What You Need To Know News

A specific type of yoga may help improve stability and balance in women over age 65, possibly helping them to avoid falls, a preliminary study reports.

After nine weeks of participating in an Iyengar yoga program designed for senior citizens, 24 elderly females had a faster stride, an increased flexibility in the lower extremities, an improved single-leg stance and increased confidence in walking and balance, according to the findings of researchers at Temple University’s Gait Study Center.

The researchers, scheduled to present their findings Friday at the Gait and Clinical Movement Analysis Society’s annual meeting in Richmond, Va., suggested that improving balance and stability through yoga could help reduce the risk of falling.

“We were very impressed at the progress our participants made by the end of the program,” principal investigator Dr. Jinsup Song, director of the Gait Study Center, said in a prepared statement. “Subjects demonstrated improved muscle strength in lower extremities, which helps with stability. There was also a pronounced difference in how pressure was distributed on the bottom of the foot, which helps to maintain balance.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that falls are the leading cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma among people aged 65 and older. Almost a third of older adults suffer some type of fall each year, the CDC reported.

The program was crafted specifically for elderly people who have had little or no yoga experience. The Iyengar technique, which is known for the use of props such as belts and blocks, was chosen to help participants gradually master the poses while building their confidence.

“In the past, similar studies have been done that look at gait and balance improvement in elderly females using a more aggressive form of yoga,” Song said. “For this study, we worked to create a very basic regimen that taught participants proper ways to breathe, stand and pose.”

Researchers also found that some participants who had unrelated back and knee pain were pain-free by the end of the study.

Song said he hoped the work will pave the way for a larger study on how Iyengar yoga affects the function of the foot to improve balance and stability and prevent falls.
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/04/AR2008040402304.html

Being stressed out during the first half of pregnancy may be unhealthy, but it won’t increase a woman’s risk of developing a serious complication known as preeclampsia, Dutch researchers have found.

Stress also didn’t influence a woman’s likelihood of developing a related condition known as gestational hypertension, in which blood pressure climbs to dangerous levels during pregnancy.

“Of course too much psychosocial stress is not good for a woman’s health. But women who have a lot of work stress or other kind of stress should not be afraid of getting preeclampsia or gestational hypertension,” Dr. Karlijn C. Vollebregt of the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam, the study’s lead author, told Reuters Health.

Preeclampsia and gestational hypertension, known collectively as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, can harm the mother and fetus, Vollebregt and her colleagues note in their report, published in BJOG, an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Established risk factors include obesity, high blood pressure, and older age.

While the cause of these disorders remains unclear, the researchers note, some have suggested stress as a factor. To investigate, they followed 3,679 women who were pregnant for the first time, 3.5 percent of whom developed preeclampsia and 4.4 percent of whom had gestational hypertension. All filled out a questionnaire measuring their stress levels before 24 weeks of pregnancy.

The researchers found no relationship between a woman’s level of job stress, anxiety, anxiety related to pregnancy or depression and her risk of developing preeclampsia or gestational hypertension.

“Women who have or have had preeclampsia, and especially those women with a baby that was born too early because of preeclampsia or a baby that died, often feel guilty,” Vollebregt noted in an email interview. “They think that if they had less stress at work or at home that this could have saved the baby or this would have prevented preeclampsia.”

“This is not true,” she added. “Preeclampsia can be a severe disease but for a woman there is nothing she can do to prevent it during her pregnancy.”
Source: http://uk.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUKLAU48349220080404

In elderly patients with systolic hypertension, 8 weeks of stress management training or lifestyle modification resulted in a reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) of more than 9 mm Hg, according to the results of a double-blind, randomized controlled trial reported in the March issue of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. However, patients in the stress management intervention were more likely to eliminate a blood pressure medication without losing blood pressure control.

“Isolated systolic hypertension is common in the elderly, but decreasing systolic blood pressure (SBP) without lowering diastolic blood pressure (DBP) remains a therapeutic challenge,” write Jeffery A. Dusek, PhD, from the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and colleagues. “Although stress management training, in particular eliciting the relaxation response [RR], reduces essential hypertension its efficacy in treating isolated systolic hypertension has not been evaluated.”

