not recognize its own healthy cells and attacks them as though they are foreign. This causes inflammation in the joints, which translates into stiffness, swelling, pain, and sometimes even misshapenness.

So-called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs are normally the first line of treatment for this condition, for which there is no known cure at the moment.

If a person living with rheumatoid arthritis does not react well to these drugs, so-called biological response modifiers, or biologicals, are the second-line treatment option.

However, as the authors of the new review point out, biologicals are expensive and can have serious side effects.

So, researchers from the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology in Bhubaneswar, India, set out to explore dietary alternatives to medication.

Dr. Bhawna Gupta, together with Shweta Khanna and Kumar Sagar Jaiswal at KIITs Disease Biology Lab in the School of Biotechnology, reviewed research from several laboratory experiments under different conditions.

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Peaches Stone Fruits And Citrus

Fruits with stones and citrus fruits are packed full of the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory vitamin C. And, according to the Arthritis Foundation, canned peaches in light syrup actually contain more vitamin C than fresh ones.

Try It Whip up a hazelnut milk smoothie using a variety of these fruits, and add some of the canned peach juice. Or just enjoy a fresh fruit salad, with a hint of mint. Dont forget to zest the citrus rinds theyre also full of antioxidants. Sprinkle them on a salad, in salad dressing, or in the dough of a blueberry crumble.

Seeds Are High In Protein

Did you know that watermelon seed are an excellent source of protein?

Just 1 ounce comes in at 8 grams of protein and 158 calories . Thats more protein and less calories than equal weight portions of peanuts, pistachios, almonds, cashews, and walnuts, which are the best nuts for protein.

So rather than remove the seeds, you can include them in your juice if youre using a blender to make it.

With a juicer that wont work, because the machine will discard the seeds in the same way it discards fiber.

Saving the raw watermelon seeds and snacking on those isnt a good alternative. Given their toughness, they can be bad for your teeth and stomach, at least for many.

You really need to blend them into a powder-like consistency in order to make their nutrients as bioavailable as possible. Check out the top 5 blenders for smoothies if your current model isnt up to par.

Read Also: What Dies Arthritis Pain Feel Like

Ginger: Spice Up Your Dishes To Turn Down The Flame

Like onions, ginger contains compounds that function in much the same way as anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen. This versatile root adds flavor too. Add fresh peeled ginger to stir-fries, eat pickled ginger along with salmon sushi, or puree some and add it to an acorn squash soup.

Ginger supplements can also help reduce inflammation, but check with your doctor before taking them, Sandon says. Too much ginger can lead to thinning of the blood, which can be dangerous if you are taking certain drugs, like Coumadin . It can also decrease blood sugar levels, raising the risk of hypoglycemia. In addition, ginger may lower blood pressure, which could affect those taking high blood pressure medication.

Reducing Inflammation And Preventing Damage

A balanced, nutritious diet will give the body the tools it needs to prevent further damage to the joints, which is essential for people with osteoarthritis.

Some foods are known to reduce inflammation in the body, and following an anti-inflammatory diet can improve symptoms. Eating enough antioxidants, including vitamins A, C, and E, may help to prevent further damage to the joints.

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Calms The Gastrointestinal Tract

Like most fruits, watermelon juice has a natural laxative effect that helps improve regularity, for a healthy digestive system.

Watermelon juice helps to calm the gastrointestinal tract, regulates pH levels, reduces inflammation and acidity. This makes it an excellent, healing drink for individuals suffering from acid reflux.

Watermelon juice is one of the best juices to drink when ones constipated. If you have chronic constipation, make it a point to drink a glass of watermelon juice daily to improve regularity. This is especially useful for children who are constipatedmost kids love watermelon juice and it is easy to have them drink it.

To relieve that occasional constipation, drink a big jumbo glass of watermelon juice on empty stomach.

Watermelon And Gout Is Watermelon Good For Gout

Up to 90% of all gout attacks tend to target men, rather than women. The affection a particular type of arthritis affects people between 40 and 50 years old in general, yet there are no rules about it. Flareups and painful sensations occur when there is too much uric acid in the body. As it cannot be properly eliminated, it ends up deposited around joints the affection mostly affects big toes.

Uric acids deposit crystallize and cause those excruciating pains that feel like glass inside the joints. Now, as you break uric acid down, you will realize that it is the direct consequence of too much purines in the diet. In other words, red wine, beer, mushrooms, turkey and beef are some of the main causes of gout in people.

Like you might have guessed already, removing such foods from your diet is a must to prevent further flareups. But on the same note, you might need to add some extra foods into your diet too. When it comes to fruits, you are not normally recommended natural fruit sugar, yet some doctors will inevitably recommend some of them. At this point, you might ask yourself is there a connection between watermelon and gout?

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Protects Against Asthma And Allergy Attacks

The presence of lycopene in high concentration in watermelons, plus its easy bioavailability, helps to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in cases of asthma and allergies.

Several studies reported lower rates of wheezing and allergic rhinitis in children who consumed antioxidant-rich foods such as watermelon.

Oxidative stress resulting from excessive free radicals in the body, can have a harmful effect on the airway function, causing asthma and allergy attacks. In this case, consumption of watermelon juice helps raise the immune responses in preventing attacks.

Nightshade Vegetables Cause Inflammation

Tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, and peppers all contain the chemical solanine, which some blame for arthritis pain. However, the Arthritis Foundation say that there is no scientific evidence for this. Adding these nutritious vegetables to the diet can have many benefits for chronic health conditions.

There is evidence that certain foods and nutrients can improve the symptoms of osteoarthritis. They do this by fighting inflammation, providing nutrition, and boosting bone, muscle, and immune system function.

People may also benefit from avoiding or restricting foods that contribute to inflammation.

Being overweight or obese places extra pressure on the joints, which can make the symptoms of osteoarthritis worse.

Eating a balanced diet rich in plants, fiber, and anti-inflammatory fats, such as those that the Mediterranean diet includes, can help people living with osteoarthritis to maintain a healthy weight.

This will help to ease symptoms, such as pain and swelling.

Recommended Reading: What Do You Do If You Have Arthritis

Risk Factors For Rheumatoid Arthritis

There are certain factors that may increase the chances of you developing rheumatoid arthritis, including:

• Age. Although RA can occur at any age, most people see the onset during their 30s and 40s.
• Excess weight. Carrying extra weight can play a factor in increasing the risk of developing RA.
• Family history. There appears to be a genetic factor to RA, so if someone in your extended family has RA, you may also have an increased risk of developing the condition.
• Smoking. Smoking cigarettes has been shown to increase the risk of developing RA, especially if your family has shown a predisposition for developing the disease in the past. Smoking can also increase the severity of the disease.
• Your sex. Its unknown why, but women are more likely than men to develop RA.