Almost 4 million Australians experience arthritis, characterised by stiffness and inflammation of the joints. It is prevalent across age, gender and ethnicity. While there is currently no cure for arthritis, there are certainly preventative methods you can take to delay the onset or reduce symptoms if it has already developed.
One of the most effective ways to control arthritis is through diet. As most of us know, what you eat has a huge impact on your health. Being conscious about your food choices can help lessen arthritic pain and eating certain foods can even boost your overall mobility!
Indian food is especially great for arthritis because it is so rich in healing herbs and spices. The following ingredients are very common in Indian cuisine and just so happen to be great for managing arthritis as well:
- Ginger:
Ginger increases circulation, which can reduce joint stiffness. It also suppresses inflammatory molecules in the body. - Turmeric:
Blocks inflammatory enzymes and reduces free radicals in the body (which may exacerbate arthritis). - Cinnamon:
This spice protects the tissue around your bones and helps reduce inflammation. It also acts as an antiviral and antibacterial agent, which is helpful for those with septic arthritis. - Chilli:
Can reduce joint pain and swelling. Also helps block pain receptors in the nerves, so experience of arthritic pain is decreased. - Saffron:
Saffron also relieves joint pain as well as reducing lactic acid buildup and muscle fatigue.
These five spices are just the tip of the iceberg. Indian dishes tend to be full of many other herbs and spices with even more health benefits than we just listed. So don’t be afraid to broaden your dietary horizons– especially if you have arthritic pain to manage.
If you are looking for a “quick fix” of sorts to integrate into your home cooking, try a garam masala spice blend. This delicious, savoury spice usually contains a combination of cumin, coriander, cardamom, black pepper, mustard, cloves, chilli and turmeric.
Most if not all of these ingredients are beneficial for reducing inflammation and pain within the body, so don’t be afraid to go stock up. And if you can’t be bothered cooking at home, visit Aagaman Restaurant in Port Melbourne for your Indian spice fix!
We are open every day for dinner and Thursday through Sunday for lunch.