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* Arthritis pain could be reduced through simple diet changes * A study has shown eating this food could help soothe agonising arthritis symptoms * Some spices can help reduce arthritis
symptoms Arthritis pain could be reduced by eating more cinnamon, it has been claimed. The powder, obtained from tree bark, has properties that “inhibit cell damage” which could reduce
arthritis pain, according to the Arthritis Foundation. “Cinnamon contains cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic acid, both of which have antioxidant properties that help inhibit cell damage caused by
free radicals. “Studies say more research is needed to make formal recommendations about its use, however.” However, a recent study branded cinnamon a “safe” and “potential treatment” for
people suffering agonising pain due to rheumatoid arthritis. Published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, the study looked at how 36 women with rheumatoid arthritis were
helped by cinnamon. Half the women were given 500 milligrams of cinnamon daily for eight weeks, and results were recorded. At the end of the study period, the researchers concluded:
“Cinnamon supplementation can be a safe and potential treatment to improve inflammation and clinical symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.” To get cinnamon into the diet, the
Foundation advised adding it to some meals. “Cinnamon is delicious mixed with oatmeal or added to smoothies, but it’s not strong enough on its own to offer a therapeutic effect.” Other
spices that could help reduce arthritis pain, according to the Foundation, include garlic. "Garlic is a tasty addition to just about any savory dish. "Like onions and leeks, it
contains a substance which is anti-inflammatory. "Garlic, therefore, can help fight the pain, inflammation and cartilage damage of arthritis. "Opt for fresh garlic from the produce
section of your market because preservatives may be added to bottled garlic and processing may decrease some of its strength." Other ways to reduce arthritis pain symptoms include
eating nuts. The Arthritis Foundation has recommended that sufferers eat about a handful of nuts a day to reduce the painful symptoms of arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation advises eating
about 1.5 ounces of nuts due to their anti-inflammatory properties. “Multiple studies confirm the role of nuts in an anti-inflammatory diet,” said Jose Ordovas, director of nutrition and
genomics at a US-based Human Nutrition Research Centre to the Arthritis Foundation. A 2011 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that over a 15-year period, men and
women who consumed the most nuts had a 51 per cent lower risk of dying from inflammatory diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis.