Arthrosis of the knee joint (gonarthrosis) is a chronic pathology of the musculoskeletal system of a non-inflammatory nature (destruction of articular cartilage), which currently affects every third inhabitant of the planet. Over the past 20 years, the prevalence of the disease has increased significantly, but the main factors provoking its development are still age and body mass index. Therefore, the fight against gonarthrosis is, first of all, based on changing the patient’s lifestyle, and one of the important components of proper treatment is proper nutrition for arthrosis of the knee joint.
In the course of numerous studies aimed at elucidating the causes of gonarthrosis, it was found that most often this pathology affects obese patients and people with impaired metabolism, so often the main recommendation is to reduce body weight.
However, when fighting excess weight, it is important not to overdo it: by limiting yourself in food, a person should not suffer from a lack of microelements, vitamins and minerals. It is very important to maintain a nutritional balance, since both overeating and fasting have a negative impact on the condition of the joints.
When choosing the optimal diet, it is necessary to take into account not only the calorie content of food products, but also their composition (minerals, vitamins, etc.).
Natural (ideally environmentally friendly) meat and poultry.
Most fruits and vegetables. Baked and stewed vegetables are very healthy.
Chicken and quail eggs. No more than 3 per day.
Naturally prepared grains
Wholemeal bread and pasta.
The diet for arthrosis of the knee joint does not provide for any strict and specific restrictions in food, but at the same time, it is aimed at eliminating negative factors leading to the destruction of cartilage tissue, accelerating metabolic processes in the body and, if necessary, reducing the patient’s body weight . Therefore, with the development of this pathology, nutritionists recommend adhering to the following rules:
As for the drinking regime, for gonarthrosis it is recommended to give preference to clean water and drink at least 1.5–2 liters of it per day.
Patients should understand: for treatment to be truly effective, proper nutrition must become a habit, a lifestyle, and then food restrictions will not seem too high a price to pay for improving the health of your knees.
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Good evening. I was diagnosed with deforming bilateral gonarthrosis, stage 1 NFS. I wanted to know what to eat. Can there be a loss of strength? And there is a desire to lie down and sleep. Thank you in advance
Hello Olga. Patients with gonarthrosis of the knee joint should exclude table salt from the diet, but if this fails, then reduce its consumption to a minimum. It is recommended to use refined sunflower or olive oil for cooking. A diet for grade 1 and 2 knee joint gonarthrosis helps to lose extra pounds and saturate the body with vitamins and nutrients. It is advisable to eat more fruits and vegetables, and it is better to avoid fried, salted, smoked foods.
People with gonarthrosis need to ensure that their daily diet includes substances such as collagen (a protein found in large quantities in knee cartilage, skin and ligaments), selenium and sulfur (sulfur helps collagen form, without which this process is impossible ; found in chicken, cod, radish, plums, radishes, gooseberries). To reduce the risk of inflammatory processes, it is necessary to include fatty acids in the diet, as well as Omega-3. They also restore cartilage tissue well. First of all, they are rich in fatty fish (mackerel, salmon, herring, sardines). But this is a very high-calorie food. Therefore, it is better to bake, boil or steam fish without adding oil.
Your loss of strength at the moment is most likely due to vitamin deficiency.
Please tell me, I really need specialist advice. I am 18 years old and I have grade 1 gonarthrosis, can I play football?
Artem, first you need to undergo good treatment, take chondroprotective drugs and use ointments from the same group to restore joint cartilage. For example, Teraflex, Dona, Glucosamine Chondroitin, etc. You need to do physical exercise, but it is better not with such loads as in football, because the wear of the joints is greater with increased loads. You decide.
Hello dear doctor! We really need hope and motivation. Please tell me, having followed most of the recommendations: reducing weight by 20%, eating as healthy as possible and doing special exercises for gonarthrosis for life, is it really possible to “silence” gonoarthrosis of the 2nd degree to a ripe old age, without remembering it anymore? I am 44 years old. 110kg. 180cm. I still can’t accept the very idea of prosthetics.
