Pumpkin seeds may help to reduce joint pain in arthritis sufferers.
Pumpkin seed oil contains omega-3 fatty acid, a type of essential fatty acid that must be obtained through food. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, essential fatty acids are currently being researched for their positive impact on a number of degenerative conditions such as heart disease, lupus and arthritis. The main role that omega-3 fatty acids seem to play in the body is lowering inflammation. While arthritis is a degenerative joint condition, inflammation plays a major role in the disease's symptoms. Using pumpkin seed oil may benefit arthritis sufferers.
Joint Pain
While the omega-3 fatty acids in pumpkin seeds have not shown a tendency to slow or reverse the progression of arthritis, they do help to reduce the intensity of the joint pain. The ability of omega-3 fatty acids to decrease pain and joint stiffness allows arthritis sufferers greater range of motion as well as increased walking speed and hand strength. Unlike pain relieving drugs, the omega-3 fatty acids in pumpkin seeds takes time to produce pain relief.
Morning Stiffness
One of the major symptoms of arthritis is morning stiffness that lasts for a period greater than half an hour. Morning stiffness reduces the patient's productivity and only adds to the difficulties arthritis sufferers face. Omega-3 fatty acids help to alleviate morning stiffness by reducing the amount of inflammation and joint stiffness that accrues overnight. Again, the benefits of pumpkin seed oil may not be seen immediately but, given time, improvement should be felt.
Reduction of Medication
Once the omega-3 fatty acids have affected a pain relieving response, the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are often prescribed to arthritis patients may be reduced in dosage. This can be especially good news to those who react negatively to these pain relieving drugs. According to the University of Washington, NSAIDs have been known to cause stomach pain, vomiting and indigestion. In this respect, the anti-inflammatory properties of the omega-3 fatty acids in pumpkin seeds may reduce more than arthritis pain.
Arthritis and Depression
According to the University of Nebraska, depression is common in arthritis patients and may even precede symptoms in some patients. While treating depression may not improve arthritis symptoms, it would improve the coping abilities of patients. The omega-3 fatty acids in pumpkin seeds have shown some benefits in reducing depression. However, they are often used in conjunction with prescription medications for depression and should not be relied upon to treat this serious condition.
Tags: fatty acids, omega-3 fatty, acids pumpkin, acids pumpkin seeds, arthritis sufferers