Every now and then we welcome guest bloggers to share what they know and what works for them on our webpage. This week, we were made aware of a newsletter from Genacol that offered some tips when fighting degenerative cartilage and joint problems. The following are suggestions from the Genacol newsletter you might find beneficial:
Osteoarthritis is caused by degeneration of the cartilage around a joint, usually due to normal wear and tear that affects more than 17% of American aged 18 and over.
There are a lot of grandma’s remedies and an enormous number of little actions and habits that may help ease the physical suffering caused by osteoarthritis, but we’ve got some tricks we think you might want to take to heart.
1.Forget about fats
Do you suffer from inflammatory complaints? Then you should avoid overeating meat, saturated fats and modified food with trans fats. These foods can cause an inflammatory response. Instead, favor avocados, fruits, vegetables and white meat. Avoid eating too much sugar, salt, alcohol and caffeine since they are acidifiers and increase intoxication levels.
2.The power of Omega 3
The OMEGA-3 fatty acids are recognized for their positive effects on inflammation. Choose oily fish, flax seeds, omega-3 “rich” nuts and food. Look for foods that contain vitamin C, beta-carotene, vitamin B12 and antioxidants (carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli, clams, crab, cantaloupe and dried apricots.)
Think about adding small fish to your diet, such as sardines and mackerel, as well as larger wild caught salmon and tuna.
3.Water, water, and water
Hydration is essential. You need to always have a bottle or glass of water at hand. Your body needs water to cleanse, transport nutrients and hydrate your joints. Strive to drink 1–2 liters of fresh, warm, slightly mineralized water daily. If you are not used to drinking that much water, increase your intake gradually.
4.Small steps towards a long way
One single watchword: Move! Your cartilage can benefit from physical activity. It helps to maintain flexibility in your joints, strengthen the muscles that support them, and relieve your discomfort.
Walking, yoga or cardio are great exercises to maintain cartilage integrity.
You may first do some stretching, strength and soft muscle-building exercises. However, you need to do your movements without great ranges and with no weight.
Consider swimming because of its low-impact free movements.
Start slowly and gradually increase the duration, regularity and intensity of your exercises.
5.Supplements are the key
Osteoarthritis is cartilage degeneration. Our cartilage is composed of 67% collagen. Our body produces less collagen as we age, which causes discomfort derived from cartilage degeneration. To compensate for loss, consider taking a collagen supplement. The new Genacol Bone & Joint is a comprehensive formula that will help you maintain healthy joints. Try it and feel the difference!