Discover The Top Natural Remedies For Arthritis Relief
July 22, 2011 by Eric
Filed under Natural Pain Relief
This post by my friend Maryann, a local naturopath reinforces so much of what I talk about on this website. Please read and take heed of these important and timely reminders.
Many think that weight loss, exercise, and medications are the only way to help alleviate pain, but there are also a number of foods that you can add to your diet that will help as well. Hip pain is often caused by inflammation in the joint, whether it is caused by arthritis or the result of an injury. Having a healthy diet high in Omega-3 fatty acids and low in Omega-6 fatty acids will not only help you keep the inflammation down but will also help the rest of your body. Omega-3 is known as one of the natural remedies for arthritis, and has also been proven to help lower cholesterol and promote a healthy heart, Omega-6 on the other hand plays a big role when it comes to inflammation, and can even worsen the occasional hip pain that we dread so much.
Omega-6 is found in high fat and processed foods such as chips, sodas, and anything you can get at the drive-thru. You can tell a food is highly processed if it doesn’t need to be refrigerated, has a very long shelf life, and contains many ingredients that you can barely pronounce.
These foods usually contain lots of omega-6 fatty acids and should be avoided to help preserve your health and when looking for natural remedies to fight arthritis. The Omega-6 in processed foods comes in the forms of saturated fats, trans fats, and hydrogenated oils, so try not to eat foods that contain lots of these.
Foods to Eat: You can find Omega-3 in -
• Fish such as Tuna, Salmon, Herring, Sardines, Anchovies, and Mackerel.
• Lettuces such as Romaine, Iceberg, and Cabbage.
• Nuts such as Pecan, Cashew, and Walnut
• Flaxseeds
• A daily fish oil supplement
Foods to Stay Away From: Foods that contain lots of Omega-6 -
• Fast foods (McDonalds, Wendy’s, Burger King, etc.)
• Processed Foods (chips, dips, artificial ingredients / hard to read labels with lots of chemicals) \
• Foods high in saturated fats, trans fats, and hydrogenated oils
• Too much red meat
New Ways to Cook:
• When cooking, try using flaxseed oil or olive oil in place of butter, which is high in Omega-6.
• Try changing things up in the kitchen when cooking: make baked or grilled salmon, tuna, or other heart healthy fish instead of red meat.
• When you do eat red met, try to buy a lower fat cut of meat, preferably grass fed and organic as factory farmed cattle often have higher levels of omega-6 due to their diet.
• Use spices that are known to help reduce inflammation such as Turmeric and Ginger. These spices are needed in high concentrations so you may want to take an additional supplement when using these spices.
Switch to Whole Grains:
Blood sugar can also play a big role when it comes to inflammation; so if you are diabetic or have blood sugar problems try to switch to whole grain products. If you would like to get control of your glycemic index, try switching from refined grains to the more natural whole grains. Your blood sugar levels won’t rise and fall so chaotically and it will help to reduce inflammation.
Adding Fruits and Vegetables to Your Diet:
When searching for natural remedies for arthritis, fruits and vegetables come to mind, although they aren’t known to directly help in the case of inflammation, they are a great addition to any diet; they contain fibers that can help rid your body of substances that cause inflammation. You should eat seven to nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day as part of a healthy diet.
To Sum it all Up:
By eating a diet that is rich in Omega-3, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, you can help maintain a healthy body and lower your chances of inflammation. Taking a fish oil supplement is a good idea if you are not able to get enough Omega-3 into your daily diet. A good diet is a step in the right path as far as living a healthy pain free life goes, but remember that you must pair your new diet with exercise and a generally more active lifestyle.
Great Article, lots of good tips. Another natural product that can help with Joint problems is bee venom. Can be taken as tablets, as a cream or within honey.