Good Health Myths

by Dr. Robert Swain

17. Are there any foods that will help with my arthritis pain?

1. First what is arthritis?  According to the Arthritis Foundation it's an inflammatory disorder that consists of over 100 different diseases.  It affects people of all ages, including children.  This inflammation affects the joints and causes stiffness, swelling, pain, and limitation of movement.  Thankfully there are some lifestyle changes you can make to help support healthy joints.

Weight loss, rest, exercising, and decreasing your stress levels will all help. 

Today we are going to talk about what to eat to decrease inflammation in your body.  We can discuss the other categories in the next issue. 

Back to the food.  You have heard a lot about Omega-3 fatty acids.  Foods high in Omega-3 include salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna, flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, and walnuts. Omega-3 is a great source of anti-inflammatory fighting nutrient.  

If you like to add a little spice to your cooking, you might try adding curries and yellow mustard (which contains curcumin)  to your foods.  Curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties known for its support for health joints.   Of course don't forget to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.  They supply your body with vitamins and mineral to help support health and fight disease. 

Let's talk about supplements.  Most people I talk to take some form of Omega-3 supplement.  Not all supplements are created equal.  Those big gel tablets in a lot of stores are full of fillers more than fish oil.  That is why they are cheap — oops — I mean economical.  There are only a few that really contain quality fish oil.  Give me a shout and I will discuss them. 

Also there are other anti-inflammatory supplements which include curcumin (mentioned above), boswella, and glucosamine. 

You may not be able to cure arthritis but you can do a lot to alleviate the inflammation, thus decreasing the symptoms.

Just for Fun Quiz

1 - Frisbee was invented here. 
2- Has an exact replica of the house in Wizard of Oz ( could be a trick). 
3- President Teddy Roosevelt refused to shoot a bear here. 
4-  More triplets are born here than any other state. 

Last Month's Answers

1.  The only state to turn down the Olympics in 1976.  Colorado
2. Has more than $6 billion in gold underneath Fort Knox.  Kentucky
3.  Birth place of the ice cream cone. And the answer is: Missouri 
4.  Home of the first Krispy Krème donut. And the answer is: North Carolina
5.  The nation's oldest bar, the White House Tavern opened in 1673. Rhode Island
6.  Dr. Pepper was invented in 1885 and the hamburger in 1906.  Waco, Texas

As always stay well, win the war against disease, and enjoy a long healthy life.