Stay Active This Summer

Article by Raj Sheladiya

With the promise of warmer weather just around the corner, thoughts turn to outdoor activities again. But for those of us with some form of arthritis, pottering in the garden may not be as enjoyable as it once was.

Arthritis literally means ‘inflammation of the joints’. As you grow older your body is often unable to replace new cartilage to counteract any loss, allowing insufficiently cushioned bones to rub together causing inflammation, pain and stiffness.

There are things you can do though to that can help.

Diet is important. Eating less of the foods that can increase inflammation and lots more of the anti-inflammatory foods that can help to reduce it, can help: reduce your intake of coffee, alcohol, fizzy drinks and foods made from refined white flour and white sugar, as these foods are known to promote unhealthy levels of inflammation.

Do eat lots of oily fish or plant oils, nuts and seeds, and plenty of fresh vegetables and berries; they are packed with nutrients and antioxidants that can help to reduce inflammation. Replace refined foods with brown rice, millet, barley, quinoa or buckwheat and spice things up! Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that are known to help relieve muscle soreness, menstrual cramps, headaches and arthritis. Turmeric also has heaps of antiinflammatory potential.

Another popular choice for muscle and joint pain is Devil’s Claw, a plant only found in the Kalahari Desert of South Africa. It has been used for many years to help reduce rheumatic, muscle and joint pain and studies suggest that long-term use of Devil’s Claw is not only safe, but may also lead to improvements in those with chronic lower back pain. Try A. Vogel’s Atrosan Devil’s Claw tablets.

For topical relief from inflammation you may wish to try Arnica. It’s well-known for its homeopathic use for bumps and bruises, but when used in its herbal form it can also help with pain and stiffness in joints and muscles, with research showing it may be just as effective as ibuprofen at reducing pain and stiffness in the fingers of osteoarthritis patients. Atrogel Arnica Gel contains herbal extracts of Arnica flowers and can help with muscular aches, pains and stiffness, sprains and bruising.

Finally, stay active. Regular, gentle exercise will help you maintain a healthy weight, which in turn lessens the stress you place on joints, helping to improve the pain of arthritis.

For further information contact Raj Sheladiya and his team at Health & Glamour, 17 Leicester Road, Wigston, LE18 1NR or call 0116 288 9424.