According to official statistics published by the NHS, it is estimated that over 10 million people in the UK are living with arthritis. With the winter months often causing it to flare up for many of us, here are some top tips on pain management for arthritis.

 

Ditch the Sugar

High blood sugar levels, which are often caused by eating too many sweet, sugary and processed foods, can damage your joints through a process called glycation, where sugar bonds to proteins causing painful inflammation around the joints. Try swapping white bread and pasta to wholegrains and using natural sweeteners in your cooking such as dates and honey. If you’re struggling, you can always try our Equigluco, which helps balance your blood sugar levels and curb those sugary cravings. Cutting down on the sugar will also help to prevent you from piling on the pounds, which can ease the pressure on your joints.

 

Let the Sun Shine

Vitamin D not only supports the body with the absorption of calcium, which helps to ensure a strong bone density, but is also vital for a healthy immune system. This is particularly important, as some types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis are autoimmune conditions, where the immune system mistakenly attacks our joint tissue. Make sure you’re eating plenty of foods rich in vitamin D such as fish, milk, fortified cereals and eggs, getting outdoors to take advantage of the sunshine, or for an extra help with pain management for rheumatoid arthritis take a supplement such as our Forte D 4000.

 

Try Aerobic exercises

Regular exercise is really important for those who suffer from stiff joints or arthritis. Although it might sometimes feel like the last thing you want to do, exercise can help to keep your joints supple and may aid reducing some of the pain. Try aerobic exercises such as Pilates, swimming or cycling. Swimming can be especially effective in pain management of arthritis in the hip, as the buoyancy of the water will help support the joints as you exercise. If you do need a little extra help, try taking a supplement such as our Glucosamine Sulphate, which helps to support joint health and improve mobility. However, if you are in considerable pain after exercising it may be worth making an appointment with your GP to discuss a course of action.

 

Up the Ante

A lot of joint pain and stiffness is caused by inflammation around the joint tissue, therefore it is important to include lots of anti-oxidants in your diet that can help to flush out any nasty toxins from your system. Foods that are especially potent in anti-oxidants are fruit and vegetables such as blueberries, green vegetables, cranberries and Goji berries, so ditch the chocolate biscuit and replace it with a handful of mixed berries. You can also try taking a supplement such as our CurQuMax, which contains another natural antioxidant, cucurmin, and can assist in supporting the regulation of inflammatory immune responses in your body.

 

Relax and Pamper

It is important to make time for yourself and allow your body to rest and relax, this will not only help calm your mind and provide relief for your joints but can aid you in coping with high levels of fatigue, often associated with the condition, this is especially important in the management of chronic arthritis pain in the elderly. At the end of a long day, treat yourself to a warm bath where you can switch off from the stresses of everyday life and let the warm water help soothe aches and pains. You could even try adding some aromatherapy oils such as rose and bergamot, for a truly relaxing experience.