Osteoarthritis: what it is, and how it can affect your life

There are several forms of arthritis, but the most common one here in Australia is osteoarthritis. This condition happens when your joint cartilage (the tough, springy tissue that cushions the ends of your bones) begins to wear thin and break down. It can occur because of ongoing wear and tear on the cartilage as you age, or following sports injuries. Developing osteoarthritis can significantly affect your life quality by making movement uncomfortable. Activities you love, such as exercising or playing with your children, and even daily chores can all become painful. Luckily, there are options that will help to naturally protect your joints. Here are five of our favourite tips.

5 Tips for natural joint protection

Tip 1: Develop a joint protecting exercise routine Fitness routines are often the first activities to go when osteoarthritis strikes. The good news, however, is that some exercises can actually help to protect your joints and reduce pain levels. Movement can strengthen the muscles around your joints, help to maintain your bone strength, and enhance your overall quality of life. Obviously, if an activity hurts, don’t do it. Instead, try gentle, low impact exercise forms like:

• Swimming
• Yoga
• T’ai chi
• Range-of-motion stretches

Tip 2: Avoid inflammatory foods Some foods seem to increase your systemic inflammation levels, which can in turn increase cartilage degeneration. The Australian Arthritis Foundation recommends either limiting or altogether avoiding foods containing:

• Sugar and refined carbohydrates
• Saturated and trans fats
• Omega 6 fatty acids
• Gluten and MSG
• Aspartame
• Alcohol

Tip 3: Eat more anti-inflammatory foods Eating to protect your joints isn’t just about what you cut out. Some foods contain natural compounds that may help to reduce inflammation too. The Australian Arthritis Foundation also recommends eating more:

• Plant-based foods: especially fruits, vegetables, legumes and wholegrains
• Milk: and most dairy products other than cheese
• Cruciferous, sulfur-containing vegetables: especially broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts
• Allium vegetables: especially garlic, onions and leeks

Tip 4: Investigate natural supplements Several natural supplements have been scientifically shown to either help reduce inflammation, assist with repairing and rebuilding cartilage, or both. You’ve probably seen some of these ingredients in standard joint health protection formulas, including:

• Glucosamine sulfate
• Chondroitin
• Omega 3 Marine oils (e.g. Fish Oil or Krill Oil)

Tip 5: Consider Curcumin Curcumin is the active ingredient in the common kitchen spice Turmeric, which has a long history as an Ayurvedic (traditional Indian) healing herb. In modern times, Curcumin has been scientifically shown to help relieve arthritic joint pain and inflammation. However, on its own, Curcumin is often quickly broken down and eliminated before your body can use it, making it hard to absorb.

Mr Vitamins recommends

Fusion Health Curcumin Advanced

  http://www.aihw.gov.au/osteoarthritis/who-gets-osteoarthritis/ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/arthritis/in-depth/arthritis/art-20047971 http://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/arthritis-diet/foods-to-avoid-limit/food-ingredients-and-inflammation.php http://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/arthritis-diet/anti-inflammatory/eat-to-beat-inflammation.php https://www.mrvitamins.com.au/news/arthritis/curcumin-improve-digestion-relieve-pain/