Are sore joints holding you back?

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in Ireland, affecting more than 400,000 people. Local health store, Back to Nature in Cavan Town, will host a special event this week to advise on how you can prevent and manage joint pain and stiffness through, diet, exercise and supplements.

Tips to help ease joint pain and stiffness

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 eight 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. Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and may help lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. 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 good quality omega-3 fish oil such as Eskimo-3 or Eskimo-3 Extra daily, which can support heart, brain and eye and joint health.

3. Ginger and Curcumin Spices: Spices such as curcumin and ginger are excellent at reducing inflammation. ZinCuFlex provides highly bioavailable extracts of ginger and curcumin, which help to reduce inflammation, reduce morning stiffness, and keep the body’s joints flexible. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation and the function of bones and cartilage. 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. Zincuflex 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 minutes, five 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.

Special event

Expert Michael Donnellan will be in the Back to Nature Health Store this Friday, September 16, between 11am and 2pm to chat with you about the benefits of ZinCuFlex and Eskimo-3 - both on special offer with 20% off.

More information from 049-4361019.