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Greetings!
As I write this, the really intense summer heat seems
to be waning, much to everyone's relief. Gardens are
overflowing with summer's harvest , and already, in
Boulder, kids have only a few more short weeks until
school starts up again. With the heat subsiding it is
easier to get out and exercise outside again. This
issue is dedicated to joint health. As we age we like
to remain active and athletic and pain free. Those of
you who are "Boomers" may be sensing the onset of
osteoarthritis, from wear and tear on the joints. There
are many nutritional things that one can do to prevent
the joints from losing their range of motion and to
quell any associated inflammation that may be going
on. I hope to touch on a few of these in this issue so
that you may stay active and healthy and comfortable
as long as you can. Enjoy the remainder of your
summer and eat your garden veggies!
| Nightshades (Solanaceae family) Related to Arthritis |
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Diet appears to be a factor in the etiology of arthritis
based on surveys of over 1400 volunteers during a
20-year period. Plants in the drug family, Solanaceae
(nightshades) are an important causative factor in
arthritis in sensitive people. This family includes
potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), tomato
(Lycopersicon esculentum L.), eggplant (Solanum
melongena L.), tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), and
peppers (Capsicum sp.) of all kinds except the black
pepper (family, Piperaceae). A buildup of
cholinesterase inhibiting glycoalkaloids and steroids
from consumption and/or use (tobacco) of the
nightshades and from other sources such as caffeine
and some pesticides (organophosphates and
carbamates) may cause inflammation, muscle
spasms, pain, and stiffness. Osteoarthritis appears to
be a result of long-term consumption and/or use of
the Solanaceae which contain naturally the active
metabolite, vitamin D3, which in excess causes
crippling and early disability (as seen in livestock).
Rigid omission of Solanaceae, with other minor diet
adjustments, has resulted in positive to marked
improvement in arthritis and general health.
From the Journal of Neurological and Orthopedic
Medical Surgery
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| Glucosamine , Chondroitin Seem to Work |
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Among osteoarthritis sufferers, glucosamine and
chondroitin have developed a large following. But the
supplements, which are not FDA approved, continue
to be controversial. From WebMD Medical
News
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| Enzymes Can Hasten Pain Relief |
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One of the more common reactions to pathological
processes is inflammation. Just about every disease
or injury involves some form of it, which often
manifests as pain. Enzymes, particularly proteases
that break down proteins, can effectively be used to
ease inflammation. Enzymes are molecules involved
in speeding up chemical reactions necessary for
human bodily functions. Because enzymes occur
naturally in the human body, using them to ease
inflammation does not incur the side effects brought
on by their synthetic counterparts. Enzymes work not
by stopping or blocking inflammation, but by
supporting and quickening the process; hence, they
are not anti-inflammatory agents per se. From
Nutrition Science News
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| Zucchini Recipes |
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So what do you do when your garden is exploding
with zukes and summer squashes? Click on this link
and try some of these recipes of course! I know that
my garden has been successful when I see those
great long summer squashes finally ready to pick and
eat. Here are some hopefully novel ways to prepare
these summer gems and boost your nutrition at the
same time!
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Help Yourself Help Your Joints |
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There are many things that one can do to protect your
joints from the ravages of time . Here are just a few of
them! 1. Choose low impact sports for the bulk of
your workouts. Swimming, yoga, walking, cycling,
and low impact aerobics are but a few of the
activities that are easy on your joints. Running can
be very hard on the joints, but if you must run... 2.
Wear proper shoes for your activity. Choose a good
shoe that fits your activity. Wear orthotics if
necessary and... 3. Warm up and stretch well.
this will allow for adequate space between the joints
so that you are not overly grinding away at your
cartilage. Also stretching well will prevent injuries
and
help you to perform well. 4. Drink an adequate
amount of water. Water hydrates your joints and
tissues so that they can move properly and can
detoxify waste material well. 5. Massage
therapy, rolfing and other forms of bodywork can help
relief muscle tightness, thus allowing proper space
between the joints. Bodywork can also help with
pain relief. 6. Sleep on a good mattress. We
spend approximately 1/3 of our life in bed. Your back
and joints will thank you if you invest in a good
quality mattress. 7. Limit the amount of
nightshades in your diet. These include tomatoes,
potatoes, peppers, eggplant , and tobacco. These
can exacerbate inflammation. 8. Avoid your food
allergens. Eating your allergens can also contribute
to an inflammatory condition in your body. Please
contact me for more information in identifying and
eliminating your food allergies.
Find out more....
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