Natural Alternatives to Prevent and Manage Arthritis Simply

Top 7 Tips For Preventing or managing the Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

How do we get osteoarthritis?

The most common way to get OA is from trauma. Traumatic causes can be further divided into macrotrauma or microtrauma. An example of macrotrauma is an injury to the joint such as a bone break causing the bones to line up improperly (misalignment), lose stability, or damage cartilage. Microtrauma may occur over time (chronically). An example of this would be repetitive movements like carpal tunnel.

Another common actor to developing OA is being overweight. Studies have shown time and time again that overweight people tend to have a higher affinity for developing OA. This happens because of the excess force that the joints are required to hold.

Other factors are:

Endocrine is another predisposing factor. People with diabetes may be more prone to osteoarthritis. Other less common endocrine problems also may promote development, including acromegaly, hypothyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, and obesity.

Inflammatory joint diseases like infected joints, chronic gouty arthritis, and rheumatoid disease can also predispose a person to osteoarthritis.

Congenital, developmental, genetic can also cause a predisposition to osteoarthritis like abnormal anatomy such as unequal leg length or genetic defect may promote breakdown of the protective architecture of cartilage.

What happens in OA?

As you age, have a major trauma, repetitive micro trauma (wear and tear), genetic predisposition, and metabolic disease can lead to a break down in cartilage.

In each joint you have synovial fluid, cartilage then bone (this is a simplification). So if you have repetitive trauma it wears on the synovial fluid and after time the synovial fluid begins to lose viscosity. When the synovial fluid loses viscosity then additional stress is put on the cartilage. The cartilage begins breaking down and ultimately leads to cartilage calcification and potentially bone on bone grinding.

So what can I do about it?

Chondroitin sulfate consists of repeating chains of molecules called glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). This provides the structure in the synovial fluid by holding both water and nutrients in the synovial fluid. This is extremely important since cartilage areas have little or no blood supply.

Studies have been performed on supplementing with oral chondroitin sulfate and have consistently reduced pain, increased joint mobility, and healing within joints (shown on x-ray).

1) Omega 3 oils are a huge topic and widely debated. In my office I recommend fish oil over flax oil because fish oil contains both DHA and EPA. DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) both have anti-inflammatory effects ultimately leading to a reduction in pain. Flax oil contains ALA which can ultimately can be converted into ALA but the body has to go through many chemical processes to manufacture EPA and DHA. In order for this process to work a patient must have a functioning thyroid.

What to look for when you buy a fish oil. A high grade fish oil will be pharmaceutical grade or molecularly distilled which removes chemicals, PCBs, and mercury.

To help prevent joint damage, is it important to exercise?

2) Exercise is important because diabetes and obesity are rising quickly in this country and are risk factors for OA. It is important to do some form of exercise increasing mileage 10 percent each week. This increases muscle strength which ultimately increases bone strength. Studies have shown the more muscle mass you obtain has a direct correlation with a decrease in insulin levels. This decrease the risk of diabetes. It is important to perform exercise with the correct biomechanics and have all of the bones moving how they were designed to move.

3) Get Chiropractic care to increase the mobility of your joints and stop the process of degeneration. It is important that all of the bones and joints in your body are moving. Chiropractic is very effective in decreasing the side effects of an already present disease process of arthritis and also preventing osteoarthritis all together.

Am I at Risk?
Are you over 45 years old?
Have you had injury to 1 or more joints?
Are you stressed?
Does Osteoarthritis run in your family?
Do you experience muscle weakness
Do you exercise regularly?
Do you stretch?
Are you overweight or obesity?
Do you have pain during or after movement?
Do you feel tenderness when you apply light pressure to an area?
Do you get joint stiffness when you wake up in the morning or after a period of inactivity?
Do you have a loss of flexibility? Do you notice you can't put a joint through its full range of motion?
Do you hear or feel a grating sensation when you use the joint?

Find out simple tips to prevent or manage arthritis at my Longmont Chiropractic web site at http://www.altfammed.com/.

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What Foods Should You Eat to Prevent Gouty Arthritis?

By Heemen Ee Heemen Ee
Level: Platinum

Hemen profession is specialized in helping gout patients minimize the frequency of their gout pain attacks by reducing the uric acid level in their blood ...

