[(JD)]

Here are 7 foods to stock up on:

Good food #1: Fatty fish (salmon, herring sardines) or any other food with omega-3 fatty acids, such as walnuts, soy beans, flax seeds, canola oil and pumpkin seeds

Why it helps: Omega-3s decrease the production of chemicals that spread inflammation, plus they inhibit enzymes that trigger it – “a dual benefit,” Bonci says.

Fatty fish also contain vitamin D, which helps prevent swelling and soreness.

Good food #2: Extra-virgin olive oil

Why it helps: Olive oil contains oleocanthal, which blocks enzymes involved in inflammation.

Good food #3: Sweet peppers, citrus fruits and other vitamin C-rich foods

Why it helps: Vitamin C protects collagen, a major component of cartilage. Inadequate amounts may increase your risk for some kinds of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Good food #4: Brazil nuts

Why they help: Brazil nuts contain huge amounts of selenium – 272 micrograms in just three or four nuts, compared to 63 micrograms in 3 ounces of tuna.

Good food #5: Onions and leeks

Why they help: Onions and leeks contain quercetin, an antioxidant that may inhibit inflammatory chemicals, much like aspirin and ibuprofen do. But research is limited, Bonci says.

Good food #6: Tart cherries

Why they help: “This wives’ tale now has science to back it up,” Bonci says.

Good food #7: Green tea

Why it helps: Studies show that certain antioxidant compounds in the brew lessen the incidence and severity of rheumatoid arthritis.

I don't eat enough to eat everything that's good for me!

For full article: http://www.lifescript.com/Health/Conditions/Arthritis/Fight_Arthritis_10_Foods_That_Help_and_Hurt.aspx?utm_campaign=2011-04-30&utm_source=healthy-advantage&utm_medium=email&utm_content=healthy-well-wise_Fight%20Arthritis%2010%20Foo&FromNL=1&sc_date=20110430T000000

[sunrise]

JD, that is so interesting, because I have had arthritis from a young age and I really like many of those foods. Some are among my favorites. So I wonder if my body somehow naturally knows what is good for my arthritis?

I eat salmon frequently, love peppers and citrus, LOVE tart cherries (prefer them to sweet cherries), absolutely love leeks, and drink only green tea (several cups a day). I also like sardines, which is not a normal thing to like, I think. The only thing from the list I don't like are Brazil nuts.

Thanks for that list.

[Perna]

I buy the Planters unsalted mixed nuts just to get the Brazil nuts; but one nut has way more than one needs of selenium and it's possible to get too much so be careful with that one. I eat one a day :-) but for my thyroid support since I'm hypothyroid and have to take some hormone supplementation too.

http://thyroid.about.com/library/weekly/aa072000a.htm

I don't have arthritis but think this list is good for general "inflammation" support. I spend four hours in the ER the night before last with blood pressure problems and went to my doctor yesterday and am having all sorts of heart/kidney tests to make sure I'm okay so I'm working with this list the next few weeks to be sure I pass the tests in flying color :-) We went out for dinner last night so I had salmon and I bought some good green tea bags at the grocery just today (we went right after my new refrigerator was delivered). I've got oat meal, beans, spinach/broccoli and tomatoes on my list too.

[Beholden]

(JD)

Thanks, I'll have to remember to print this list.

Last month at my healthy lifestyle weight loss group the RD talked about the #one 'healthiest' nut. It is the walnut.

7 per day is the amount to give much needed omega....yeah. But watch eatting too many as they are very high in fat content, however good it is for you over saturated animal fats!

It used to be the #1 nut was the almond.

I like almost everything on the list you provided (JD). Except Salmon

[(JD)]

I eat walnuts and almonds...and that's enough to remember! I can't remember all the reasons why though... but I know to stay away from the peanut (it binds molecularly to iron in the body and causes iron to be thrown out of the body...)

[Perna]

Okay, I don't know where you learned that about peanuts; they're one of the good sources of iron (along with other legumes)!

http://www.annecollins.com/diet_foods/peanuts.htm