How Does Joint Pain Occur?
Joint pain is due to many factors; hereditary, congenital, and inappropriate wear and tear. Sadly, we can’t do a thing about our gene pool, but with the wear and tear issue, we can!
I have read that by the time we reach 65 yrs old as many as 75% of the western world population will suffer from arthritic issues and pain. In cultures where people eat mainly whole food, wholegrain, vegetarian diet arthritis is virtually unknown!
Interestingly, (and personally worryingly) ladies seem to be afflicted more so than men. The majority of people affiliated with this eat too many acid-forming foods (see what will help).
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What Actually Happens?
Over time the cartilage (the cushion of the joint) breaks down, and often the bone becomes thickened and distorted which leads to a restriction in movement. This usually occurs on the hips knees spine & hands (the load-bearing joints) Osteoarthritis develops with degenerative wear and tear (often classed as primary osteoporosis) Arthritis triggered by breaks, falls or underlying disease is classified as secondary arthritis.
What Will Help?
People are frequently told to avoid the ‘nightshade’ family i.e. tomatoes, peppers, potatoes and aubergines. Tomatoes reputably being the worst offenders as they contain a chemical which triggers inflammation within a joint.
Weight is another issue we are all aware of so I won’t bore you!
Foods to avoid:
- Coffee, alcohol, fizzy drinks, shop-bought cakes, pies, bread etc
- Pasta, which is made from white refined flour.
- Oranges and their juice can make symptoms worse.
- Greatly reduce cow’s milk, red meat, hi fat cheese – (especially Stilton)
Foods to increase:
- Cherries, plums and blackberries (although acid-forming) help by mobilising uric acid away from the joints to be passed through the bladder.
- Cherries are best for gout, (a tried and tested organic juice!) ttp://www.cherryactive.co.uk
- Pineapple as it contains bromelain (highly anti-inflammatory)
- Choose wholemeal foods and pasta.
- An alternative to refined wheat products is grains e.g. spelt, quinoa, buckwheat and so on.
General tips:
- Try adding a small cube of ginger to a mug of boiling water, and add half a teaspoon of honey and apple cider vinegar.
- Eat at least one tablespoon of flax seeds, sunflower, pumpkin or sesame seeds daily- they are rich in the essential fats that are vital for joint health- almond, cashew, walnut and hazelnuts nourish the joints.
