Muscles And Joints

Foods that fight inflammation will help protect your joints and muscles against wear and tear. Good-quality protein will also help maintain muscles.

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When it comes to food for your joints and muscles, there are two objectives. The first is to provide good-quality protein to build your muscle, and the second is to eat foods that will decrease inflammation and therefore improve conditions like arthritis.

Protein sources

Meat has a long-held reputation as being a good source of highly available protein. However, vegetables contain protein too. Not only are vegetables high in protein, but they also contain many antioxidants, vitamins and minerals and fibre. Individual plant foods do not contain all of the amino acids needed for your body to make protein, but as long as you eat all the amino acids you need in a day, your body is smart enough to assemble them into the protein your muscles need.

Eating a range of healthy grains and vegetables will provide your body with all the amino acids it needs to maintain muscle.

Eggs

Eggs are a highly convenient and usable form of protein. One egg provides around 6g of pure protein. One 50g egg has around 55mg of omega-3 fats and they also contain some of the antioxidant lutein (see the section on ageing well for your eyes).