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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Lifestyle
Jessica Knibbs

Arthritis symptoms: 3 best drinks proven to help reduce painful inflammation

Arthritis pain affects about 10 million people in the UK. The condition often starts when a person is between 40 and 50 years old, and women are three times more likely to be affected than men.

Symptoms include joint pain, restricted movement and warm, red skin over affected joints, according to the NHS.

The two most common types of arthritis in the UK are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Early symptoms of arthritis include morning pain and stiffness in the joints.

The condition, if not managed correctly, is known to negatively affect a person's day-to-day life.

Fortunately, there are a number of drinks which could help reduce your painful symptoms and improve your life.

Tea is one drink to help reduce arthritis symptoms (Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty Images)

Water

If a person is dehydrated this will negatively affect arthritis symptoms.

Hydration helps with a number of bodily tasks with well-hydrated cartilages helping to reduce the rate of friction between bones.

The result is an easier range of movement.

"If there’s a magical elixir to drink, it’s water," said the Arthritis Foundation.

"Hydration is vital for flushing toxins out of your body, which can help fight inflammation.

"Adequate water intake can help keep your joints well lubricated and prevent gout attacks.

"Drinking water before a meal can also help you eat less, promoting weight loss."

Coffee

Coffee has been claimed to protect against gout symptoms in some patients.

It contains antioxidant polyphenols, which helps to get rid of free radicals in the body.

The Arthritis Foundation said: "In general, the best rule of thumb is to drink coffee in moderation – no more than one or two cups of coffee a day.

"Watch your caffeine intake and be mindful of coffee and espresso drinks that are full of whipped cream and syrups that cause calories and sugar levels to skyrocket."

In two large studies starting in the 1970s, Finnish adults were asked questions about their medical history and smoking and drinking habits, as well as their coffee intake.

After following the adults for about 15 years, the researchers used health records to determine the number of people who went on to develop rheumatoid factor or rheumatoid arthritis.

Both studies showed an association between the number of cups of coffee drunk daily and the risk of producing rheumatoid factor.

In fact, one of the studies showed those who drank four or more cups of coffee each day were twice is likely to have the marker for rheumatoid arthritis.

Caffeine is also said to help stimulate the effects to help fight physical and mental fatigue that is common with rheumatoid arthritis.

Tea

Tea is one of the most-studied drinks when it comes to its benefits for arthritis patients.

“Green, black and white teas are all rich in polyphenols – compounds from plants that have strong anti-inflammatory effects,” said the Arthritis Foundation.

"Green tea is generally viewed as the most beneficial of all because its active ingredient is a polyphenol known as epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG).

“Studies have shown it also helps preserve cartilage and bone, although there are no widespread controlled trials of it in people with arthritis.”

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