7 Ways to Naturally Support Joint Health
What does health mean for you? For most of us, it means continuing to move freely without pain and enjoy life. Cindy came to a time in her life when she could not. She had joint pain and weight struggles and knew she had to do something. When she got down on the floor to play with her grandchildren, she could not get up.
CINDY BEFORE
Some simple testing showed Cindy had a problem with her Structural System and other Systems and significant joint inflammation.
She began a journey to regain her health and fix each System. Her transformation was amazing. She lost 85 pounds in 8 months following the 7 Systems Plan and was able to resolve her joint issues.
Getting off the floor is no longer a struggle; in fact, she can now do jumping lunges with weights!
CINDY AFTER
The goal of the 7 Systems Plan is for you to have more energy, stop dieting, lose weight, and prevent and even reverse disease. The 7 Systems Plan teaches that health is about so much more than a number on a scale, and joint health is part of it.
Joint Health
Your most important System, the Structural System, can’t function without healthy joints. Our joints can wear down with age and use. Eventually, simple things like walking through the store or cooking a meal can become painful and sometimes impossible.
Joint health is vital to Structural System functionality. Mobility is critical in everyday tasks such as walking, gardening, and playing with kids and grandkids. As crucial as joints are, we don’t think about them often. However, when we have problems with movement, it can be more than uncomfortable; it can be debilitating. Joint health issues can happen to anyone, and loss of motion is limiting.
The most common form of decreased mobility is arthritis, frequently seen as swelling and tenderness of the joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis. We used to think wear and tear caused us to stiffen up uncomfortably, but now we know that chronic inflammation is the primary cause. You may not be able to control everything that impacts your joint health, but you CAN control some critical players in your health that will make a significant difference!
What is a Joint?
There are 206 bones in the human body and 300 joints connecting the bones. Most of these joints have synovial membranes surrounding their surfaces and synovial fluid inside cushioning and lubricating during movement. Nutrition helps keep this membrane and fluid plentiful, allowing joints to glide on each other with little or no friction.
In healthy joints, smooth articular cartilage 1 to 3 mm thick protects bone surfaces from harsh rubbing and scraping.
Maintaining healthy bones, articular cartilage, and synovial fluid through excellent nutritional habits promotes optimal joint health, a critical part of the Structural System.
Let’s look at the common causes of joint health issues.
There are 6 top causes of joint health issues:
Aging
One of the leading causes of joint problems that is unavoidable is aging. The cartilage that protects these joints is made of collagen and proteins and tends to wear down with age. After forty, our body produces less collagen, accelerating joint degeneration. This result of growing older is one reason that people over forty need to take a quality collagen product. We will discuss this more in the next newsletter.
Accidents
We’ve all had injuries which can traumatize joints and cause post-traumatic arthritis.
Exercise
Exercise is highly beneficial but can also contribute to joint problems. Participating in strenuous sports or training can put undue pressure on joints, injuring them.
Inflammation
Chronic inflammation in the body triggered by problems with your Defense System can cause arthritis. We will talk more about inflammation in future newsletters.
Autoimmune Disease
Many autoimmune diseases produce chronic inflammation, the root of almost all health and joint issues. These diseases include lupus, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and more. Even these diseases can benefit significantly from The 7 Systems Plan.
Dehydration
If you’re following The 7 Systems Plan, you know getting in adequate water is crucial. Your joints need fluid, just like every System in your body. Water makes up 70% to 80% of joint cartilage. The synovial fluid in joints is also mostly water. Adequate hydration helps keep your joints functioning properly.
The conventional medical treatment for painful joints involves non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs). These drugs damage your gut and can lead to leaky gut syndrome. Steroid injections should also be used only with caution. Current studies show these injections increase joint degeneration. Check out a video on this topic here.
There are natural ways to support your joints and maintain proper function. Here are some new, exciting tools to bolster your joints that I can’t wait to tell you about!
7 Ways to Support Joint Health
While there are many causes of joint health issues, the good news is there are also many natural ways to improve and maintain mobility. Here are seven of the most helpful things you can do without relying on harmful drugs and injections.