The main cause behind gouty arthritis is the buildup of uric acid crystals in your blood, which eventually become deposited in your joints, causing inflammation and pain. One of the main reasons for excess uric acid in your system is eating too much purine-rich food so you will have to adjust your diet in order to avoid gout attacks.

Foods that are rich in purine include organ meats such as liver and kidney as well as certain types of fish such as sardines and salmon. Alcoholic beverages such as beer that are made from yeast also have high purine content. In addition, you should also avoid beverages that are rich in caffeine such as coffee and tea while increasing your intake of water to help cleanse your system of uric acid.

To help treat gouty arthritis, replace high-purine foods in your diet with low-purine ones. Foods which are low in purine include:
fresh vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage and other leafy greens as well as tomatoes, potatoes and red bell peppers;high-fiber and water-rich fruits such as cherries, strawberries, potassium-rich bananas, oranges and pineapples;plant-based proteins such as nuts, soy products such as tofu and peanut butter;Refined cereals such as brown rice and whole wheat.

In addition, there are some nutritional supplements and nutrients that you need to take more of to help you address gouty arthritis, such as:
Apple cider vinegar, which helps create a more alkaline environment in your body that contributes to reducing gout attacks.Omega 3 fatty acids which can regulate the production of leukotrienes that help control inflammation. Since many Omega 3-rich fish species are also high in purines, you can get this nutrient from plant-based sources such as walnuts and flaxseed.Celery seeds can help reduce the amount of uric acid in your blood. Boil one tablespoon of celery seeds in two cups of water to create a tea and then drink half a cup four times a day.Cod liver oil is rich in Vitamin A, which can promote healthy kidneys as well as preventing uric acid buildup. Take one teaspoon per day.Cherry juice can also be effective in reducing uric acid levels as well as controlling inflammation of the joints. You can also take one teaspoon of cherry juice concentrate without sugar twice a day. Take cherry juice or concentrate consistently for the rest of your life as this will help you manage your uric acid and prevent gouty arthritis attacks.This article has been viewed 64 time(s).
Article Submitted On: April 19, 2011

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Gout Relief Diet - Your Diet Is Important to Prevent Gout Attacks

Food is very important for us to survive. We need them to have a healthy body and a sound mind. But if foods are taken in extreme amounts, they can cause imbalance leading to a disease and illness. Gout is a classic example of it.

It is one of the types of arthritis resulting to higher amount of uric acid from the breakdown of proteins to purines because of the foods taken in our body. Having high levels of it in the tissues and blood, and the slow excretion process will lead to crystallization, which results to pain, inflammation, and swelling in the different body parts.

Choosing a gout relief diet is one of the key management processes in treating this disease.

Gout is usually caused by the consumption of foods high in purine such as organ meat, poultry products, alcoholic beverages, whole grain, legumes, fried foods, beans, caffeine, and coffee. But it is not only the main cause.

Some of the things that can also trigger it are the hereditary metabolic disorders, food allergy, stress, surgery, vitamin deficiency, and sometimes drugs that include diuretics, insulin, and too much Vitamin B. The primary factor that could help in treating this condition is by using diet modification that is considered as the gout relief diet for this specific situation.

Low purine diet is the most advisable and effective gout relief diet. This includes the low consumption of foods that contain Vitamin B, E, and other antioxidants. However, supplementation must also be given to prevent aggravating the condition due to the effect of free radicals that may cause further damage.

Aside from having low purine, it must also be high in fiber so that there would be a speeding up in the excretion of too much uric acid. Increase in potassium intake is also required because any deficiency leads to the higher levels of urate. Consumption of foods high in flavonoid quercetin is also one of the important remedies.

Drinking 6-8 glasses of water and fresh fruit juices prevents crystal formation and aids in excretion of uric acid. One half teaspoon of baking soda helps alkalanize the body and aids in neutralizing too much acidity as well.

Gout makes sufferers become annoyed and irritated because of the pain attached with it. It is very hard to move and perform your activities if one part of our body parts is not in good condition. But gout relief diet in combination with medicines and other natural remedies help in pushing away the pain brought about by extreme levels of uric acid in the body.

Alvin Hopkinson is a leading researcher in the area of natural remedies and gout treatment. Discover how you can get rid of your gout for good using proven home remedies, all without using harmful medications or drugs. If you enjoyed this article, you might also like: Removing Gout Crystals.

