Written by Dr. Bhavya

Medically reviewed by Dr Godmi Tresa

Updated on February 12, 2025

Can Your Diet Be the Natural Remedy for Knee Pain?

Diet, an essential and significant part of our livelihood, helps us survive, support and heal our whole body. That is why we recommend diet as a natural remedy for your knee pain and overall knee joint health.

In this blog, you will get a comprehensive list of what to add to your diet to help promote your knee joint health.

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Did you know that what you eat and how well you digest it can have a huge impact on your health?

Absolutely! A scientific report published in Plos One journal suggested an association between poor diet quality and knee joint pain. 

It's true! According to Ayurvedic experts at Nirva Health, a strong metabolism and proper digestion are essential for overall health and longevity - and that includes the health of your joints. In fact, they believe that every imbalance or disease can be traced back to an impaired metabolism and poor digestion. 

So, it's time to start paying attention to what you're putting in your body and how well it's being digested if you want to keep your joints healthy and pain-free!

Now you know that what you eat can also go to your knees! Let's see how this fascinating connection works.

  • Anti-inflammation - Some nutrients from your food, such as omega-three fatty acids and certain antioxidants, help reduce the inflammatory reaction around your knee joint.
  • Boosting Healing - Some essential nutrients like vitamins C and D help promote better healing by synthesising collagen, bone healing, and calcium production.
  • Hydrating - Food items like fruits, buttermilk, coconut water, etc., help provide enough hydration to the knee joint and rich minerals to support a proper balance of water content.
  • Maintaining Healthy Weight - When you have a balanced diet, you maintain a balance in fat distribution all over your body. This balance gives the proper centre of mass to your supporting bones and does not put extra pressure on the weight-bearing joints like the knee joint.

So what are you waiting for? If food can be your shortcut to a healthy knee, why not grab those wonder diets for non-surgical knee pain relief?

Essential Nutrients for Your Knee Joint

Some key nutrients to aid your bone health, cartilage maintenance and overall joint functions are given in the table below. Wipe your plates, and get ready with your fork and knife!

 SOURCESBENEFITS
Omega 3 fatty acidsFatty Fish, Nuts, Seeds Like Flax Seeds and Almonds, Plant Based OilsThey possess anti inflammatory properties and maintain a healthy cartilage
Vitamin DFortified Foods (Milk, Orange Juice), Egg YolksVitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and bone health.
Vitamin COranges, Grapes, Strawberries, BellpeppersThese are helpful in reducing the risk of inflammatory arthritis and maintaining healthy joints
Calcium Dairy Products (Milk, Yoghurt, Cheese), Leafy Greens, Nuts and Seeds Like Almonds, Chia Seeds, Flaxseeds, TofuCalcium is integral for bone density and strength. These food items prevent osteoporosis, keeps skeletal framework strong.
Glucosamine Shellfish Shells, SupplementsGlucosamine is an essential compound for cartilage formation 
AnthocyaninsRed and Blue Coloured Leafy Vegetables, Berries (Blueberries, Blackberries, Raspberries ), Currants, Grapes, and Some Tropical Fruits.They help reduce inflammation and aid recovery after strenuous exercise.
PolyphenolsTeas (Green, Black, Oolong, and White), Matcha (Powdered Green Tea Leaves), Olives, Cloves, Peppermint,The antioxidants in polyphenols help to reduce joint inflammation and slow the breakdown of cartilage. They also improve bone strength and help the body fight off infections.

Are You Lactose Intolerant?

If you are lactose intolerant or vegan, the best way to get calcium supplements is from fortified plant-based milk alternatives like almond, soy, or oat. You will still get your nutrients without compromising your needs.

Calcium-rich foods such as tofu, almonds, and leafy vegetables are good sources of this essential nutrient. Adding these foods into your diet ensures you get the calcium your bones need without regular dairy.

All these nutrients together contribute to your knee bones' health. If you don't get enough of these from your diet, your doctor will suggest taking additional supplements containing these nutrients.

But do add these food items to your diet as an amazing alternative to knee replacement.  

Anti-Inflammatory Foods for Your Knee Joint

Did you know that every time you choose to eat a bowl of berries, it helps heal your unhealthy joints? Yes, anti-inflammatory foods like berries and cherries not only have positive effects on your gut, heart, and diseases like cancer, but they can also protect your joints! 

Some painful conditions of the knee joint, such as bursitis, gout, and osteoarthritis, can be triggered by inflammation, which can be closely related to your diet.