This study compared 8 weeks of stress management (RR training) in 61 patients vs lifestyle modification in 61 patients (control group). Inclusion criteria were 55 years of age or older, SBP 140 to 159 mm Hg, DBP of less than 90 mm Hg, and use of 2 or more antihypertensive medications. The main endpoint was change in SBP after 8 weeks of the intervention. Those patients in whom SBP decreased by at least 5 mm Hg to below 140 mm Hg were permitted to enroll in additional training for 8 weeks, with supervised medication elimination.

Mean SBP decreased by 9.4 ± 11.4 mm Hg in the RR group and 8.8 ± 13.0 mm Hg in the control group (P < .0001 for both), without a significant difference between groups (P = .75). In a similar fashion, mean DBP decreased by 1.5 ± 6.2 in the RR group (P < .05) and 2.4 ± 6.9 mm Hg in the control group (P < .01), without a significant difference between the groups (P = .48).

In the RR group, 44 patients were eligible for supervised antihypertensive medication elimination, as were 36 in the control group. After controlling for differences in characteristics when medication elimination was started, patients in the RR group were more likely to be able to eliminate an antihypertensive medication (odds ratio, 4.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.2 - 15.9; P = .03).

“Although both groups had similar reductions in SBP, significantly more participants in the relaxation response group eliminated an antihypertensive medication while maintaining adequate blood pressure control,” the study authors write. “This result has clinical impact since reduction in SBP of 5 mm Hg reduces mortality by 7% and risk of stroke by 30%.”

Limitations of the study include insufficient statistical power to detect a difference in the observed reductions in SBP between treatment groups; imbalance between treatment groups in the number of antihypertensive medications that subjects were taking at baseline; participants taking different combinations of antihypertensive medications; inability to standardize the particular antihypertensive medication to be withdrawn; possibly insufficient duration of the trial to establish the durability of the RR training in lowering SBP and eliminating antihypertensive drug therapy; no monitoring of lifestyle modifications; sample size limited with insufficient power to evaluate other potential predictors of responsiveness to the RR intervention; lack of “no-treatment” control group; and study not specifically designed to address whether the treatments enabled subjects to eliminate antihypertensive medications, because that was not the primary outcome.

“If our findings in systolic hypertension can be extended to other patient populations, the benefits in preventing vascular events as well as the cost savings in decreased drug dependence are incalculable,” the study authors conclude.
Source: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/572519

Pregnant women who were overweight were more likely to use all levels of healthcare services — from prenatal testing, to Caesarean section, to phone calls.
Among pregnant women in a large U.S. group-practice HMO, those who were overweight or obese before pregnancy had higher rates of gestational diabetes, pre-existing diabetes, and hypertensive disorders, Susan Y. Chu, Ph.D., of the CDC here, and colleagues, reported in the April 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

As a result, the researchers said, these women made greater use of healthcare services, had significantly longer hospital stays, and had higher rates of prenatal testing, outpatient medications, telephone calls, and prenatal visits than did normal-weight women.

Obesity during pregnancy is now a common high-risk obstetrical condition affecting about one woman in five who give birth in the U.S., the researchers said.

To estimate the increased use of healthcare services associated with obesity during pregnancy, the researchers used electronic data systems to identify 13,442 pregnancies that resulted in live births or stillbirths among women 18 or older at the time of conception.

The women were enrolled in Kaiser Permanente Northwest, a large HMO, and were studied from January through December 2004.

The researchers assessed associations between health services and body-mass index (BMI) before pregnancy or in early pregnancy. The primary outcome was the mean length of hospital stay for delivery.

The women were categorized as underweight (BMI <18.5), normal (BMI 18.5 to 24.9), overweight (BMI 25.0 to 29.9), obese (BMI 30.0 to 34.9), very obese (BMI 35.0 to 39.9), or extremely obese (BMI ≥40.0).

