Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in Ireland, affecting more than 400,000 people. Osteoarthritis is caused by wear and tear of cartilage in the joints. There has been an increase in the number of people with osteoarthritis in Ireland for two reasons; our ageing population and more obese people putting an increased strain on their joints.
Osteoarthritis can affect any joint, but it most commonly affects the knees, hips, neck and back, big toe and fingers. Inflammation of the joints can occur, which can cause cartilage to erode, leaving the joint with pain, swelling and stiffness.
Top Tips to Keep inflammation at Bay
1. Eat anti-inflammatory foods:
Eating plenty of alkalising foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, green leafy vegetables, dried fruit, wholegrain bread, rice, quinoa and millet, oily fish, raw nuts or seeds and drinking 8 glasses of water, coconut water, green vegetable juices or herbal teas - nettle tea, green tea, ginger tea or chamomile tea will all help manage inflammation.
2. Up your Omega-3s:
Getting the right balance of Essential Fatty Acids is vital in managing inflammation. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are considered essential as our bodies cannot produce these fats, so we must obtain them from a healthy diet or through supplementation. Omega-6 mostly sends pro-inflammatory messages, whereas omega-3 helps calm inflammation by sending anti-inflammatory messages. To manage inflammation, I would recommend 2-3 portions of oily fish per week (salmon, sardines, anchovies, mackerel, tuna ) or taking a high quality omega-3 fish oil daily. Surprisingly, a massive 89% of Irish people are not consuming sufficient oily fish in their diet, so often there is a need to take a premium quality omega-3 fish oil such as Eskimo-3 - known for its legendary purity, freshness & stability.
3. Spice up your Life:
Spices such as curcumin and ginger are excellent at reducing inflammation. Ginger and Curcumin (the active part of Turmeric ) are well known for their benefits for Joint Health. Ginger is an extract which helps to maintain joint mobility and avoid morning stiffness.
Curcumin helps to control inflammatory responses in the body, helps to protect joints and helps to maintain joint flexibility. You can use these spices in cooking or make a warm herbal drink regularly to help combat inflammation. If this proves difficult, you can take ZinCuFlex, curcumin and ginger complex daily to help keep inflammation at bay. ZinCuFlex uses a patented complex, to improve absorption by up to 100 times compared to ordinary curcumin, making it more bioavailable and therefore more effective.
Horans have been selling ZinCuFlex for a couple of years and regularly receives positive feedback from happy customers about its joint benefits. The positive feedback we have been receiving from customers is backed up by research as a study of 200 ZinCuFlex users in Denmark found that 90% reported a significant improvement in joint mobility, with many feeling the difference within 14 days.
4. Keep moving:
Stretching, walking, swimming and yoga can prove beneficial. Be careful not to overdo it though. Aim for 30 mins 5 times a week.
5. Reduce weight:
Being overweight increases the impact on the weight-bearing joints, in particular the knees and ankles. Aim to reach and maintain your ideal weight to avoid excess stress on your joints.
6. Avoid Nightshades:
Avoid potatoes, tomatoes, aubergine, peppers and tobacco to see if the nightshade foods are contributing to your symptoms.
Whatever your passion… follow these tips to reduce inflammation and get back living again! Pop into your local health food store or pharmacy and ask about ZinCuFlex and Eskimo-3 omega-3 fish oil.
More information – zincuflex.ie
