FAMILIAR FRUIT FIGHTERS PART 2 - ARTHRITIS

Arthritis is an inflammation of one or more of your joints. It is most common among women and occurs more frequently as people get older. The main goals of arthritis treatments are to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. Let us check some of our familiar fruit fighters which encounter arthritis.

CHERRIES

Prunus cerasus.  People with arthritis have found relief from products made from tart cherries. The ingredient in cherries that helps with joint symptoms is the same one that gives this fruit its red color—anthocyanin. Studies have shown cherries help reduce the frequency of gout attacks. Research has shown that the anthocyanins found in cherries have an anti-inflammatory effect. Anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants that help reduce inflammation by inhibiting production of certain inflammatory chemicals. These compounds contribute to the health of connective tissue, and are even more powerful than vitamin C for defusing dangerous free radicals that can irritate body tissues and cause inflammation. 

GRAPES

Vitis vinifera. Grapes are nutrient-dense, high in antioxidants and possess anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, grapes contain several compounds that have been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of arthritis. For example, resveratrol is an antioxidant present in the skin of grapes. Resveratrol prevent the thickening of the joints associated with arthritis by blocking the formation of rheumatoid arthritis cells. Grapes also contain a plant compound called proanthocyanidin, which may have promising effects on arthritis by reducing inflammation.
           

BERRIES

Tons of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals are crammed into each serving of berries, which may partially account for their unique ability to decrease inflammation. Additionally, berries are rich in quercetin and rutin, two plant compounds that boast a huge number of benefits for your health. Quercetin was found to block the inflammatory processes associated with arthritis. Rutin supplements generally decreases arthritis-related inflammation. Anthocyanins can also be found in other red and purple fruits like strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries.
CITRUS FRUITS
Vitamin C is one of the nutrients most responsible for the health of collagen, a major component of cartilage. In addition, research suggests that people who eat a diet low in vitamin C may have a greater risk of developing some kinds of arthritis. For those reasons, it is important to make vitamin C-rich foods — such as guava, oranges, grapefruits, strawberries, pineapple and kiwi a part of your daily diet.  Antioxidants in vitamin C may slow the progression of  Osteoarthritis. Caution with much higher doses than 65 to 85 milligrams, because in large doses vitamin C can increase the risk of kidney stones.
PAPAYA, WINTER SQUASH, PERSIMMONS, TANGERINES and APRICOTS
The carotenoids are a group of powerful antioxidant nutrients found in many fruits. The best known is beta carotene, but its sister carotenoid, beta-cryptoxanthin, may also reduce the risk of developing inflammation-related disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers have found that people who ate diets high in beta-cryptoxanthin were half as likely to develop a form of inflammatory arthritis as those who ate very few. Some of the best foods for beta cryptoxanthin include winter squash, persimmons, papaya, tangerines, oranges and apricots.
Let’s fight arthritis with these familiar fruit fighters…