Arthritis pain is a common diagnosis that you might hear as you age. And with over 100 different types of arthritis and associated conditions, you certainly aren’t suffering alone.
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms and involves the breakdown of protective joint cartilage. But there are also autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis that cause painful symptoms.
Whatever form of arthritis pain you have, it probably limits your activities and enjoyment of life — which is just a no-go if you ask me. Of course, popping an endless stream of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) comes with its own terrifying risks.
Even short term use of ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or naproxen (Aleve) can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. Taking an NSAID for just a couple of weeks will elevate your risk. Longer periods of time and higher doses are worse, though.
While short-term use of NSAIDs at low doses for people who do not have known cardiovascular disease is probably safe, there are a few easy and natural things you can do to relieve arthritis pain if you’d rather skip the meds.
Here are three natural remedies for arthritis pain:
Reduce Inflammation
Systemic inflammation is common among people who eat a diet high in processed foods, refined grains, white sugar and alcohol. All of these will increase inflammation in the body.
And the first place you’ll feel the pain of inflammation is in your arthritic joints.
Reduce common inflammatory foods such as processed meats, sugary drinks, white bread and pasta. To crowd them out, increase your intake of green vegetables, omega-3 containing deep water fish and grass-fed meats.
For more tips on reducing systemic inflammation, click here to check out my ebook Perfect Posture for Life. I go into much greater depth on foods and herbs that lower systemic inflammation and arthritis pain.
Take Magnesium
Magnesium is a naturally occurring mineral found in many healthy foods such as nuts and seeds, green vegetables and dark chocolate. Your body requires it to support over 300 chemical reactions that keep you alive. Magnesium has a natural anti-inflammatory effect on cells.
Unfortunately, most people are deficient in this vital mineral. This is due to diets high in refined grains and the increasing depletion of magnesium in crop soil. Taking magnesium can have a nearly instant calming effect on inflammation, reducing tight muscles and arthritis pain.
For more on how magnesium benefits your body and why I believe it’s the one critical supplement everyone suffering from aches and pains must take, click here to download my FREE No More Tight Muscles Guide.
Move Every Day
Movement benefits arthritis pain by increasing the flow of synovial fluid in joints, which acts like the body’s own WD-40. It also stimulates sensory perception in cells called mechanoreceptors that surround joints.
Mechanoreceptors sense movement and then communicate with the brain, sending signals to your brain that are stronger and faster than those sent by pain-sensing cells, called nociceptors.
Basically, movement “crowds out” sensations of pain and makes your body feel less achy overall. It simultaneously improves joint health by lubricating joint capsules with synovial fluid.
Of course, not just any movement will do. If your joints are stiff and locked up, you need to get them moving again using dynamic mobility practices like those in my Posture Rehab program.
Posture Rehab enables you to fix your posture and move more comfortably so you can continue to do the things you love without pain or restriction for as long as you’re alive.
Unlike other programs that just teach you how to stretch or strengthen your body, the practices inside Posture Rehab go underneath stored tension to dissolve old, bad habits so you can finally stop slouching, heal your body and move with ease — despite old injuries.
Click here for more info on the Posture Rehab program >>
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