[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/reflexknees.com\/blogs\/dieting-for-knee-pain-omega-3-fatty-acids\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/reflexknees.com\/blogs\/dieting-for-knee-pain-omega-3-fatty-acids\/","headline":"Dieting for Knee Pain: Omega 3 Fatty Acids","name":"Dieting for Knee Pain: Omega 3 Fatty Acids","description":"  It is easy to remember the \u201cwhat\u201d when it comes to dieting; vitamins, minerals, proteins and sugars. These terms go hand-in-hand with healthy eating. It\u2019s not as easy to remember the \u201cwhy.\u201d Why do we need to eat dark leafy greens? Why should I pick whole grain wheat bread over white? For the informed […]","datePublished":"2016-11-07","dateModified":"2024-02-15","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/reflexknees.com\/author\/developer\/#Person","name":"Nick Petersen","url":"https:\/\/reflexknees.com\/author\/developer\/","identifier":2,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8ea7fc410413ee0b715aee4c6b2d912c09623af5f85eaca6f6d7e0a2c223e1df?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8ea7fc410413ee0b715aee4c6b2d912c09623af5f85eaca6f6d7e0a2c223e1df?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Reflex Knee Specialists","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/b1ec2b6df7.nxcli.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/logo.png","url":"http:\/\/b1ec2b6df7.nxcli.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/logo.png","width":169,"height":104}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/reflexknees.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/2518198.webp","url":"https:\/\/reflexknees.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/2518198.webp","height":1536,"width":1536},"url":"https:\/\/reflexknees.com\/blogs\/dieting-for-knee-pain-omega-3-fatty-acids\/","about":["Blogs"],"wordCount":524,"articleBody":" It is easy to remember the \u201cwhat\u201d when it comes to dieting; vitamins, minerals, proteins and sugars. These terms go hand-in-hand with healthy eating. It\u2019s not as easy to remember the \u201cwhy.\u201d Why do we need to eat dark leafy greens? Why should I pick whole grain wheat bread over white? For the informed eater, simply saying \u201cbecause it is healthy\u201d is not good enough. Eating Smart Preventing daily knee pain and slowing the progression of osteoarthritis (OA) starts in the fridge and on your plate. While weight loss will help lighten the daily joint strain, a well-balanced diet can help alleviate knee pain even further. Today\u2019s post focuses on the Omega 3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Omega 3 fatty acids are commonly found in fish and fish oils (EPA and DHA), but alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) can also be found in flax seeds and walnuts. EPA and DHA are terms frequently used in relation to knee pain, but how do these fatty acids prevent knee pain and why should they be a staple in your diet? Smooth Moves Omega 3 fatty acids provide a very important function as it relates to knee pain; they aid in the body\u2019s ability to stop an inflammatory response by providing more of the raw materials necessary to produce the anti-inflammatory chemicals. Inflammation is your body\u2019s repair process, flooding the area with blood to bring as many platelets as possible to promote healing. The actual inflammation occurs when the body is unable to provide the adequate anti-inflammatory chemicals. While inflammation is a very natural and necessary part of the healing process, chronic inflammation (found in OA patients) is detrimental. Thinking Ahead Did you know The\u00a0World Health Organization\u00a0recommends a daily EPA and DHA intake of 0.3-0.5 grams and a daily ALA intake of 0.8-1.1 grams? That equates to eating fish twice a week. Your body uses Omega 3 fatty acids to maintain the health of the cartilage matrix in your knees and other joints. Cartilage is the smooth tissue between bones and healthy cartilage is essential for proper joint health and function. A consistent Omega 3 intake ensures the materials needed for natural repair are always present. Omega 3s may also slow the progression of OA by decreasing certain cartilage-degrading enzymes. Not All Supplements Are Created Equal Supplementing our diets with additional Omega 3s is an inexpensive way to promote cartilage health and keep us active for years to come. Although interactions with other medications is rare, you should check with your doctor to make sure Omega 3 fatty acids will be a safe addition to your daily regimen. Reflex provides fish oil that meets the highest standards established by the US Pharmacopeia (USP). We use a well-established and\u00a0highly-trusted brand\u00a0that must be prescribed by a healthcare practitioner. Check out our\u00a0previous blog\u00a0to help you determine how to choose a good fish oil supplement. Our providers can customize a supplement program to protect your joints and aid in pain relief.\u00a0Call our office at (503) 719-6783 to schedule an appointment."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blogs","item":"https:\/\/reflexknees.com\/blogs\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Dieting for Knee Pain: Omega 3 Fatty Acids","item":"https:\/\/reflexknees.com\/blogs\/dieting-for-knee-pain-omega-3-fatty-acids\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]