Dima, by implementing the above points you will be able to significantly help yourself. And you can/should undergo therapeutic treatment using physiotherapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and the use of chondroprotectors (preferably from the company of intra-articular injections). All treatment is prescribed by the doctor after examination. The disease can be slowed down, and much depends on the patient himself, his desire and strict compliance with those points.
The therapeutic diet for arthrosis is designed to prevent destructive processes in the cartilage tissue of the shoulder, knee and ankle joints, and restore the elasticity of cartilage and bone tissue. In addition, nutrition is considered an important aspect of treating the disease, since the diet includes foods rich in vitamins and elements that are the “building” material of bones.
The reasons for the development of arthrosis are varied. These include injuries, excessive physical activity or metabolic disorders, against the background of an unbalanced and unhealthy diet. According to statistics, 50% of patients suffering from joint arthrosis are overweight. Therefore, proper nutrition for arthrosis of the knee joint is aimed at stabilizing weight in order to relieve stress on the knees and feet. In addition, dietary therapy is aimed at replenishing vitamins, minerals and elements needed by bones and muscles. This is relevant for stage 1 of the disease, when it is possible to prevent the progression of the disease.
The diet for joint arthrosis combines the consumption of complex carbohydrates and proteins.
Not everyone is able to give up their usual diet.
The disease is treated depending on its location (arthrosis of the shoulder, hip and knee joints is distinguished), as well as according to the degree of development - 1, 2 and 3 degrees. But despite such a system, the principles of nutrition are the same:
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If you have joint diseases, you need to eat natural food, the food should be without adding spices or any additives. You need to include as many fresh vegetables as possible, especially zucchini, carrots, pumpkin and seaweed. It's worth noting that this includes sauerkraut. Baking made from flour with bran will fit perfectly into your diet. It is recommended to drink juices regularly, especially orange or pomegranate.
Protein serves as the basis of the musculoskeletal system, so half of the diet should consist of such foods. Plant and animal proteins are equally useful; it is good to alternate them between each other. It is recommended to give preference to poultry meat dishes, for example, chicken, goose, and turkey. You need to include legumes (peas, beans) and soy products, lentils in your diet. The diet for hip arthrosis also includes the consumption of liver, tongue, kidneys and hearts. For grade 2 knee arthrosis, it is better to eat clean meat that has been freed from fat. Breg's nutritional principles suggest that the best source of protein is fish.
Nutritionists recommend enriching your diet with dishes containing gelatin or cooked with bones. They contain many natural chondroprotectors and collagen, necessary for the construction of bone and cartilage tissue.
They are found in most vegetables and fruits. For example, baked potatoes and bread are rich in vitamin B1, eggs and dairy products, in particular kefir, are rich in vitamin B2 and B9. B9 can also be found in rose hips, bananas, and greens. Nuts, especially peanuts, are a valuable source of this vitamin. B12 is found in hard cheese, egg yolks, fish and seafood. Tocopherol acetate (E) reserves can be replenished by eating sunflower oil, beef, soy and liver. It is recommended to prepare vegetable and meat broths as often as possible, adding parsley or sorrel.
Slows down the aging of joints and prevents the development of the inflammatory process, which is why it is useful to add herring, trout or mackerel dishes to your daily menu. Fish broths are no less healthy and tasty. It is also recommended to diversify your diet with butter, which is considered a rich source of fat.
When treating arthrosis or any other joint disease, you cannot do without taking calcium-containing medications. But you can replenish its reserves by eating dairy and fermented milk products. First of all, whey, cheese and cottage cheese are saturated with macronutrients. No less healthy yoghurts, fermented baked milk and kefir. Calcium is also found in vegetables and herbs (parsley, lettuce and dill).
