The Reality about Arthritis and the Best Ways to Achieve an Excellent Joint Health

by Nature's Branch Support March 04, 2019

 

Our joints play an important role in the daily functioning of our body. A joint is where two or more bones are connected together and joints in different parts of the body have distinct characteristics. Some joints are more rigid, like the joints between the bones in your skull while others are movable like the joints in the knees, hips, and shoulder. This is where most joint disorders can happen. As we get older, our joints wear down and we may experience the condition called "arthritis".

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a term used to refer to any disorder that affects the joints. The misconception is that it only affects the older people but in reality, it can affect almost everyone. Some studies have revealed that 3 out of every 5 arthritis patients are younger than 65 years of age.

There are three main types of arthritis that can greatly affect the joints:

1. Osteoarthritis- This is the most typical type of arthritis. This condition happens when the surface cartilage in the joints breaks down and wears away. When it occurs, the bones tend to rub together which causes pain, swelling, and loss of motion in the joint. The joints in our knees, hips, lower back and neck, small joints of the fingers and the bases of the thumb and big toe are the most common areas where this joint disorder happens.
2. Rheumatoid arthritis- This is an autoimmune disease. The immune system attacks the tissues of the joints which causes inflammation. As a result, it causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of functions in the joints.
3. Gout- This is caused by a buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints. This build-up process can form a needle-like crystal in a joint that can cause sudden sharp pain, tenderness, redness, and swelling of the joint. This condition commonly occurs in the big toe.

How to Achieve an Excellent Joint Health

Dealing with joint pain not only brings discomfort but it also brings stress to our lives. Many people do not pay much attention to their joints until they start hurting. According to Orthopaedic Institutes' "A Beginner's Guide to Join Health", 7 out of 10 Americans over the age of 34 experience occasional joint stiffness wherein 62% of them have concerns about their joint health.

We have created a handy list of ways you can try to maintain or improve your joint health:

Keep moving!

Many people resist regular physical activity or exercise because they fear it will increase pain or further damage their joints. However, our body is supposed to move frequently. This is what joints are for, to allow for movement. In fact, movement eases joint stiffness, reduces joint pain, strengthens the muscles which surround the joints, and help us maintain a healthy weight.

One should also avoid holding the same position for too long. When working at a desk, for example, get up and stretch every 15 minutes. You should also do the same when sitting at home reading or watching television.

Protect your joints

During our younger years, you may not be thinking of ways to protect your joints but as you grow older, you should be concerned about how to effectively protect them.  It is significant for everyone, especially people with joint disorders, to protect their joints. This can be accomplished in several ways:

1. You should pay attention to pain signals
2. You should avoid activities that stress joints or increase pain
3. You should pay attention to proper body mechanics
4. You should do balance activity and rest. Always remember not to overdo activities especially the physical ones.
5. You should check out available assistive devices or mobility aids. In the kitchen, use electric can openers and mixers. In the bathroom, cut down on scrubbing by using automatic toilet bowl cleaners and, in showers or tubs, spray-on mildew remover. Other devices on the market can help you avoid unnecessary bending, stooping, or reaching.

Achieve an Ideal Weight

According to research completed at Harvard University, there are two ways that being overweight raises your risk for developing osteoarthritis. First, excess weight puts additional stress on weight-bearing joints, the knees, for example. Second, inflammatory factors associated with weight gain might contribute to trouble in other joints, for example, the hands.

With regard to optimal joint health, it is necessary for us to maintain our ideal body weight. Carrying excess body weight adds stress to our joints, especially the weight-bearing joints.  Other research has proven that a sustained 10-to 15-pound weight loss in obese young people can translate to a much lower risk of osteoarthritis later in life.

Strengthen Muscles around Joints

Not only is joint pain caused by an injury to the joint, but also to the tissues that surround it. The muscles that support our joints must be kept as strong as possible. You can work on maintaining or improving your muscle strength by doing strengthening exercises. Obviously, one should be careful to pace the workouts and not overdo it. With proper strength training, one can increase the stability of your joints, while decreasing pain.

Range-of-Motion Exercises for Flexibility and Mobility

To preserve your current extent of motion or improve it, you should routinely put each joint through its full range of motion. Extend, bend, or rotate each of your joints. If you're working throughout the day, try stretching and rotating your joints every hour. This practice can significantly improve flexibility, relieve stiffness and pain, and help to keep our joints functional.

Try Anti-Inflammatory Diet

An anti-inflammatory diet involves avoiding foods that increase inflammation while including more foods that decrease inflammation. Some experts recommend the following foods to maintain or improve joint health:

1. 3-4 ounces of Omega-3 rich fish twice a week- Omega-3 rich fish sources included salmon, tuna, sardines, mackerel, and herring.
2. 5 or more servings of vegetable and fruits every day- Fruits and veggies are rich in antioxidants and can help make your joint functions well. You can try incorporating broccoli, spinach, kale, oranges, cherries, blueberries and limes in your diet.
3. 1-2 cups of green tea daily- Green tea contains a compound called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and it may reduce inflammation and joint damage.
4. Nut and seeds- Nuts and seeds contain phytoflavonoids which have powerful anti-inflammatory properties. They can help with joint damage as well.
5. Whole grain- Whole grains like bread, cereals, and portions of pasta may have a beneficial effect as well to your joint due to their selenium content.
6. Olive oil- Use olive oil, particularly extra virgin olive oil when drizzling cover salad instead of other cooking oils and butter.
7. Water- Water is the key to a well-lubricated joint. Drink a tall glass of water every hour or so during the day.

Stop Smoking

According to the American Association of Orthopaedic Society, most people are not aware that smoking has a serious negative effect on your bones and joints. Smoking may increase the risk of developing joint-related disorders.

Get the Right Support through Supplementation

Many people use supplements in order to get the right support for optimal joint health. Turmeric and Ginger and Omega-3 supplements, which contain necessary ingredients you may need for great joint health, are readily available in the market. Obviously, with any supplements, make sure you buy products from brands you trust. Always ensure that the supplement has been tested and have been third party verified.

Our Triple Strength Omega 3 Fish Oil is molecularly distilled from toxins and contains high potency 2,500mg fish oil per serving. Our burpless, easy to swallow softgel capsules can be taken by men, women, and children for everyday supplementation and are designed to help support joint and muscle health. Our premium formula also contains over three times more fish oil than many other leading brands making our supplement your number one choice.

 

 

Additionally, Nature’s Branch Extra Strength Turmeric and Ginger with 95% standardized curcuminoids have a premium 1950mg combination of Turmeric, Curcumin, Ginger & Bioperine black pepper and come in a 90  vegan capsule bottle. Our Turmeric and Ginger supplement includes Bioperine and Ginger Extract for superior absorption which helps promote joint comfort and pain relief and helps aid muscle pain, soreness, and joint stiffness.

 

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