The problem of osteoarthritis is continually growing as the population ages. There are more than 20 million Americans suffering from knee problems and osteoarthritis. This has been reported to be second to ischemic heart problems as the most common reason for work disability in men aged 50 and above. The Center for Disease Control also reported that the cost related to the problem is nearing $90 billion.

A pioneering study conducted by a group of researchers from New Zealand, USA and Iran found that a 60-day supplementation of passion fruit peel extract reduces the stiffness and pain of the knees in study participants by 18 percent. The researchers used the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) scale to analyze their findings. The study also proposes the replacement of pharmaceutical, non-steroidal and frequently prescribed anti-inflammatory drug NSAIDs with the peel extract. The drug has been found to cause gastrointestinal toxicity, increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and increased blood pressure.

Head of the researcher team, Ronald Watson, from The University of Arizona said that the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor property of passion fruit peel extract is responsible for the reduction of knee inflammation in study participants. He added that the supplementation of passion fruit peel extract can reduce the reliance of patients on pharmaceutical anti-inflammatory drugs like NSAIDs that were found to have adverse effects to the body.

The researchers, led by Dr Watson, asked 33 osteoarthritis patients to take a dose of 150 milligrams of passion fruit peel extract everyday for 3 months. A control group was also established with the participants taking placebo pills. They used the WOMAC scale to measure the clinical symptoms in the participants after taking the treatment. They found out that the group taking the passion fruit peel extract experienced a significant reduction in terms of inflammation, stiffness and pain. Dr Watson sited the passion fruit’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and its unique mixture of bioflavonoids to be the cause of the fruit’s effects.

Understanding Knee Problems

The knee plays a very important role in maintaining effective mobility. This makes it very important to keep the knee joints and cartilages healthy to prevent any possible injury that may lead to difficulties in doing simple tasks like walking. Knee problems are usually associated with the snapping and popping of the knees when the legs are stretched. But this is not something to be worried about if no pain is felt. But when the snapping and popping starts to be painful, this is the perfect time to seek the advice of a medical specialist.

When the cartilages that guide and support the joints and the leg bones from moving smoothly start to wear off, the bones will begin to grind against each other. This will create a painful feeling in the knee when walking and this is usually the case in people suffering from knee problems. This symptom is usually present in arthritis cases but people who suffered knee injury in the past may also suffer from this condition.

Patients with knee problems may also experience a sudden locking of the joints which prevents the legs from moving in an attempt to walk or even stretch. There are two reasons why the knee locks:  this may be because of a blockage in the cartilage that prevents the joints from moving or may be due to the pain caused by attempting to move it.

Determining the type of treatment procedure to be used for a specific knee problem will rely entirely on the source of the problem. The method medical experts use to superficially determine the procedure to be used in helping a patient is by determining the location of the pain. If the pain is on the front area of the knee, it’s possible that the patient is suffering from a damaged knee cap. If the pain is coming from inside the knee, it can be a case of an injured ligament, meniscus tears or arthritis. Pain from the back of the knee, on the other hand, may suggest that the cause of the problem is the formation of a cyst behind the knee joint. You will easily know that you have a knee problem if you feel pain in that area every time you walk up and down the stairs or when you wake up in the morning.

Foods that Promote Knee Health

Eating the wrong foods may lead to the development of several health conditions. But eating the right kind of foods can reduce the risk of developing many kinds of chronic and degenerative disease. As for knee health, the natural way of keeping the knee healthy is by maintaining a healthy diet and by keeping an active lifestyle. Medical experts will suggest eating more fish.

Fish contains high dosage of antioxidant omega-3 fatty acids. Amongst the many proven health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids is keeping the knee free from the inflammation caused by free radicals and giving ease to soreness and pain. This is according to the orthopedic surgeon of from the NYU Hospital for Joint Disease Steven Stuchin, MD. In his clinical study, Stuchin observed that omega-3 fatty acids helped ease the pain caused by knee problems. The richest sources of this essential antioxidant are tuna, salmon, cod, herring, mackerel and sardines. Taking food supplements with high concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids is also recommended to promote healthy knees. Another powerful antioxidant is Vitamin C. It can be readily obtained by drinking orange juice and other fruit juices.

Eating soy products is another way of keeping the joints healthy. Soy reduces the pain caused by knee problems due to its high content of anti-inflammatory isoflavones. White bread, on the other hand, has been found to increase the inflammation in the knees which results to knee problems. Taking less refined carbohydrates and more of whole wheat products is not only a perfect way of losing excess pounds but is also a good advice to maintain healthy knees.  Herbs including cumin seeds, turmeric and cinnamon have potent anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger has also been found to lessen knee pain.

Sources
nutraingredients.com
osteoarthritis.about.com
orthopedics.about.com
everydayhealth.com