There’s an epidemic that’s circulating the globe and it’s one that seems to be taking all of us by surprise. I’m talking about the epidemic of obesity!

A poor diet can indirectly have a negative effect on joint health as it increases inflammation in the body. For instance, excessive consumption of dairy products, meat and refined starchy carbohydrates such as white flour and sugars can actually make inflammation worse by increasing the production of what are know as prostaglandins which are potent triggers of pain.

If you’re suffering with acute or chronic joint pain, you can ease the pain by first cleaning up your diet and adding a healthy array of foods to your daily meal plan.

Start by changing your dietary fat intake and/or eating plant foods containing anti-inflammatory agents. This will help reduce those painful flare ups by limiting joint inflammation.

Additionally, adding more fibrous fruits, vegetables, cold water fish (rich in Omega-3 fatty acids) to your diet, will not only make a positive impact on your health but it can go a long way in improving the way you feel.

Other Things You Can Do To Ease Your Pain:

• Use proper lifting techniques – To avoid injury when lifting, be sure to use proper body mechanics and lifting techniques which includes maintaining your center of gravity over the object and using your legs.
• Watch your weight – As mentioned earlier, even a slight increase in weight can aggravate joint pain. Therefore, to prevent flare ups, be sure you maintain the proper weight for your height and age. If you’re presently overweight, studies have shown that losing as little as 11 pounds will not only decrease pressure on those weight bearing joints (e.g. hips and knees) but in women, it will also cut your risk of developing knee arthritis by 50%, while a weight loss of just 15 pounds can cut knee pain in half for overweight individuals with arthritis. If you’re having a problem losing weight on your own, a supervised weight control program can help.
• Hydrate your body – This is something that many individuals do not take the opportunity to do and they end up paying the consequences as a result. Dehydration can cause a number of different health problems with chronic pain being just one of them. Therefore, making sure you’re well hydrated throughout the day should be paramount. On average, we should drink one liter of water daily (add an extra 8 oz of water for every 25 pounds overweight). This amount should increase if you are exercising or in extreme heat.
• Get your rest – Sleep is imperative to our overall well being for not only are the hormones melatonin and human growth hormone made exclusively during this time but when we fall into a deep sleep, our body kicks into repair mode. Unfortunately, most pain sufferers go for days without sleeping or they report a poor quality of sleep due to the constant tossing and turning throughout the night. This can all be helped by taking nutritional supplements to support a healthy night’s sleep, practicing relaxation techniques before going to bed and of course, treating the source of the pain.
• Supplement your diet – When a nutritional imbalance occurs within the body it can cause a number of different health problems many of which can result in pain. One way to restore balance is by supplementing your diet with key vitamins and minerals including those that can help reduce pain and inflammation while supporting joint health. For instance, Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM as well as Manganese, Magnesium, Zinc, Vitamins D3, C, B6, B12 and Niacinamide are all recognized as the leading supplements for the maintenance of healthy joints while Boswellia, Rutin, Turmeric (contains the compound Curcumin) and White Willow Bark along with the enzymes Pancreatin, Papain, Bromelain, Trypsin and Chymotrypsin are all designed to support your body’s natural response to inflammation. Your doctor or health care provider, as your personal health coach, can help you determine which ones can be of benefit in reducing your pain.

If you’d like to learn more about the Body Focus™ System and  Nutritional supplements click here.

Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!