Arthritis of the joints can be very painful and difficult to live with. There are no cures, but you can help ease the pain with some easy remedies. A few lifestyle changes can help tremendously with the arthritic pain.
One in six Americans has some type of arthritis. Women have a greater chance of developing arthritis than men. Once a person reaches the age of forty they are much more likely to develop the condition. Consuming essential fatty acids can greatly help the joints in their recovery from strenuous activity and reduce inflammation.
Many foods can be eaten to help with arthritic pain and joint inflammation. Fish should be eaten two to three times a week. This will supplement your diet with enough omega three fatty acids while avoiding dangerous mercury levels. If you do not like fish or cannot eat it, cod liver oil may be what you need. This supplement is packed with vitamin A, and vitamin D as well as a hefty portion of omega three fatty acids. Green and yellow vegetables can be eaten to provide antioxidants that work with vitamin C to produce an anti-inflammatory response in the joints. These green and yellow plants are a great source of beta carotene. At least two servings of these types of vegetables should be eaten every day. Grapefruits are an excellent source of antioxidants. Zinc can be found in peas, legumes, milk, and whole grain products. It is recommended that arthritic patients control their weight as the extra pounds will increase the pressure applied to the joints. A diet filled with these foods will be healthy for you anyway, and will definitely help keep any extra weight off.
Try avoiding high levels of omega six fatty acids in your diet as these lead to worsened arthritis symptoms. Some foods that contain these and should be avoided are vegetable oils, any fried food, salad dressings, black or green olives, and canola oil.
Exercise can be a great way to loosen up stiff joints. Water work outs are particularly beneficial for those with arthritis. Exercising in the water provides for muscle strength and complete joint freedom without undue stress. It will increase heart rate considerably and increase range of mobility. Walking is another great form of exercise as it is also very gentle on joints and will also increase heart rate. An hour in the water is almost equivalent to walking for hours on dry land. In a study done on 106 people, everyone that spent an hour in the water for at least two days a week found their arthritis symptoms decreased over the course of a year. The body responds the same way to walking and other gentle exercises. Yoga is another excellent activity. This is splendid for increasing range of motion and flexibility. It improves circulation throughout all the joints and can even improve the way the body uses pain medication.
Message therapy is a very enjoyable experience for most people. Those with arthritis have an excellent excuse for going to get a full body massage because it also increases blood flow and decreases inflammation. The addition of aromatherapy lotion and a few select herbs can be an added perk to the message. Juniper has been found to abate swelling and sandalwood augments blood flow.
