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01.09.2016 Health

Rheumatism Diet & Lifestyle Tips

By Ghanaian Chronicle
Rheumatism Diet  Lifestyle Tips
01.09.2016 LISTEN

If you suffer from rheumatism, you will probably have looked around and found quite a lot of information on how using a more natural diet can help your condition.

However, the mere mention of a healthy diet can sometimes make even strong men shiver. But don't click away yet – for rheumatism pains, just a few simple changes can make all the difference to your symptoms.

We know that there are certain foods which increase inflammation and others which reduce it. The choice is wide, so there will be more than enough in a healthy larder to satisfy the heartiest appetite – it is just a matter of making different choices.

A healthy digestion and increased amounts of friendly bowel flora can reduce acidity and so help joint flexibility.

If you are experiencing rheumatism symptoms, you will benefit by eating:

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Oily fish such as herring, mackerel, salmon, tuna or use fish oil supplements. These foods contain oils that have a positive effect on pain and inflammation in soft tissue.

Sardines, green leafy vegetables, oats, dried fruits such as figs, pumpkin, kidney beans and sunflower seeds.These foods are rich in magnesium helping ensure proper calcium absorption.

Green vegetables also contain potassium which makes the body less acidic. Pineapple, papaya, mango, guava These foods contain digestive enzymes reducing acidity.

Molkosan
This original Vogel super food encourages a healthy digestive tract and supports your good bacteria. When good bacteria in your gut flourish, your digestion, immune system and many other parts of your body work better.

Some foods actually make muscle pain worse…
Is your evening meal making your muscles and joint pain worse? Perhaps your breakfast is causing that stiffness to linger and what about lunch, is it the reason your neck pain won't shift?

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While there are certain foods that contain specific vitamins and minerals that can help soothe your aching joints and muscles naturally, such as those rich in magnesium, there are other foods that can actually increase pain and stiffness.

There are a number of changes you can make to your diet to help keep your muscles and joints moving, such as avoiding foods which increase inflammation and instead choosing good substitutes that will actually help relieve your discomfort.

Foods to avoid when you have muscle & joint pain

EAT FEWER saturated animal fats, keeping your intake of red meat, dairy products and eggs to a minimum to avoid too much arachidonic acid, which is inflammatory.

Instead eat more oily fish such as herring, mackerel, sardines and salmon, as these have a positive effect on inflammation. You can take a fish oil supplement if you don't eat fish regularly. Choose low-fat or no-fat dairy products, lean cuts of beef and pork, and skinless chicken and turkey.

EAT FEWER processed foods, white flour baked goods, white rice, and white bread, which have no nutrients to offer you in exchange for the calories they pile on. Processed foods often use up valuable nutrients such as magnesium in the process of metabolising, but have nothing nutritionally useful to give you in return.

Instead eat more green leafy vegetables, oats, dried fruits such as figs, seeds such as pumpkin, sunflower and sesame seeds, beans such as kidney beans, and sardines, as they are all rich in magnesium, which encourages the proper absorption of calcium.

Without sufficient magnesium, calcium may be dumped as painful crystals in and around the joints. Magnesium also helps muscles to relax. People with low magnesium levels tend to feel more pain generally.

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EAT LESS sugar. I know it may be hard to resist, especially if you have a sweet tooth, but some researchers have found that sugar may increase inflammation, which in turn increases pain, especially for those suffering from inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, gout and fibromyalgia. Plus, eating high-calorie sugary foods causes weight gain, which puts added pressure on your joints.

Instead eat more fresh fruit. Satisfy your sweets cravings with natural sugars from fresh fruits, such as pineapple, papaya, mango, guava. These all contain digestive enzymes that help reduce acidity in the body.

DRINK LESS caffeine and alcohol, which use up the vital mineral magnesium and vitamins B and C, and are also triggers for inflammatory processes.

Instead drink more still, plain water. Dehydration is often a trigger for joint pain, so keeping well hydrated is simple and important. Taking a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with a teaspoon of honey in a glass of warm water first thing in the morning can help reduce acidity and is good for digestion.

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