High-fiber diets reduce risk of osteoarthritis

Take the “ouch” out of OA with this simple diet trick

Your body is like a classic car: Certain parts break down over time, but you’ve got to keep driving it if you want it to run smoothly.

And your knees are a little like your tires — because you’ve got SO MUCH riding on them!

They’ve led you to victory on the ball field… helped you dazzle on the dance floor… and supported you on every path you’ve walked in life.

But all that “mileage” takes its toll.

As we age, HALF of all adults will develop the pain and stiffness of knee osteoarthritis — a.k.a. the “wear and tear” form of arthritis.

And research shows that getting a “replacement” part is a costly and ineffective solution.

But according to a new study, you can ease the pain in your knee naturally… by eating more fiber!

The study, published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, found that eating a fiber-rich diet can not only reduce the “ouch” of knee osteoarthritis, but it can also lower your risk of developing it in the first place.

The researchers pooled the data of two different long-term studies that tracked the dietary fiber intake of thousands of volunteers. The Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) followed 5,000 older folks with osteoarthritis or at risk of it for four years, while the Framingham Offspring (FO) study followed 1,200 adults for nine years.

The results were unanimous: Eating a fiber-rich diet was associated with lower odds of osteoarthritis.

And when you reduce your risk of osteoarthritis, you lessen your chance of developing knee pain (or knee pain that worsens, if you’ve already got it).

In the OAI group, those who ate the most fiber slashed their risk by 30 percent — and the effect was DOUBLE for those in the FO group, whose risk lowered by 60 percent.

Now, you’re probably wondering how fiber — found naturally in fruits, veggies, and nuts — works to protect your joints.

Back to the classic car comparison: If your trunk is full of cargo, your tires are going to wear down faster from bearing that extra load.

The same is true of your body. Years of carrying extra pounds can put a lot of pressure on your knees and break down the cushioning cartilage in them more quickly.

Getting ample fiber in your diet holds your blood sugar in check and makes you feel fuller faster, making maintaining a healthy weight that much easier.

What’s more, excess fat tissue actually PRODUCES inflammatory chemicals that further damage your joints… but fiber has been shown to reduce inflammation.

So, if the ache of osteoarthritis is bringing you to your “knees,” it’s time to “fill ‘er up”… with fiber!

Load up at the salad bar before your main course… snack on raw veggies and nuts instead of chips… and replace those cakes and cookies with fiber-packed fruit.

You’ll keep your gut humming along smoothly, and you’ll lower your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and colon and breast cancers, to boot.