COPING WITH ARTHRITIS

If you suffer from arthritis, you understand the pain it can cause on a daily basis. Arthritis pain, when not under control, can stop you from carrying out activities that you once enjoyed. For instance, going on country walks, running, or playing with your children or grandchildren.

Luckily, you don't have to put your life on hold if you are an arthritis sufferer. There are many things that you can easily do to help ease some of your discomfort, including dietary changes and practical little things that you can make part of your daily routine.

Read on for some great tips to help you get back to living your life to the fullest - but don't forget to consult your doctor before making any drastic changes to your diet or exercise regimen.

Stay active!
In many cases, suffering from arthritis can lead the individual to give up on exercising altogether, because it causes too much pain either during or after their workout. For previously active people, this can be disheartening. And even if you weren't particularly active before, arthritis is certainly not an excuse to become a couch potato - quite the opposite!

If you suffer from arthritis it may be tempting to just sit idle to minimise your chances of experiencing (or causing) any additional pain. But, although it can be hard to get motivated, it is important to keep moving so your joints stay limber and toxins don't start to accumulate in your tissue and joints. Staying active not only helps you to avoid arthritis-related injuries, it also helps to cleanse the body by getting those lymphatic juices flowing.

You may feel like your options are limited by your condition, but (assuming you are sensible) it is better to do something than doing nothing at all. If you sit all day long, your joints become stiff and are actually more prone to discomfort.

So whether you are craving a workout as a previously active person or know that you should ideally be more active, but are feeling a little hesitant because of your arthritis, jumping in a pool might just be the answer. Swimming is not only easy on your joints, it can also increase your range of motion. You will hopefully find that your arthritis actually improves as you increase your time in the pool.

Consult an expert
And don't forget that one of the best means of managing your arthritis symptoms is taking proactive steps to seek help from a physical therapist. They can show you appropriate exercises that you can do to help strengthen your joints. This will help you increase your range of motion, allowing your joints to be more flexible, thereby decreasing your chances of experiencing an arthritis-related injury.

And then, relax...
If your arthritis pain is flaring up after a long day, a good soak in the bath can do wonders for your body. The warm water will help to relax your joints and decrease the amount of pain you are experiencing. And why not add in some soothing essential oils and natural pink Himalayan salt for added relief?

Arthritis diet

A well-balanced, healthy diet is an essential component of any arthritis relief program. This is because, not only does your body require certain additional nutrients to cope with the strain of your condition, there are actually certain foods and drinks that can aggravate it. For example, meat, dairy, sugar, caffeine and alcohol are best avoided, as they are acid-forming foods. In contrast, opt for alkalising foods (like leafy greens, ripe fruit, vegetables and seaweeds) and foods rich in healthy fats, such as oily fish.

Supplements for extra support

There are also numerous supplements out there that can support strong bones, flexible joints and an active lifestyle, when used in combination with a healthy diet. So, do your research and take your pick!

Some of the more popular nutrients include: balanced Omega oils, Antarctic krill oil, glucosamine, MSM, L-Glutamine, antioxidants, detoxification supplements and natural anti-inflammatories (including herbals and health foods such as rosehip, nettle leaf, turmeric, ginger, celery seed, Montmorency cherry, Panax ginseng, apple cider vinegar, bromelain, kelp, horsetail extract and papain).

Your health is in your hands!

Living with arthritis can leave you feeling like you are always on the sidelines and missing out on life. Take your health into your own hands (as far as is reasonably practicable), apply some of the tips in this article and help yourself to a more comfortable life - notwithstanding your arthritis.