Arthritis, especially painfully severe or advanced arthritis, is indicative of a body that is, and has been, racked with chronic inflammation for long time.
It is possible to cool the flames of pain caused by severe arthritis without resorting to potentially damaging pharmaceutical drugs. This brief post will explain how.
What many people suffering from severe arthritis (or any number of inflammation related health conditions for that matter) don’t realize is that the pain experienced as a result of arthritis is a symptom of chronic inflammation. So, per doctor’s orders, all too many simply pop the prescribed pain killer and whitewash the pain without getting to the root of the problem.
Getting to the Root of the Problem
There are 3 distinct pro-inflammatory markers which prime our body for chronic inflammation. If these were avoided or consumed in a balanced way, you could experience a health and wellness transformation you have only dreamed about.
Marker 1: Omega-6 Family of Fatty Acids
These fatty acids actually stimulate the inflammatory response. A key point to make here is that inflammation, when it is balanced, is good for you, in fact, it keeps you alive.
The problem is, sometimes your body doesn’t know when to stop and the inflammatory response turns from a powerful friend to a vicious enemy. So, it is not that omega-6 fatty acids are just bad for you, it is that we simply eat too many foods with omega-6 fatty acids. This “turns up the burner” on your immune system causing chronic, low-grade inflammation which leads to degenerative diseases such as arthritis.
So, as best you can, avoid vegetable oils and processed/packaged foods.
Easier said than done, right? The modern diet is built around vegetable oils and processed foods!
Don’t give up though, slowly adjust to fresh (organic if possible) produce and meat and you’ll quickly notice the difference this makes in the way you feel.
Marker 2: Trans Fatty Acids
Trans fats get a lot of attention these days, primarily because they are such nasty little buggars.
Take a look at the food label on just about any salad dressing, shortening, or cake and cookie and you’ll will find trans fats hiding behind the name “partially hydrogenated vegetable oils”.
These fats do their damage by interfering with the healthy anti-inflammatories you take into your body, especially the very beneficial omega-3 fatty acids.
Marker 3: Free Radicals
Free radicals are the worst of the three pro-inflammatory markers. Free radicals have been thoroughly proven to damage the cells in the body, increase the risk of disease, and accelerate the aging process. Probably because what they really do is stimulate and pro-long inflammatory reactions.
In other words, free radicals are like the key that unlocks that proverbial Pandora’s Box of chronic inflammation and, subsequently, arthritis.
Fortunately, not only can you treat, and potentially heal severe arthritis by avoiding these three pro-inflammatory markers, you can enlist powerful anti-inflammatory aids to speed up the healing process.
Powerful Anti-Inflammatory 1: Omega-3 Fatty Acids
We have written about the tremendous value of omega-3 fatty acids before. In a nutshell, omega-3 provides the building blocks for many powerful anti-inflammatory substances. Thus, omega-3 encourages the body to turn off inflammatory responses when they are no longer needed.
You can inject these wonderful health aids into your diet by eating just about any dark green leafy vegetable (these provide omega-3 via alpha linolenic acid) or, even more potently, by eating cold water fish such as salmon or herring (these provide omega-3 via eicosapentaenoic acid or EPA).
Power Anti-Inflammatory 2: Omega-9 Fatty Acids
These fats work hand-in-hand with their more potent “cousins” omega-3. Omega-9 fats are present in olive oil, avacados, macadamia nuts, and macadamia nut oil.
Powerful Anti-Inflammatory 3: Antioxidants
I saved the best for last. In case you haven’t already heard, antioxidants are great because they neutralize free radicals.
Since free radicals have the potential to do the most damage and really are at the root of the type of chronic inflammation that leads to arthritis (and all degenerative diseases), neutralizing them can literally change your life.
The good news is, antioxidants are found in some of the most delicious foods. It is well known that berries are bursting with antioxidants, dark chocolate is chock full of antioxidants and some juices are jammed with antioxidants. Getting lots of antioxidants into your body should be a pleasure. Although, it may mean you have to drive past McDonalds and hit up a farmer’s market for lunch or a snack, but, really, is that so bad?
1 response so far ↓
1 jbhaye // Feb 14, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Very good, concise article. I am sending it to family and friends. I agree that inflammation is the source of many ills.
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