After adjustment for age, race or ethnic group, level of education, and parity, the mean (±SE) length of hospital stay for delivery was significantly (P<0.05) greater among women who were overweight (3.7±0.1 days), obese (4.0±0.1 days), very obese (4.1±0.1 days), and extremely obese (4.4±0.1 days) than among women with a normal BMI (3.6±0.1 days).

A higher-than-normal BMI was associated with significantly more prenatal fetal tests, obstetrical ultrasonograms, medications dispensed from the outpatient pharmacy, telephone calls to the ob-gyn department, and prenatal visits with physicians.

For example, among women with a high-risk condition, the number of obstetrical sonograms was significantly higher for women in the two highest BMI categories. The number of sonograms for high-risk normal women was 6.6 versus 7.1 for obese women, 9.2 for very obese, and 11.0 for extremely obese women.

An above-normal BMI was also associated with significantly fewer prenatal visits with nurse practitioners and physician assistants rather than with physicians. For example, 4.9 visits for a normal BMI versus 4.6 (obese), 4.5 (very obese), and 3.9 (extremely obese).

The difference in prenatal visits to a physician even by women without a high-risk condition, suggests that regardless of risk status, physicians, rather than mid-level providers, are more likely to provide prenatal care for women with a higher BMI, with attendant cost implications, the researchers said.

In addition, the researchers noted, the use of medications and telephone calls rose with increasing BMI even among women without a high-risk condition. It was not possible, they said, to determine whether these increases represented health-seeking behavior or greater needs related to other, unknown complications related to high BMI.

The study’s limitations included the fact that the women were members of an HMO in the Northwest in which a relatively high percentage were white and highly educated, so that the results may not be generalizable, the researchers wrote.

Also, electronic records and birth certificates used in the study may have had coding errors, and because it was not possible to validate reported diagnoses, misclassification of clinical conditions was possible.

According to a recent estimate, the researchers said, about 22% of pregnant women in nine states are obese. This can be extrapolated to indicate that of the four million U.S. births each year, approximately one million involve obese women.

“Thus even a small increase in the cost of heath care associated with obesity will have substantial economic implications,” they concluded.
Source: http://www.medpagetoday.com/OBGYN/Pregnancy/tb/9003

To parents who have been seeking some slam dunk response to two questions that their offspring aged 5 to 8 seem particularly fond of whining incessantly — “Why do I have to go to bed so early?” and “Why can’t I have a TV in my room?” — science can now offer a reply that might just stop the little treasures in their tracks: “Because if I let you have your way, you will be a big fat obese tub by the time you hit the sixth grade.”
More sleep leads to less weight

According to a study by the University of Michigan published in Pediatrics, every extra hour of sleep per night that a third-grader gets lowers his or her chances of being obese by grade six by 40 percent. The crucial amount of slumber time seems to be nine hours and 45 minutes; anything more than that cuts the obesity risk significantly, whereas anything less increases the likelihood of obesity regardless of the child’s third-grade weight.

The exact reason is still unclear — some observers note that sleep shortage is known to disrupt certain hormones involved with appetite regulation, while others point out that a tired child is less inclined to engage in activity and exercise — but the bottom line is, more sleep, less child.
Attention is good for your kids

And don’t worry your parental head that you’re being mean or callous or unkind or somehow punishing your kids by not giving in on the sleep rule, or on other rules. A study of 2,500 children conducted by Temple University found that rules, even those imposed harshly by yelling and/or threats of spanking, do not effect children’s weight gain, but that neglecting or ignoring your children or withholding care and affection is highly likely to result in obesity.

In fact, the chances of becoming obese are fully 50 percent greater among children who have been neglected.

As with sleep, the process at work here is unclear, but the theory is that while small children understand the relationship between rules and discipline, simply being ignored leaves them feeling bewildered and at fault, and “empty” in a way that they may try to fill with food.

Kids need sleep, and they need your attention, which makes it a matter of two simple rules for the parent to observe:
Make sure your children get to bed early and on time and consistently and with no electronic distractions.
Don’t forget to tuck them in and kiss them good night.
Source: http://calorielab.com/news/2008/04/03/kids-stuff-sleeping-and-caring-help-prevent-obesity/

Weight loss is not just a physical act. The most successful people who lose weight and keep it off are those who adapt a long-term lifestyle change that is a good fit for them.