1. Maintain A Healthy Weight
A key for Cindy to regain her mobility was weight loss. Obesity puts more strain on joints. Studies show that overweight adults over 18 are up to 15% more likely to be diagnosed with arthritis. Every pound of extra weight quadruples stress to the knees. Being 10 pounds overweight can put 40 pounds of stress on the knees.
The good news is that shedding even just a few pounds can help prevent future joint problems. The 7 Systems Plan Course Cindy used is the easiest, safest way to knock off those unwanted pounds quickly. Making some simple changes can have a powerful effect.
2. Gentle Movement & Exercise
Inactivity can decrease freedom of movement and worsen conditions such as arthritis, a pressing concern. Any low-impact movement you enjoy will benefit your joints. If you already suffer from immobility, don’t overdo it and put too much strain on your joints.
Stay active! It doesn’t matter what activity you do; the key is to move! Though it might initially feel counterintuitive, including aerobic and resistance exercise training in your routine is one of the best steps to improve your joint health. Some great sports and exercises for joint support are aerobics, weight training, cycling, swimming, dancing, and yoga. Did you know the speed you walk can determine how long you live?
3. Get Adjusted – Chiropractic Care
Can chiropractic care improve your quality of life? The answer is a resounding yes! Chiropractic care can enhance almost all aspects of daily life, relieving pain, treating injuries, and helping prevent future injuries. Chiropractic care increases your immune function and body System efficiency, allowing the body to release materials that no longer benefit you. Stagnation in the body, particularly in the joints, can contribute to autoimmune disorders.
4. Eat an Anti-Inflammatory Diet.
Chronic inflammation has been called the root of all diseases. It is a major contributor to many health problems, including joint health. The 7 Systems Plan is the best anti-inflammatory intervention available. To support your joints, remove inflammatory foods, especially omega-6 oils, gluten, and dairy from your diet.
I also recommend eliminating toxic foods such as processed sugars, GMOs, nightshade vegetables (for some people), alcohol, trans fats, and hydrogenated oils found in fried foods, fast food, and packaged snack products. For more information on inflammation, refer to Chapter 6 in The 7 Systems Plan Book.
5. Essential Fatty Acids
These fatty acids are “essential” because your body cannot produce them; you ideally must take them daily for the smooth functioning of all your Systems. The omega-3 fat DHA enhances bone mineral content and can help to suppress inflammation in joints. Wild-caught fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel, and grass-fed beef contain this healthy fat. See my healthy fish list in The 7 Systems Plan Book.
In addition to eating these healthy fish at least twice weekly, I recommend taking a quality omega-3 complex. The one I use and recommend is called EPA-DHA 1000. It is a nourishing blend of DHA and EPA, two essential fatty acids. Taking two capsules per day ensures adequate omega-3 intake.
6. Stay Hydrated. Drink Your Water.
This habit is one of the easiest and most important things you can do to support your joint health. Remember, water makes up 70% to 80% of your joint cartilage. I recommend that those following The 7 Systems Plan consume half their weight in ounces daily. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, you should drink 100 ounces of water. If you have a high activity level, you may need even more.
I strongly recommend that you consume pure water. City water and plastic bottles contain toxins that increase inflammation and cause joint problems. I have used a water filter for decades and recommend all of my patients get a sound water filtration system. The best and most economical water filter I have found is from Multipure. It removes almost all contaminants and chemicals from water and leaves the minerals to maintain the proper pH.
7. Use Curcumin to Decrease Chronic Inflammation
Curcumin is one of the most potent anti-inflammatory herbs. It has been clinically proven to help with out-of-control inflammation. It comes from turmeric, which gives it its bright yellow color.
Please understand that not all turmeric supplements are the same. Some have minimal bioactive compounds and little benefit to your body. My go-to curcumin product is the functional food Inflam-Eze. I take a few scoops each week to maintain healthy joints and a proper inflammatory response.
Want to learn more about functional foods?
The 7 Systems Plan helps us to live life to the fullest! The 7 Systems Plan focuses on improving all areas of your health.
For your health
Dr. Pat
Spice Mix
From Teresa’s 7 Systems Kitchen
1 teaspoon Black Pepper
¼ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Cumin
1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1 ½ teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt
1 teaspoon ground Turmeric
Blend. Store in glass container. Use a small amount for flavor and health benefits.