Prepare wholesome and healthy food with a toaster oven: Cuisinart TOB-195

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How To Prevent Arthritis And Osteoporosis

About two years ago, a friend of mine who is in her 40’s came to me for advice about arthritis. Her doctor had told her that her neck was like she was 65 years old. Not only did she have arthritis in her neck, but in her feet as well. My friend is passionate about horse riding – how much longer will she be able to do that?
Both my parents had arthritis – my father’s was in his feet and hands, my mother’s in her back. My husband has arthritis in his knee – a result of a rugby injury and having cartilage removed. Arthritis is both painful and debilitating.

What causes arthritis?
There are two types of arthritis – osteoarthritis (the most common, caused by wear and tear) and rheumatoid arthritis (inflammation of the joints due to an autoimmune disease).

Doctor Ray Strand says “Osteoarthritis is a degenerative process within the joints. Over 70% of the people over 50 years of age have some degree of degenerative arthritis. This is not a disease that will typically shorten one's life, but will certainly cause significant pain and disability if left untreated.
“When researchers study joint fluid extracted from an inflamed joint, they note a significant increase in the number of excessive free radicals. In contrast, fluid from a normal joint has no free radicals present. Studies have shown a significant increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis in those individuals who have low levels of Vitamin E, beta-carotene, and selenium. Research has further indicated low levels of vitamin D and Vitamin C in patients suffering severe joint disease and whose disease progresses much more rapidly than the norm”.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease – caused by a virus or bacteria. The immune system becomes confused and it attacks itself rather than the bacteria or virus. The joints become inflamed causing chronic inflammation, pain and swelling; and the joint fluid which is usually thick becomes thin, so the cartilage becomes less protective.

My horse-riding friend is a ‘health nut’ – she eats organic food and has a healthy lifestyle. But that hasn’t been enough to prevent Osteoarthritis. My suggestion is to add advanced-quality broad spectrum supplements (including glucosamine for healthy cartilage and grape seed extract to help with inflammation) to a healthy lifestyle to support healthy joints and bones. And to also continue with exercise to maintain fitness, muscle strength, heart health, relieve pain and stiffness and to get better quality of sleep.

What causes osteoporosis?
News.com.au has reported that Gwyneth Paltrow : “has been diagnosed with osteopenia, an illness that can lead to the serious bone disease osteoporosis”. Osteoporosis is ”brittle bone disease” – where the bones begin to look like Swiss cheese. Gwyneth Paltrow is reportedly Vitamin D deficient.

Vitamin D is necessary for normal bone mineralisation, maintains muscle strength, supports efficient calcium absorption, and supports robust and healthy immune function. What happens is that the bones become so weak, that they break easily and then people fall, many times resulting with a broken hip.

Doctor Ray Strand says “Osteoporosis is an epidemic nutritional deficiency in the United States. More than 25 million Americans suffer with this disease at the cost to the economy of the U.S. of approximately 14 billion dollars each year. At least 1.2 million fractures occur each year in the United States as a direct result of osteoporosis. Spontaneous compression fractures of the vertebrae of the back cause tremendous pain and suffering for those with osteoporosis.
The American diet, with its high intake of white breads, white flour, refined sugars, and fat, has been shown to be deficient in many of the essential nutrients needed for healthy bones”.

I remember as a young child, being fascinated by hunched-over old people “looking for coins on the ground” – I later understood that their spines had deteriorated due to osteoporosis.

We can prevent osteoporosis, but we need to start in our teenage years by getting optimal amounts of calcium, magnesium and Vitamin D. Our bones are growing fast at that time and we need the nutritional support to grow strong.

At post-menopause women need to continue with adequate calcium in our diet, bearing in mind that we need sufficient magnesium and Vitamin D for the calcium to be utilised by our bodies, along with advanced-quality broad spectrum supplements. We also need to have adequate amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Exercise is crucial to the health of our bones – weight bearing exercises such as walking helps the lower legs but does little for the back and hips; upper body weight resistance exercises such as lifting weights over your head are critical. By taking care of ourselves we can prevent arthritis and osteoporosis.

Suggested Reading:
Easing the Pain of Arthritis Naturally by Earl Mendell, R.Ph., Ph.D
Beat Arthritis by Doctor Michael Colgan

Helen Wenley provides Healthy Aging resources to women 40+ who want to live life to the full and stay younger longer. For a free copy of "Five Steps to Choosing Nutritional Supplements" please visit http://www.antiagingboomer.com

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