It is something we all have heard of before but certainly not a simple change process to begin. That’s the psychology of weight loss. To get to the stage of actually changing your lifestyle, you will enter a tough journey, but not an impossible one. It is a step-by-step process. Remember, the journey to finish a marathon begins with the first step.

When entering a weight-loss program, be mindful to avoid ones that promote their program with “x” amount of weight loss for “x” amount of money. For example, “Lose 20 pounds in two weeks for just $19.99.” To avoid a disaster, look at the program’s outcome data. Look to see that it gives you tools to maintaining your weight loss, and, most importantly, does it teach one to be accountable to oneself.

A healthy weight-loss program is not one that is just low in caloric intake, but uses several tools to help you achieve your lifestyle changes.

Excessive weight is what I call a multifactoral or multimodal health problem. Your body is a complex piece of machinery. Excess weight is related to many factors (e.g., biological, genetics, psychological and social). It is not as simple as “eating less and exercising more.” If excess weight is multifactoral, then the approach to losing weight must be multimodal.

One must appreciate and be mindful not only of the physical battle ahead but the emotional/psychological one as well. Choose a program that will help you on all levels that has multiple resources, which could include a physician, psychologist, dietitian/nutritionist and other support groups or systems.

The process of weight loss should start with honestly evaluating your readiness to change. For many people, weight gain occurs for many reasons and over some period of time.

All of the factors that have lead to the weight gain need to be evaluated and addressed to promote the most individually tailored weight loss treatment plan. With this in mind, you should think about everything that has lead to your weight gain and list those reasons (e.g., stress, genetics, poor eating habits, time management, etc).

Think about the relationship you have developed with food and eating. Include the surroundings of where and when you usually eat: in the car, in front of the TV, when you are stressed, on your way to work.

After you have listed and examined all of these issues, ask yourself this important question: “Am I truly ready to change my behaviors?” The first answer commonly is “yes” when I ask my patients; however, it is easier to identify whether you truly are ready for change by using Prochaska, DiClemente and Norcross’ Stages of Change Model, which puts your situation in perspective.

There are six stages of change that have been identified, which are crucial in tailoring treatment. Research has shown there are specific techniques and processes that help people move from one stage to the next.

• Precontemplation: In this stage, you want to lose weight but you have not really thought about how to change yet.

• Contemplation: You are thinking about change but sitting on the fence on what to do.

• Preparation/pre-action: You start actively looking for resources, programs or other tools geared to help reach your weight-loss goals.

• Action: You are fully engaged in the weight-loss process and working a program tailored for you.

• Maintenance: You have maintained your healthy weight loss, being mindful of body and emotion for a lifestyle change with long-term effects.

• Relapse prevention: Many people do relapse similar to other behavioral problems by resuming old habits and eating behaviors. In this stage, it is important to identify what the trigger was to this relapse and tackle that head-on.

Find out where you are. Donot assume you are ready to lose weight based on what you say or the pressure you feel fromfriends, family and society. Identifywhat stage you are in andaim to get to the next stage untilyou begin changing yourlifestyle. There are countless bad weeks, and there’s never a right time to start a plan, so avoid that mind-set, focus on the stage you are in and work toward the stage you want to be in.

Source: http://www.southtownstar.com/losetowin/822831,030408toyourhealth.article

New research suggests that obesity may raise older adults’ risk of developing pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of the disease.

The study, by researchers at the U.S. National Cancer Institute, found that men and women who were severely obese were 45 percent more likely than normal-weight adults to develop pancreatic cancer over five years.

Abdominal obesity, in particular, was linked to a higher risk of the disease among women, the researchers report in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Pancreatic cancer is difficult to catch early, and 95 percent of patients die within five years of being diagnosed. Because of this dismal prognosis, researchers consider it particularly important to pinpoint the modifiable risk factors for the disease.

Smoking is one such risk factor. Some studies have also implicated obesity and physical inactivity in contributing to pancreatic cancer, possibly because of their association with type 2 diabetes.