A diet for arthrosis of the knee joint involves giving up some food, which will help not only lose weight, but also improve your well-being and improve your health. Soda and alcohol are harmful drinks that are prohibited for deforming arthrosis. You should also not drink coffee; it is recommended to give up sugar. If you have joint disease, you should not eat the following foods:
Therapeutic nutrition for arthrosis of the hip, shoulders, knees or feet does not mean eating boring dishes and tasteless foods. The menu for the week might look like this:
In order for the treatment to bring quick results, it is advisable to completely avoid salt, but sugar can be replaced with honey. It is worth noting that it is useful to use buckwheat or rice groats for preparing porridge, but it is better to avoid semolina. The rice diet deserves special attention. Rice itself helps cleanse the body of toxins, dissolves and removes salts, and normalizes weight. But it is recommended to discuss this type of diet with your doctor.
Not only drug treatment and physiotherapy, but also a special diet will help speed up recovery and restore the functioning of cartilage and soft tissues in chronic joint disease.
Proper nutrition during their deformation and limited mobility is necessary to speed up metabolism and improve metabolic processes. A diet for grade 2 and 3 arthrosis of the knee joints will improve tissue regeneration.
Thoughtful nutrition for arthrosis of the knee joint is a sure way to speed up the healing process. Since all joint structures are greatly weakened by illness, the main goal of the diet is to lose weight and saturate the body with missing vitamins and minerals . Food should be rich in potassium, iron, calcium and other elements. It is these substances that can fill cartilage tissue.
Important! Since excess weight has a very negative impact on the condition of the joints, the patient needs to lose unnecessary pounds.
A new diet should become part of daily life, so you need to constantly adhere to a diet for joint disease .
To achieve a therapeutic result, it is important for the patient to know several rules:
When choosing a diet, you cannot make decisions on your own. To correctly select a diet for arthrosis of the joints of the lower extremities, seek help from a nutritionist. Remember that it is important to clarify all the characteristics of the body, as well as the age of the patient.
If during the treatment period the body is not saturated with the necessary elements, inflammation may worsen and provoke the development of complications. To eliminate the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, eat foods rich in calcium and potassium.
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The diet for arthrosis of the shoulder joint is selected taking into account all the characteristics of inflammation, its nature and severity. You can speed up metabolic processes and the growth of cartilage tissue using natural products, so if possible, avoid using synthetic ingredients .
So, what foods are useful for arthrosis of the knee joint:
To improve the absorption of foods, drink two glasses of mineral water every day.
If the illness is accompanied by pronounced painful symptoms, add natural juices from pomegranate, orange, pineapple, and jelly to your diet.
Without a strict diet, the patient may not notice an improvement in well-being . This is due to the fact that patients did not exclude prohibited foods from their diet.
Reducing the risk of disease progression is simple. To do this, you need to clarify which foods to exclude for arthrosis of the knee joint:
Even if you suffer from arthrosis of the first degree, it is important to adhere to a proper lifestyle and a certain diet .
Having found out what you can and cannot eat, you need to determine your further diet. If you have a disease of the first or second degree, the daily menu should include pomegranate juice. It will help saturate the body with a large amount of vitamins and minerals, which will help improve well-being and reduce inflammation.
In addition, every day you need to eat fresh vegetable salads without adding salt. The dish should be seasoned not with the usual mayonnaise, but with sour cream, with the addition of a small amount of spices.
Consume foods and drinks that can have a diuretic effect. Increased urine output will help with green tea, sour juice, watermelon or cucumbers. These products can cleanse the body and remove excess salt.
Let's find out how to eat with first-degree arthrosis of the knee joint:
Eggs can speed up the improvement of metabolic processes. Use two of them every day.
Read about methods of treating arthrosis of the hand.
When inflammation has developed into a more severe stage, treatment involves the use of complex medications. In the third form of the disease, take plenty of water. Avoid spicy, fried, and sour foods.
You should not eat canned food, fast food, or fatty meats.
