Healthy eating is among the best things you can do for yourself, especially if you have rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. When fighting inflammation in the joints is the goal, superfoods are the star player. These five superfoods make the perfect meal, snack, and supplement, we think you’ll agree!

What to eat: Bananas

Eating superfoods doesn’t have to mean sitting down to a plate of rough greens and a side of cold water. Many of the best superfoods for arthritis are actually quite colorful. Take bananas — a nutrient-rich superfood that packs a wicked arthritis-fighting punch and while they add a bright color to the plate, they also mix in quite well with healthy, joint-friendly dishes.

Bananas are high in Vitamin C and Vitamin B6, as well as the inflammation-fighting folate. When you need a quick, fresh meal, slice up a banana and toss it into a Caribbean-inspired greens salad. Along with mandarin oranges, mixed greens, and pine nuts, toss the ingredients in a citrus dressing and enjoy them at home or on the go.

To go a little deeper, get out the mixing bowl and shred five fresh zucchinis. Along with zucchini, add three sliced bananas, one tablespoon of maple syrup, two tablespoons of nut butter, flour, and a dash of vanilla extract to the bowl. Mix, and add to a muffin tray. Bake 25 minutes or until the muffins have risen. You now have yourself a tray of delicious and healthy banana-zucchini muffins that are so tasty, you won’t want to share (and your joints will agree with your selfishness).

What to avoid: Butter-heavy banana bread recipes

What to eat: Shrimp

Yes, you read that correctly! Boiled shrimp are high in iron and Vitamin D, with Omega-3 fatty acids as well. And, shrimp is incredibly easy to prepare, if you buy the cleaned kind from your local supermarket. Boil raw shrimp for 8-10 minutes or until colored, put into a bowl and toss quickly in garlic salt, pepper, and a dash of bay leaf, and then rim a cocktail glass. 

For a quick and easy cocktail sauce, simply stir a half-teaspoon of horseradish into a few ounces of ketchup, add a squirt of lemon juice and a drop of Worcestershire, and voila! Your shrimp cocktail is ready for enjoyment.

What to avoid: breaded and fried shrimp, mayonnaise-based dipping sauces

What to eat: Tempeh

Tempeh, made of fermented soybeans formed into a patty, is among the healthiest of the “fake meats” available in most grocery and health food stores. And here’s the kicker — even if you aren’t vegetarian, tempeh “bacon” is a quick and easy way to get your fix without all the grease and inflammation. Start with a block of tempeh sliced into long, thin slices (like the real thing). In a mixing bowl, combine soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, a teaspoon of maple syrup, and Liquid Smoke. Marinade the tempeh strips — at least for ten minutes, but the longer, the better — and then fry in a skillet with olive oil. Cook until browned on both sides, and serve! Enjoy with breakfast, on a salad, or in the ultimate temptation, the BLT sandwich.

Another popular tempeh meal is tempeh tacos. Rather than slicing the tempeh block, crumble it. And swap out the soy sauce marinade for taco seasoning, before frying or baking the tempeh until browned. Add your favorite taco toppings, layer on some salsa, and serve in either toasted corn or flour tortillas. Top with avocado for a bit of extra omega-3 power!

What to avoid: deep-fried tofu, seitan

What to eat: Sweet Potatoes

Ah, the joys of fries. This is the one indulgence we will never give up. Though, we will swap out the starchy white potatoes for sweet potatoes. Sweet potato fries are simple and delicious, whether you fry them or bake them. We love topping the sliced potato strips with garlic salt, pepper, and a dash of cayenne or red pepper flakes before baking or after frying. 

If you bake them, be sure to cook long enough (at least 20 minutes) that the fries are crispy throughout. As a dipping sauce, try Lemonaise and add a squirt of Sriracha for a spicy kick.

What to avoid: Guilt (and too much dipping sauce)

Seafood high in Omega-3 fatty acids

Salmon is a common superfood for arthritis patients. It’s high in omega-3s, delicious, lean, and relatively easy to cook. Try a grilled salmon filet with olive oil, garlic powder, and diced onion, baked for fifteen minutes. After pulling your fish from the oven, squirt lemon juice on top, along with black pepper. This dish is amazing with the fruit salad we discussed above! (And we’re known to complement with a glass of red wine on occasion).

But here’s the thing. We don’t always have time to shop for and prepare a seafood recipe. GLX3 is here for those times, and for everyday use — providing an omega-3 super dose in an easy, all-natural supplement built around New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel Oil. We don’t mean to toot our own horn, but we’re quite proud of our supplement that is among the top omega-3 supplements on the market, and it’s built from only three natural ingredients — in addition to the mussel oil, we use New Zealand Olive Oil and Vitamin E Oil for extra impact. 

Try GLX3 today — it pairs well with your favorite arthritis-fighting recipes!