The readily-available spice, tumeric, is helpful to relieve achy joint pain. The spice is an anti-inflammatory, that, one study found, gives as much pain relief as ibuprofen.
Tumeric is found in South Asian curry dishes. It can also be purchased in pill or capsule form at health food stores. One doctor recommends 1,000 mg a day. If the pill is combined with piperine (a form of pepper), so much the better – that helps with absorption.
A few cautions before using tumeric: 1) be sure you are just dealing with wear and tear inflammation from sports or exercise, rather than a more serious problem; 2) it can slow blood clotting so don’t take it for two weeks before surgery of if you are taking blood thinner medication; and 3) avoid it if you have gallstones or other gallbladder problems.