Fat Blocking Products for Weight Loss
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This article is from the Health Articles series.
Fat Blocking Products for Weight Loss
Wellness Watch: Keep Your Joints Jumping
We've all experienced it at some point: stiffness, swelling or burning in the knees, hips, shoulders, or wrists. What can you do to minimize and manage joint pain in order to maintain your active lifestyle?
First, what exactly are joints and how do they help us walk, run, ride a mountain bike, or serve a tennis ball? Movable or "synovial" joints are two or more movable, adjoining bones whose surfaces are covered with a layer of cartilage surrounded by a fluid-filled capsule made up of ligaments.
A problem in any one of these areas--the bone, cartilage, ligaments, or synovial fluid--can cause pain, inflammation, swelling, stiffness, or immobility. There are number of simple steps you can take to prevent joint pain and injury:
· Consistency is key: Weekend warriors beware. Over-taxing your body after a week of inaction is the surest path to injury. Try to work at least 30 minutes of exercise, even a brisk walk, into each day to keep muscles and joints primed for those weekend pick-up games.
· Cross-train: Unless you're an Olympic-level athlete, focusing on one sport or discipline to the exclusion of all others can result in over-use injuries and burnout. Bike one day, walk the next; swim and do strength training in between to balance muscles.
· Warm up: The old adage about stretching before you work out is not only not a good way to warm up but also a recipe for injury. Instead of stretching cold, stiff muscles, begin your workout with a less strenuous form of your chosen activity. For instance, if you're going to run, start with 5 minutes of fast walking, followed by 5 minutes of jogging, then running. If you bike, start on flat terrain before tackling that vertical uphill.
· Save the stretch: Save the stretch for after your workout, when your muscles are nice and warm. Don't bounce and try to hold each stretch for at least 20 seconds.
· Maintain proper form: Whether you're starting a new activity or have been at it for some time, a session or two with a trainer or coach will help you understand proper alignment and form, preventing the placement of undue stress on any, single muscle or joint.
If you follow these preventive measures and still experience joint pain, see a doctor to rule out injury. If your pain is more chronic than acute (milder, but longer-lasting), you might try to following dietary changes and/or herbal remedies:
· Eat more sulfur-containing foods such as asparagus, eggs, garlic, and onions: According to Phyllis and James Balch's Prescription for Nutritional Healing, sulfur is needed for the repair and rebuilding of bone, cartilage, and connective tissue and including these foods in your overall diet will help promote joint health.
· Avoid vegetables such as peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, and white potatoes: These foods contain a substance called solanine, which can interfere with enzymes in the muscles and may cause pain and discomfort.
· Get yourself tested for possible food allergies or sensitivities: Most people know whether they are allergic to a specific food; typically, they experience a sudden and severe reaction after eating it.
But, most people don't know whether they are sensitive to certain foods. Food sensitivities mean that the body perceives certain foods as pathogens, or invaders, and manufactures antibodies to "fight' them. These antibodies, in turn, can cause symptoms such as sinus congestion, stomach upset or joint pain that appear anywhere from 24-36 hours after consumption.
Ask your doctor about lab tests, such as the one conducted by Immuno Labs (http://www.immunolabs.com/), to screen for the presence of antibodies that can indicate sensitivities to certain foods. By eliminating these foods from your diet, you may eliminate the symptoms as well.
If dietary changes don't eliminate joint pain, you might try these nutrients or herbs:
· Glucosamine/Chondroitin: According to http://www.drweil.com/, glucosamine stimulates production of cartilage, improving joint function and reducing pain. Chondroitin protects cartilage from breaking down and attracts fluids into the molecules that give the tissue its "shock-absorbing" quality. Available in tablet form, follow label instructions for recommended frequency and dosage.
· Essential Fatty Acids: In addition to many other health benefits, essential fatty acids may help reduce joint inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fresh, deepwater fish (such as salmon), canola and flaxseed as well as walnut oils. Omega 6 fatty acids are found in raw nuts, seeds, and unsaturated vegetable oils such as grapeseed, primrose, and soybean.
· Bromelain: Available in tablet form, bromelain is an enzyme that may help reduce inflammation when taken between meals. Fresh pineapple is a good, natural source of bromelain.
By following these simple steps, you'll ensure that you keep your joints jumpin' for a long time to come!
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