Unusual bitter melon supplement shown to improve arthritis in study - lowers inflammation

Many arthritis sufferers wind up becoming dependent on powerful medications like co-codamol, which combines opioids and paracetamol. But studies have revealed that some meals might lessen the need for painkillers. After three months of daily ingestion, a strange meal called bitter melon, which is also a supplement, has shown encouraging benefits.

Tropical fruit known as bitter melon, or bitter gourd, is a common ingredient in many Asian dishes. As the name implies, bitter melon has a harsh flavor.

Several large supermarkets, including Asda and Sainsbury's, as well as Holland & Barrett sell it as a supplement.

For those with osteoarthritis, the vitamin "offers a safe option to lowering pain and relieving symptoms," according to research published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice.

Thirty-eight individuals with knee osteoarthritis received supplements from bitter melon for three months. The supplements comprised 500 mg of bitter melon and were taken three times each day.

Another 37 patients with the same illness received placebos from the same group.

The researchers observed that those who had bitter melon reported experiencing less knee pain and required fewer "rescue" medicines to manage excruciating pain.

Even while those who received placebos had less pain, they needed more medicines over the course of the three months.

It is well known that bitter melon contains phytochemicals, which help reduce inflammation in the bones and joints.

It's possible that onions might aid with arthritic symptoms as well.

According to 2021 research by the KIET School of Pharmacy in India, "anti-inflammatory chemicals in onions aid to decrease the clinical symptoms linked with illnesses like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis."

In addition, onions are one of the best sources of flavonoids, which are antioxidants that scavenge free radicals in your body's cells before they can do any damage, according to the AF.

In osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the flavonoid quercetin, which is present in onions, has been demonstrated to block the leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and histamines that cause inflammation.

Quercetin can "decrease heart disease risk by reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or 'bad' cholesterol and assist prevent the advancement of cancer," according to the health organization.

Tomato lycopene may also be beneficial. It has been discovered that the vitamin also lowers the levels of inflammatory molecules.