Blueberries, walnuts, dark chocolate reduce joint inflammation: Dr

Call it a joint effort.

Dr. Nick Pappas, a board-certified hand surgeon in the New Orleans area, is sharing his three favorite foods to reduce joint inflammation — blueberries in the morning, walnuts at lunch, and dark chocolate at night.

“I find that these little additions to my diet have definitely contributed to keeping my joints happier and less inflamed, especially after heavy workouts,” Pappas posted on TikTok on Wednesday.

While inflammation is a normal response to illness or injury, chronic inflammation can be harmful. It can damage healthy tissue and has been linked to diabetes, heart disease and cancer, among other serious conditions.

Pappas says reducing inflammation could potentially mean avoiding surgery.

blueberries

“Every morning I eat a handful of blueberries,” Pappas explained, noting that the superfood contains more antioxidants than other fruits and vegetables.

This antioxidant booster is great for heart health, while the high fiber content in blueberries aids digestion.

Recent research also suggests that wild blueberries may accelerate fat burning during exercise.

nuts

In the interest of getting omega-3 fatty acids, known for their anti-inflammatory properties, Pappas eats a handful of walnuts during lunch.

Good for the body and mind, researchers at the National Institute on Aging have found that eating walnuts can help boost memory in Alzheimer’s patients.

These nuts are also good ABOUT nuts, as research has linked nut consumption 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 more relaxed and restful sleep. The dark stuff promotes the production of serotonin, the happy hormone that can also make people feel more Zen about their z’s.

However, dark chocolate lovers should be aware of new research that found some of these bars contain unsafe levels of lead and cadmium.