Natural (Osteoarthritis) Painkillers in Your Pantry

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Natural Painkillers in Your Pantry

Easy-to-find, home remedies for arthritic pain

by Gloria McVeigh

As prescription drug options diminish, arthritis sufferers are

scrambling for relief. Experts recommend these eat-right tips to ease

the ache:

Vitamin C

A 10-year Boston University study of 149 people with knee

osteoarthritis (OA) found that getting less than 150 mg of vitamin C

per day tripled the rate of cartilage breakdown. High-C foods include

sweet peppers, peaches, and strawberries.

Omega-3s

Several clinical trials found that eating 3 g of fish fats a day

relieved the joint pain, swelling, and morning stiffness of rheumatoid

arthritis (RA) and reduced the need for drugs. Fish oil seems to cut

the inflammation that causes RA symptoms.

Weight Loss

New Wake Forest University research found that reduced production of

the hormone leptin--generated by fat tissue--may be the reason weight

loss alleviates OA pain. In the 18-month study, 316 overweight and

obese people with knee OA lost 3 to 6% of their body weight; falling

leptin levels closely corresponded to diminishing pain and disability

symptoms.

Sue B.