By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video Arthritis affects millions of people worldwide, and while there is no cure, there are evidence-based strategies that can meaningfully reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. Two of the most powerful — and often underappreciated — pillars of arthritis management are weight loss and an anti-inflammatory diet . In this guide, I review what the research says about how much weight loss is ne

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video The foods you eat can have a significant impact on how you experience arthritis symptoms. Recent research has shown that diet plays a vital role in managing arthritis and its associated pain, stiffness, and inflammation. Certain foods can trigger inflammatory responses and accelerate joint damage, while others can help reduce symptoms and support long-term joint health. In this article, I wi

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 4, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide. For decades, it was widely understood as a simple wear-and-tear condition — the gradual breakdown of cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in a joint. But recent research has fundamentally changed that view. We now know that osteoarthritis is a complex, multifactorial disease driven in lar

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video If you take a statin medication for cholesterol management, you may have experienced tendon pain and wondered whether the two are connected. For years, patients have reported tendon problems while on statins, but the scientific evidence has been mixed. A large nationwide cohort study now provides some of the strongest evidence to date confirming that statin use is associated with a significa

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video If you have been dealing with persistent tendon pain — whether in the Achilles, patellar tendon, elbow, or rotator cuff — you have probably been told you have "tendonitis" and that the problem is inflammation. But here is the truth: most chronic tendon pain has very little to do with inflammation. The real culprit is tendon degeneration , and the underlying cause is often as much metabolic as

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 4, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video Magnesium deficiency has been linked to worse arthritis symptoms and accelerated radiographic progression of joint disease. What makes this particularly concerning is that nearly half of Americans consume less than the recommended daily amount of magnesium from food — and this shortfall tends to worsen with age. In this post, I will review the current evidence on how magnesium affects joint h

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 4, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video GLP-1 receptor agonists such as Ozempic (semaglutide), Wegovy, and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) have transformed the landscape of medical weight loss. Originally developed for type 2 diabetes management, these medications are now generating excitement for an entirely different reason: their potential role in treating arthritis . Emerging clinical evidence suggests that GLP-1 agonists may not only r

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 4, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video Sugar is everywhere — and who does not enjoy a little sweetness? But the reality is that sugar poses a silent threat to health, contributing to worse outcomes and chronic pain regardless of body weight. Whether you are normal weight, overweight, or lean, excess sugar is toxic to the body. In this article, I will break down the hidden ways sugar affects your health and how reducing your intake

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 4, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video Many of the foods marketed as healthy choices — yogurt, granola bars, bottled smoothies, and fortified cereals — are quietly packed with far more added sugar than most people realize. If you are managing arthritis, joint pain, or any inflammatory condition, excess sugar intake can directly worsen your symptoms by fueling chronic low-grade inflammation throughout the body. According to the Ame

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 04, 2026 · 6 min read Watch the Full Video Can the foods you eat really impact the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis ? Most people assume that joint health is entirely about mechanical wear and tear, but recent science tells a different story. Your diet may be one of the most important—and most overlooked—factors in managing osteoarthritis symptoms. The connection lies in an unexpected place: the trillions of bacteria living in yo

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 04, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video Cupping therapy has gained significant attention in recent years, particularly after high-profile athletes like Michael Phelps appeared at the Olympics sporting those distinctive circular marks. But for patients dealing with chronic musculoskeletal pain, the real question isn't about celebrity endorsements — it's whether this ancient practice actually delivers measurable results. In this pos

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 4, 2025 · 20 min read Watch the Full Video What Is Knee Osteoarthritis and Why Is It So Complex? Knee osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is defined by the progressive loss of cartilage within the joint. Despite its prevalence, most patients have a limited understanding of the condition and the full range of treatment options available. In my practice, I frequently encounter patients who have received incomplete o

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 4, 2026 | Last Updated: March 4, 2026 In my practice, I frequently see patients managing prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, or elevated blood sugar levels who are overwhelmed by the complexity of lifestyle modification. The idea that controlling blood sugar requires radical dietary changes or multiple medications can feel daunting. What many of my patients don't realize—and what a growing

Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 3, 2026 | Last Updated: March 3, 2026 In my practice, one of the most common questions I hear from patients with knee arthritis is whether exercise is safe — and more specifically, whether strength training will make their joints worse. The evidence is clear: not only is strength training safe for most people with knee osteoarthritis, it is among the most effective interventions we have for red

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 3, 2026 | Last Updated: March 3, 2026 If you have been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis, you are likely wondering what you can do to keep it from getting worse — and whether surgery is inevitable. In my practice as a sports medicine physician, I meet patients every day who are anxious about their diagnosis and overwhelmed by conflicting advice. The good news is that there are three

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 3, 2026 | Last Updated: March 3, 2026 Osteoarthritis affects millions of people worldwide, and one of the most common questions I hear from patients is whether dietary changes can meaningfully reduce joint pain. The answer, supported by a growing body of clinical evidence, is encouraging. Research now demonstrates that something as simple as eating berries on a daily basis may help r

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 2, 2026 | Last Updated: March 2, 2026 Obesity is the single most powerful modifiable risk factor for developing knee osteoarthritis — and it could be quietly damaging your joints every single day. While many patients assume arthritis is simply an inevitable part of aging, research consistently shows that excess body weight plays a far larger role than most people realize. The good ne

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 1, 2026 | Last Updated: March 1, 2026 Knee arthritis is one of the most common conditions I treat in my sports medicine practice, and one of the most frustrating things patients experience is how unpredictable it can be. Two patients with nearly identical X-rays can have completely different levels of pain, function, and long-term outcomes. For years, we've treated osteoarthritis wit

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 1, 2025 | Last Updated: March 1, 2025 Visceral fat is something most people have never heard of, but it may be one of the most important factors in long-term joint health. Unlike the fat you can pinch under your skin, visceral fat hides deep inside your abdomen, surrounding your organs. It does not simply sit there quietly — it actively drives systemic inflammation, fuels metabolic s