Cherries and Joint Pain

Cherries Can Reduce Gout Attacks, and Other Joint Pains

Remarkably, not all joint pain can be adjusted away with skillful hands ... not even mine. A new study out of Boston University corroborated by other studies reports how a natural remedy of tart cherry extract ... or simply a bowl of cherries, and in some cases cherries plus medication can reduce some forms of chronic joint pain, and other acute attacks of gout by up to 75 %.  Eating about 30 pieces of the sweet fruit within 48 hours of a gout attack may even cut the risk of recurrence of the painful arthritic condition by 35 percent.

The single most important thing you can do however, to prevent acute bouts of joint pain, is to drink plenty of water throughout the day... everyday. Generally speaking, two thirds your body weight in fluid ounces.  For someone weighing 150 pounds about 99 ounces or 3 quarts of water consumed slowly all-day-long should become a daily ritual for everyone.

Drink Plenty of Water Throughout the Day

When so-called conventional medicine discovers something that natural health professionals have been saying for years, I always find it amusing.

This November 2012 study from Boston University found among 633 patients, there was a direct relationship between eating cherries and reducing painful attacks of gout, or pseudogout a condition characterized by recurrent attacks of inflammatory arthritis, and in some cases chronic unrelenting joint pain without a history of specific injury or known onset.

Not too shocking, the more cherries someone eats the better the results are. Those who eat one serving a day were able to reduce their attacks by 35%; two servings a day reduced attacks by 40%; and 3 servings of cherries had reduced attacks by as much as 51%. Eating up to three servings of cherries, about one and a half cups, seemed to be the magic number for preventing a serious gout attack.

These researchers also found that patients who combined a daily helping of cherries with the common gout medication called allopurinol had the chance to further reduce their attacks by as much as 75%.

Why does this occur? An excessive amount of uric acid in your diet develops into tiny little razor sharp crystals. In some, those crystals are monosodium urate (MSU, the ones found in gout), and the others are calcium pyrophosphate dehydrate (CPPD, the ones found in pseudogout). Because of super-saturation, these crystals become deposited in and around the joints triggering intense inflammation. Uric acid is a waste byproduct of metabolism and normally excreted through the kidneys in urine. When the process is impaired, uric acid accumulates in the blood stream until the concentration is sufficient enough for crystals to form and are deposited in and around the joints causing the pain, swelling and inflammation associated with gout. It usually attacks the big toes but can sometimes affect the rest of the foot, ankles or knees and less commonly, the elbows and shoulders sometimes mistaken as a rotator cuff injury.

Alcohol consumption, or chronic dehydration along with a high protein diet increases your chances of gout 

Those who are predisposed are generally sensitive to certain other kinds of food. These include organ meats like liver, sweetbreads, kidneys and brain as well as pork, red wine, and orange colored cheeses like cheddar.

Alcohol consumption, or chronic dehydration coupled with a high protein diet and other foods for instance shellfish, and small wild game are rich in the chemical purine, and can also increase the frequency of gout for those who are predisposed. You'd probably be best served to limit your consumption of mushrooms, asparagus, peanuts, lentils and peas because they are higher in purines than other foods.  In doing so, I recommend a healthy diet that reduces inflammation by including fish oil or flaxseed oil rich in Omega-3 essential fatty acids, and in some persons high doses of folate.

The enigma behind cherries' gout-fighting powers isn't entirely understood. Dr. Allan Gelber who co-wrote the commentary to the study found in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism with Dr. Daniel Solomon, said perhaps the vitamin C content of the fruit or potentially the strong anti-inflammatory effect of their high antioxidant content.

"Anthocyanins are an antioxidant pigment found in cherries and other red and purple fruits and vegetables. They seem to stabilize the free radical molecules responsible for causing inflammation and cell and tissue damage."

Fine tuned however, and in the right combinations,

magic can happen...

It's  well known how many plant flavinoids and compounds called anthocyanins reduce joint inflammation. These are the same substances abundantly found in curcumin, quercetin, ellagic acid, resveratrol, Jatoba extract, and grape seed extract, but unfortunately not everyone has the capacity to benefit equally either because of absorption problems, or its simply lacking in their diets. Fine tuned however, and in the right combinations magic can happen. One such product receiving widespread attention and favor, now with 14 clinical studies found in peer-reviewed journals supporting its use and efficacy is Protandim, a Nrf2 synergiser.  Protandim is a once-a-day patented formulation of five plant substances available without a prescription, and allows the body to express its own abundant antioxidant producing ability without interference.

Oddly enough, after the study above was released, the FDA sent a letter to various cherry-based product manufacturers warning them not to use the study results to make assertions about the benefits of their products.

