Is all joint pain arthritis? The answer to that question is probably not. Some joint pain can simply be caused by overexertion by the individual during a workout or an injury. However, other than those examples, if an individual experiences long-term and continuous pain in the joints the cause could be arthritis.
Arthritis is actually inflammation in the joints and is accompanied by diminished range of motion, pain and stiffness. So the first step in dealing with arthritis is to eat foods and follow activities to reduce inflammation in both the body and joints. However, before I share ways to reduce inflammation, I would like to share all of the types of arthritis:
Gouty Arthritis: This is often referred to as the Gout. Gout is the result of increased amounts of uric acid in the body and is extremely painful. This form of arthritis usually afflicts the area of the big toe. The reason this area is often affected is due to the large spaces between the joints in this area of the body. As the uric acid levels increase in the body and blood they tend to crystalize. Once crystallized these jagged-edge formations settle between the joints.
Juvenile Arthritis: This is often a heredity issue and found in the younger generation
Psoratic Arthritis: This is a condition that involves the skin condition.
Osteoarthritis: This is a condition of the disease that may cause extreme loss of range of motion.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: This type is when the body actually attacks itself. The body itself starts to attack and destroy itself. Basically, it is an auto immune issue when the cells in the joints are viewed as an invader to the body and the body attacks and destroys the cells linings.
How to Reduce Inflammation:
As mentioned above, arthritis is inflammation and it is caused by enzymes that cause tissue issues. The main enzyme that causes the pain is prostaglandin. So an individual would want to consume foods that have a positive effect on the body. Fortunately, there are several foods that may actually reduce inflammation in the body naturally.
Mediterranean Diet:
Research has shown that those individuals that follow the Mediterranean diet seem to enjoy a lifestyle with lower inflammation. The types of food encouraged in this diet are rich in antioxidants and monounsaturated fats. These include salmon and trout, flaxseed and walnuts. By eating these types of foods containing the good type of fat it encourages your body to produce the good type of eicosanoids. This helps to enhance the immune system, decrease inflammation and increase oxygen flow.
Tart Cherries and Tart Cherry Juice:
This little red super fruit and the juice it makes have caught the attention of both food researchers and the public. This reason is simple. It helps to reduce inflammation naturally.
A few of the main compounds in the fresh fruit and the concentrated cherry juice are anthocyanins, queritrin and polyphenols. The anthocyanins may actually reduce inflammation. In fact, according to published research this compound delivers anti-inflammatory relief that is 10 times stronger than aspirin. In addition to maintaining healthy joints, the tart cherry also helps soothe muscle soreness due to physical exercise.
The other two compounds queritrin and polyphenols combat free radicals in the body and part of the family of antioxidants. This means by having the triple protection and presence anthocyanins, queritrin and polyphenols the body is able to reduce inflammation and heal itself naturally.
With all of the good news about cherries, it’s unfortunate the fresh fruit is only available a few weeks out of the entire year. This is due to the fact the fresh cherries are very perishable. So when the cherries are in season, you’ll be able to find them in your local grocery during the short harvest season. However, for the remainder of the year, many are drinking the tart cherry juice daily.
How Many Cherries in a Glass of Cherry Juice
Cherry industry experts say that one glass of the cherry juice made from concentrate contains the juice of approximately 100 cherries. This is a highly concentrated form of getting natural health benefits of the fruit. Look for Montmorency 68 brix tart cherry juice concentrate that is sediment-free when adding this tasty drink to your diet. One of the best places to find cherries and cherry juice is from the source. In fact, Northwestern lower Michigan grows over 60% of all tart cherries in the United States and is known as the “cherry capital of the world”. One sources located in the heart of cherry country is Traverse Bay Farms. They ship both Michigan grown, Montmorency cherry juice concentrate and seasonal fresh cherries.
How Can You Get Started?
The first step is to create a daily meal chart. This simply means deciding when you’ll enjoy anti-inflammatory foods daily. For example, a small handful of walnuts tossed into your morning oatmeal three times a week is a great way to add the monounsaturated fats to your diet. Also, swap out the chicken salad for a salmon salad for lunch. Also, enjoy a glass of tart cherry juice during dinner or for a tasty evening drink. Best of all, in a short time you’ll soon notice how good you feel.