Harvard Medical School suggests a Mediterranean and DASH diet of fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, whole grains and lean proteins for an amazing anti-inflammatory action. At the same time, avoiding a Western-style diet (also called the Standard American Diet) helps reduce inflammation.

However, rather than selecting one anti-inflammatory diet, it is best to fit different elements according to your taste and lifestyle pattern.

Check out some of the best anti-inflammatory foods for your knee joint health. 

  • Cherries
  • Olive oil
  • Probiotics like yoghurt, kefir and kimchi.
  • ginger 
  • Leafy vegetables like spinach, kale
  • Turmeric 
  • Black peppers
  • Oregano 
  • Whole grains like quinoa and brown rice
  • Nuts and seeds such as walnuts, chia seeds and flax seeds.
  • Fishes like salmon, mackerel and sardines

Read more about how an anti-inflammatory diet can be your best friends in all aspects of your health here -' Why Do You Need an Anti-inflammatory Diet Meal Plan?'

These reduce inflammatory markers like the C-reactive protein in contrast to the western diet or Standard American Diet (SAD) filled with sugar and processed food. 

So, make use of these tasty additions to your diet to create your own swollen knee treatment recipe at home.

Hydration: A Crucial Addition to Your Knee Joint Diet

Are you familiar with the importance of hydration for your joints? It turns out that the fluids inside your joint spaces help with the movement and weight transmission of your bones. 

And that's not all - did you know that your joint cartilage contains a whopping 70% water? 

Unfortunately, as we age, this hydration decreases, leading to cartilage degeneration. But fear not! There's something you can do to help maintain the health of your joints. 

One way is to incorporate foods into your diet that contain high amounts of water. Lucky for you, we have got a grand list of the best food items to help you out. Are you ready to dig in?

PercentageFood item
100 %Water
90 -99%Fat free milk, cantaloupe, strawberries, watermelon, lettuce, spinach, squash (cooked)
80-90%Fruit juice, yoghurt
70-79%Bananas, avocados, cottage cheese, potato (baked), corn (cooked), shrimp
60-69%Legumes, salmon
10-19%Butter, raisins
1-9%Walnuts, peanuts (dry roasted)
The Water Content Range in Different Joint Friendly Foods (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healthy herbal teas can also increase your daily water intake.

Hydrating Anti-inflammatory Herbal Tea: Chamomile-ginger tea with a pinch of turmeric daily.

So, drinking gallons of water may not be the only solution for hydration. You can experiment with a variety of food items to keep your joints hydrated and healthy.

Connect with Nirvanirva experts to know how you can make use of all the above nourishing food items to create a knee pain home remedy with Indian recipes.

Foods to Avoid for Knee Pain Relief

Some unwanted tiny molecules from your food can go into your joints and give you unbearable pain, swelling and stiffness. Do you wishwisht to know what foods you must avoid to combat knee joint issues?

  • Sugary foods, fast foods and processed foods - They release inflammatory cells into your joints.
  • Salt and Monosodium glutamate (food additive) - These increase chronic inflammation.
  • Alcohol - Interferes with pain relief enzymes and medications and increases arthritis and frequency of gout attacks.
  • Red Meat - Red meat has an excessive inflammation-causinginflammation causing substance.
  • Highly refined carbohydrates - These potentially trigger unwanted inflammation.

Aren't these reasons enough to skip your plate off the above food items?

Note to Remember!

Supporting digestion and metabolism is as important as providing adequate and appropriate nutrition to refine and deliver nutrients wherever required. 

Balancing Diet With Lifestyle

Do not forget this! A balanced lifestyle must include aspects of harmonising overall well-being through nutritional eating, regular knee joint exercises, stress management, quality sleep, and accurate professional guidance.

With diet, try out these knee joint exercises for a synergistic effect.

  • Quadriceps stretch
  • Calf wall stretching
  • Leg curl
  • Side leg raises
  • Half squat
  • Leg extension

Learn how to perform these exercises and add an extra benefit of meditation with yoga for knee joint health, consult Nirva Health experts. Connect now!

Final Thoughts

Adopting a diet prioritising knee joints will improve pain relief, mobility, and quality of life. Add essential nutrients and hydration to support your joint. A balanced diet and lifestyle give a holistic approach to promoting knee joint health.

Get moving without the ache!

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Dr. Bhavya

She offers a holistic approach to healing that focuses on the interplay between the body, mind, and spirit. Her expertise in these areas allows her to provide comprehensive care for various conditions, from musculoskeletal disorders to stress-related illnesses. She is dedicated to empowering women to take control of their health and well-being. Her proactive approach to healthcare emphasises the importance of preventive measures and natural remedies.