I look forward to our Christmas celebration in a few days, and time spent with family and friends.  Wishing you a happy Christmas, and a New Year filled with God's abundant favor and grace.

Be sure to enjoy yours too, and don't forget the cherry pie!

Bless and be blessed,

Lewis Meltz

9- Helpful Tips For Arthritis Sufferers To Follow

Joint Pain Relief

If you or anyone you know is experiencing struggles due to arthritis, you might find yourself clueless when looking to treat this disease. Luckily, you've come to the right place if you want to learn more about what arthritis is, and what to do about it.

Stop smoking if you want to reduce the swelling and pain caused by arthritis. Its been shown through studies that non-smokers have less inflammation in their joints if they suffer from arthritis. You should seriously consider quitting smoking to help you with your arthritis. If you've tried to quit before and couldn't, you should seriously consider talking to us since there's plenty of strategies available that could potentially help you with solutions that affect addictions. One of the best things you can do for yourself, or loved ones is reduce the amount of oxidative stress occurring inside your body.  You can do this two ways.  First, by consuming more water.  How much water?  Most authorities suggest between 50% to 66% of your body's weight in fluid ounces each day. There's also a supplement available backed by 9- peer reviewed clinical studies from world renowned research institutions that's proven to reduce the damage caused by oxidative stress from 40-70% in all warm blooded animals 100% of the time, thus slowing the aging process.  

TIP! Be sure you have a strong group of people around you who can lend you support if you are an arthritis sufferer. Have a team made up of doctors, friends and family around you so that they can help you deal with what you are going through.

Bone loss can cause osteoarthritis too; consequently, its very important to get enough calcium an magnesium into your diet. Calcium can be found in the greatest amounts in green leafy vegetables as well as all sorts of dairy products, including yogurt, cheese and milk. However, if you're unable to tolerate dairy products, you'll want to use a chelated calcium supplement.  There's two forms of Omega-3 essential fatty acids.  One serves to nourish and protect the brain and nerves while the other serves the joints. You'll want to know which one to take and how much to be using. 

Getting an early diagnosis of arthritis, when you first start having symptoms, is most advantageous for treatment. The sooner you have your arthritis diagnosed, and start implementing a treatment plan, the better off you'll be. Your joints will be in better condition, which means you won't suffer as much pain. Its important to find a doctor who can see you as soon as possible to get an accurate diagnosis.

Most importantly, consult a health care professional to get information about the use of joint treatments, including both hot and cold methods. Soaking in ice water or using an ice pack is a good cold treatment for making your joints feel better while heating pads, hot packs, a warm Epsom Salt bath, or a far infrared sauna are all good soothing heat treatments. It is also a good idea to alternate between heat and cold therapy, as long as you do not do this in excess.

TIP! If you've tried all arthritis treatments, and all else falls, you may want to consider talking with your doctor about other more aggressive strategies. Depending on the extent of your problem, different approaches have been known to help reverse most of the effects that this condition has on flexibility and mobility in the joints.

Over the counter pain relievers are not the best solution. Some of these seemingly safe pain killers can have serious side effects that may not be worth the temporary improvement. Only use these as a last resort, and use them correctly according to the label's instructions. If a little bit helps, a whole lot more isn't necessarily better.

Taking walks after dinner can really help you too. If you walk after dinner, typically you'll feel better and you'll have more energy. Take someone with you on your walk, not only to improve your health, but to catch up with that person.

It's Not As Easy As It Looks

Keep your back straight, and don't slouch, or hunch over, if it can be avoided. Your posture affects your arthritis symptoms more than any other factor --even your diet or exercise plan isn't as important as your posture. Sit up straight with your back in alignment, instead of elbows on the table or desk.  And when standing, make sure your feet are shoulder distance apart. These simple changes will keep your posture correct and reduce your risk of joint pain and inflammation. Practice a balancing act once or twice a day.  Do this by balancing something on your head while sitting, driving, or walking.  You'll be forced into a neutral posture, and you'll soon remember what a balanced posture feels like.  

TIP! Try to switch between cold and hot treatments. When your joints are really feeling the pain, alternating temperatures can really work to ease pain and bring down swelling.

You need to be proactive about your arthritis management. There are as many types of arthritis as there are arthritis symptoms. As one of millions of arthritis sufferers, it can be difficult to find the right treatment for you. Take time to do research on techniques that might alleviate your specific issues.

Rather than allowing your arthritis to get the best of you, improve your condition by learning as much as possible about it. Use the advice in this article to help develop an effective treatment plan for your arthritis.

Bless and be blessed... Always,

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Lewis Meltz