Joint Health - Pain and Inflammation Reduction

There are numerous joints in the human body. Having healthy, flexible and pain free joints is something everyone would like to have. There are a lot of things that affect our joint health either positively or negatively. Your weight, for example can have a big effect on your joints, particularly the ones in your hips and legs. Too much weight and you can be putting strain on your joints that can lead to joint pain but too little weight can also be an issue as your body requires some resistance to keep your bones and joints in shape. If you injured a joint when you were younger that joint may be more susceptible to pain and discomfort in your later years, especially if you didn’t get the proper care to let it heal correctly in the past. Hormone imbalances can also lead to more joint pain particularly in women. Estrogen has an anti-inflammatory quality that can protect your body from becoming inflamed and painful. On the flip side, too much estrogen can also cause pain and inflammation. The key is balance. Balanced weight, balanced hormones and balanced exercise and care will help your joints stay healthier throughout your life.

Another area where balance is extremely important in joint health (or any aspect of your health) is diet. The typical American diet is high in fats, sugars, carbohydrates and other unhealthy substances that can cause inflammation in every area of your body, especially your joints. If you are prone to inflammation or want to avoid having joint issues down the road, taking a good look at your diet and making changes is very important.

The foods that are the most likely to cause inflammation in the body are:

1. Alcohol
2. Red meat
3. Coffee
4. White flour/ gluten
5. White sugar
6. Dairy products

For some people foods in the nightshade family: tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers as well as citrus fruits also cause painful and inflamed joints. Eating a diet that’s higher green leafy vegetables and fruits of all kinds and colors, some lean meats and whole, unprocessed grains is healthier for almost all aspects of your health, not just your joints.

There are a number of nutritional supplements that can also help with your joint health and reducing pain and inflammation.

• Glucosamine and Chondroitin are widely used to help maintain the cartilage and tendon health in the joints
• Curcumin has been studied and used extensively for its anti-inflammatory properties
• Quercetin is anti-inflammatory and high in anti-oxidants
• MSM (methylsulfonymethane) is an organosulfur compound that is used alone or in joint health formulas to help with joint flexibility
• Boswellia Serrata extract is used for its anti-inflammatory and pain relieving qualities
• Omega 3 oils are important not only for their anti-inflammatory properties but for the health of every cell in your body
• Hyaluronic Acid is important to help the joints maintain the fluid in the connective tissues

You can find these ingredients separately or in combination formulas designed to deliver the best, synergistic effect. It’s important to note that taking joint health supplements is a long term commitment. It’s not an over the counter “quick” fix of a drug that masks the pain. It may take a few weeks to a month while your body is building up its stores and repairing tissues to notice a difference although some people notice a difference much sooner.