The right diet for osteoarthritis of the knee joint is the basis of an effective treatment. Anyone interested in improving their health should understand what type of diet is required for osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Basic principles, allowed and forbidden foods, sample menu - the main topics that require additional thought.
Nutritional needs for osteoarthritis
The main goal of a diet in diseases of the knee joint is to lose weight, get the right amount of nutrients that have a positive effect on cartilage tissue and the symptoms of the disease. Proper nutrition must be adhered to until the end of life.
General principles of the osteoarthritis diet:
- The need for fractional nutrition. It is recommended to eat in small portions up to five times a day. Fractional nutrition prevents overeating and thus guarantees the prevention of better weight.
- The maximum amount of calories per day is 3500 kcal. Such a calorie content is permissible with an active lifestyle and heavy physical work.
- Dinner is required a few hours before going to bed.
- It is recommended that you constantly monitor your weight.
- The diet includes healthy foods that contain components necessary for the knee joints. Potentially unhealthy foods are excluded from the menu.
- dishes require proper heat treatment. The benefits of food depend on it.
- Eliminate very hot and cold foods. It is advisable to eat warm meals.
- Careful and slow chewing is required. Compliance with this rule will prevent overeating.
- It is recommended to drink from one and a half liters per day. The focus is on clean water.
Diet is developed under medical supervision in the same way that doctors consider the patient's state of health when making recommendations. Experts recommend including products in the menu that will help maintain the required amount of nutrients. Body support is aimed at preventing osteoarthritis and eliminating symptoms associated with inflammatory processes.
Essential nutrients
Knee osteoarthritis requires minerals and vitamins, so this aspect is important when planning meals.
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Vitamin C is one of the most important. Vitamin C forms connective tissue, restores the cartilage of the knee joint. Antioxidant properties protect the cartilage tissue of the knees from free radicals. Doctors find that women need less vitamin C and men need more every day. Vitamin C also helps improve the immune system, which allows the body to fight inflammation of the knee joints on its own.
Boron promotes bone renewal. Boron and magnesium contribute to the full absorption of calcium, which is necessary for the knee joints. As a result, boron and magnesium, as well as calcium, are needed in the preparation of the diet. Three interacting components are required not only for treatment, but also for prevention.
Pantothenic acid improves the cellular health of the knee joint. A useful ingredient is found in beef and pork liver, nuts, mushrooms and peas. The amount of substance is determined by the severity of the symptoms.
Include omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. Substances eliminate pain syndrome, inflammation. A constant supply of fatty acids is necessary for a pronounced therapeutic effect.
Prohibited products
Many people are interested in what not to eat if they have osteoarthritis of the knee. Some foods contain potentially dangerous substances. If foods increase your risk of weight gain, they are also recommended to be skipped.
The following foods are excluded from the diet:
- Fatty meat products. Such products lead to weight gain, disrupt the condition of the knee joints, have a negative effect on motor activity and exacerbate symptoms.
- Vegetables: white cabbage, peppers, tomatoes. These vegetables contain components that are dangerous for the cartilage tissue of the knee joint. For example, the use of tomatoes for osteoarthritis of the knee is minimized, despite the presence of nutritional components in fresh vegetables.
- Fruits and berries that contain acids. Such fruits lead to the accumulation of mineral salts, which are dangerous for the joints.
- Flour products, sweets. Such foods contain simple carbohydrates that threaten to gain extra pounds.
- coffee. Excessive use of the drink leads to a decrease in calcium salts in the body. This leads to joint problems. Calcium deposits help maintain healthy knee joints.
- alcohol. There is a violation of metabolic processes. Nutrients are no longer absorbed.
- Semi-finished products, street fast food products.
- mayonnaise.
- Fat-refined oils.
- salt. Doctors recommend carefully monitoring the amount of salt. Excessive salt intake threatens salt build-up and deterioration of the knee joints.
Doctors also forbid smoking, as nicotine leads to vasoconstriction, which disrupts metabolic processes. Smoking reduces the effectiveness of any treatment.
Fasting is prohibited during healing. The body needs nutrients. The use of diuretics and laxatives is prohibited. Such drugs disrupt metabolic processes, contribute to the loss of nutrients in the knee joints.
Useful products
The diet contains foods that are useful for osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Healthy foods provide the nutrients needed to improve knee health.
- Low-fat poultry, meat, fish. Meat and fish dishes have to be natural. Broth-based soups are consumed regularly, but vegetable first courses are still preferred.
- Fermented dairy products. The proteins supplied improve the cartilage tissue of the knee joints. The maximum fat content of dairy products should be 3. 2 percent. Fermented milk products with a high calcium content are on the menu.
- eggs. It is allowed to eat up to three eggs a day. A large number of eggs disrupts metabolic processes, so there is a risk of negative effects on the knee joints.
- Natural meat jelly. The shell contains collagen and chondroitin, which are necessary to improve the condition of the cartilage of the knees.
- nuts. The absorption of vitamin E improves metabolic processes and stimulates the flow of useful components into the knee joints.
- grain. The most useful are millet, rice, buckwheat, and hard noodles. Standard-time cooked grains provide nutrients and complex carbohydrates to support the body.
- Fresh vegetables and fruits. These foods contain nutrients that help the body fight knee inflammation.
- Still mineral water, herbal and green tea. The diet also includes freshly made fruit and vegetable juices, previously diluted with water. Healthy drinks help maintain vitamins and help maintain the body's water balance.
Knee osteoarthritis menus contain healthy foods to ensure optimal food intake.
Sample menu for a day with osteoarthritis
The diet is varied and nutritious if the menus are right.
Drink a glass of clean water before breakfast. The liquid improves metabolic processes and cleanses the intestines.
Breakfast
First drink fruit or vegetable juice. After 20 minutes, it is advisable to eat porridge with a piece of butter. If you wish, you can plan cheesecake with natural honey, cereal biscuits, sandwiches with hard cheese, soft-boiled eggs, vegetable salad for breakfast. Drink green or herbal tea after breakfast.
Lunch
Fresh or dried fruit is eaten for lunch. The inclusion of nutrients is mandatory in the diet for improving health in osteoarthritis.
Lunch
Plan a vegetable or meat soup for lunch. For the second, schnitzel, baked chops, baked and boiled fish are ideal. It is recommended to pay attention to vegetable stew, mashed potatoes or baked potatoes, cereal. Rye bread will help absorb additional substances to improve metabolic processes.
Afternoon snack
For an afternoon snack, they eat fresh sweet fruit, drink a cup of dried fruit compote with dry biscuits.
Dinner
Nutritionists recommend a light meal to prevent weight gain. Recommended dishes are vegetable salad, cottage cheese casseroles with relaxing herbal tea.
When planning an appropriate diet for osteoarthritis of the knee joint, the focus is on optimal calorie intake, the intake of useful components.