Throughout the treatment, the patient needs to eat lean dishes, lean meat, fresh vegetables and fruits.
When the patient’s body receives an amount of proteins, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial substances, after three months the patient will notice a significant improvement, but the pain symptoms will disappear after four weeks.
An approximate menu for a week for severe inflammation is as follows:
Important! The last meal should be three hours before bedtime.
The diet for arthrosis of the foot or knee joint on the second day may be as follows:
After the third day, you are allowed to repeat the first day or create a mix of all types of menu.
Regardless of the form of the disease, the diet for deforming arthrosis is calculated according to individual characteristics. It is important that the daily menu is varied and satisfying.
To relieve the symptoms of chronic inflammation and improve your overall condition, it is important to adhere to a strict diet for several months. An active lifestyle, moderate exercise, massages and proper nutrition will normalize the metabolic process and improve blood circulation.
However, it is important not only to monitor your diet, but also to strive to spend more time outdoors. Try to take walks and do exercises. In addition, give up bad habits. Do not drink alcohol, soda, or coffee. Within a few months you will notice a significant improvement in your well-being.
Osteoarthritis of any location imposes a number of restrictions on the patient’s life. To avoid rapid progression of the disease, you will have to reconsider your diet and habits, and give up certain types of physical activity. The restrictions are especially strict for gonarthrosis, since the knees are the easiest to injure; they suffer from excess weight and improper loading. What kind of lifestyle should you follow if you have arthrosis of the knee joint, how to eat, what sports can you do, and which are strictly contraindicated? This article is devoted to answering these questions.
Although with gonarthrosis of the knee joint, movements cause pain and their volume is significantly limited, this does not mean that it is necessary to give up any physical activity. On the contrary, arthrosis is treated with movement, and along with performing complexes of therapeutic exercises, participation in certain sports is recommended. Of course, physical activity for arthrosis should be gentle and dosed, and some movements should not be performed by people with arthrosis of the knee joint. Why is moderate physical activity beneficial for knee arthrosis?
What movements, sports, and physical activities are contraindicated for arthrosis of the knee joint? Joints are damaged by shock and vibration loads that occur when jumping. Running is a series of micro-jumps. But if any types of jumping with gonarthrosis are clearly contraindicated, then when asked whether it is possible to run with arthrosis of the knee joint, doctors do not always answer in the negative. It all depends on the stage of the disease and running technique. The axial loads that occur when lifting and carrying heavy objects “kill” the knees. Therefore, weightlifting and any strength sports for arthrosis of the knee joint are prohibited. Team games, martial arts and other sports with a high risk of injury are also contraindicated. Deep squats with arthrosis of the knee joint aggravate its destruction.
There is no clear answer to the question of whether it is possible to play sports with arthrosis of the knees. It all depends on the type of sport and the patient’s level of training. If a person led a sedentary lifestyle before illness, it is better to limit himself to a complex of exercise therapy, walking, and exercise in the pool. You can and should go to the pool with arthrosis, if your general health allows, swimming with arthrosis of the knee joint is the most useful activity. You can sign up for a fitness class, but you need to choose exercise equipment taking into account the fact that the joints are affected by arthrosis. Alpine skiing is prohibited, but skiing is possible, but only with the appropriate skills. Patients with gonarthrosis who have never skied should not start skiing; there is a high risk of injury.
Professional athletes can continue their activities if the sport they are involved in is not included in the list of strictly prohibited for gonarthrosis. But the loads need to be reduced; during training, be sure to wear a knee pad. Whether you can run with arthrosis depends on your level of physical fitness. Those who did not do this before the disease should not start as it develops, but professional runners can continue their training. But you can only run on a perfectly flat surface, at a slow pace, for short distances, avoiding jolts and jumps. If you follow the restrictions, running with stage 1 arthrosis of the knee joints is permissible, but starting from stage 2, any jogging must be stopped.