Call it a joints effort.
Dr. Nick Pappas, a board-certified hand surgeon in the New Orleans area, is sharing his three favorite snacks to reduce joint inflammation — blueberries in the morning, walnuts at lunch and dark chocolate at night.
“I do find that these little additions to my diet have definitely contributed to keeping my joints happier and less inflamed, particularly after heavy workouts,” Pappas wrote Wednesday on TikTok.
While inflammation is a normal response to illness or injury, chronic inflammation can be harmful. It can damage healthy tissue, and it has been linked to diabetes, heart disease and cancer, among other serious conditions.
Pappas says that reducing inflammation can potentially mean avoiding surgery.
Blueberries
“Every morning I eat a handful of blueberries,” Pappas explains, noting that the superfood contains more antioxidants than other fruits and vegetables.
This antioxidant boost is great for heart health, while the high fiber content in blueberries aids digestion.
Recent research also suggests that wild blueberries can accelerate fat-burning during exercise.
Walnuts
In the interest of getting his omega-3 fatty acids, known for their anti-inflammatory properties, Pappas eats a handful of walnuts around lunchtime.
Good for the body and the mind, researchers at the US National Institute on Aging have found that eating walnuts could help enhance memory among Alzheimer’s patients.
These nuts are also good for the nuts, as research has linked eating walnuts to improved sperm quality.
Dark chocolate
Pappas ends his day on a sweet note, “I consume three small pieces of 70% dark chocolate at night after dinner for the anti-inflammatory effect of flavanols as well as to improve satiety.”
In addition, a few bites of high-quality dark chocolate have been shown to lead to a relaxed, more peaceful sleep. The dark stuff promotes the production of serotonin, the happy hormone that can also make people feel more zen about their zzzs.
However, dark chocolate lovers should be aware of new research that found that some of these bars contain unsafe levels of lead and cadmium.