In type 2 diabetes, the body loses its sensitivity to the blood sugar-regulating hormone insulin, which is produced by the pancreas; this leads to persistently high levels of insulin in the body. Insulin has growth-promoting effects, and it’s thought that too much of the hormone may encourage pancreatic tumor cells to grow and spread.

In the current study, the relationship between obesity and pancreatic cancer weakened somewhat when the researchers factored in diabetes.

This suggests that diabetes is one reason obesity is linked to pancreatic cancer, according to the researchers, led by Dr. Rachael Stolzenberg-Solomon.

“Our results, as well as those of others, may have important implications for cancer prevention particularly related to the avoidance of obesity,” the researchers write.
The findings are based on data collected from more than 300,000 U.S. adults who were cancer-free and between the ages of 50 and 71 at the outset. Over roughly five years, 654 developed pancreatic cancer.

In general, the risk of the cancer climbed in tandem with body mass index, a measure of weight in relation to height. Severely obese study participants were at greatest risk. Among women, the odds of developing pancreatic cancer also increased along with waist size.

There was no relationship, however, between the disease and physical activity levels. Going into the study, the researchers note, they had hypothesized that regular exercise would lower the risk of pancreatic cancer — given that it helps manage weight and type 2 diabetes.

It’s possible, they write, that the study did not precisely measure people’s activity levels, and more research is needed to see whether or not exercise helps reduce pancreatic risk.
Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTON28275720080312?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0

Lower rates of breastfeeding may help explain why minority and disadvantaged US children are at greater risk of becoming overweight, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that among 739 10- to 19-year-olds, those who had been breastfed for more than four months had a lower average body mass index (BMI), and lower odds of being overweight.

This was true regardless of race or parents’ education levels, the researchers report in the journal Pediatrics. However, the study found, there were disparities when it came to rates of breastfeeding; 40 per cent of white adolescents but only 11 per cent of black children had been breastfed for at least four months.

There was a similar difference when the researchers looked at parents’ education levels, a marker of socioeconomic status. Forty percent of children with college-educated parents had been breastfed for at least four months, versus 18 per cent of those with less-educated parents.

“This really does suggest that if we could somehow increase the frequency and duration of breastfeeding in these groups, we could reduce disparities in (obesity),” said researcher Dr Jessica G Woo of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

A number of previous studies have suggested that breastfeeding may lower children’s risk of becoming overweight later in life, though some others have found no such relationship. There are several theories on why breastfeeding might directly affect childhood weight gain, Woo told Reuters Health.

One is that, compared with bottle-feeding, breastfeeding allows infants to have more control over how much they eat; this may have lasting effects on children’s ability to self-regulate their calorie intake.

Researchers also speculate that breast milk itself may have lasting metabolic effects that aid in weight control.

The bottom line, according to Woo, is that, whatever the effects on children’s weight, breastfeeding has many potential benefits for children and mothers.

Breastfed babies have a lower risk of illnesses like diarrhoea and middle-ear infections, and breastfeeding has also been linked to lower odds of allergies, asthma and childhood leukemia.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and other professional groups recommend that babies be breastfed exclusively for the first six months of life. This, Woo said, “is a goal that everyone should strive for.”

She suggested that women who are having difficulty breastfeeding talk to their doctors and seek out local resources for help. Many health clinics and hospitals, for example, have lactation specialists who help new mothers get past the obstacles to breastfeeding.
Source: http://news.theage.com.au/breastfeeding-can-affect-obesity-risk/20080307-1xqh.html

Patrick Swayze’s battle against pancreatic cancer will be a difficult one, as survival rates for the disease are low, according to estimated figures from a cancer charity.

Cancer Research estimates that, of the 7,400 people diagnosed with a pancreatic tumour each year, only about 3% of people are still alive five years later.

The pancreas, which lies across the body at the bottom of the breastbone, behind the stomach, produces digestive juices, insulin and other hormones that aid digestion.

Pancreatic cancer is the UK’s 10th most common form of cancer, excluding non-malignant skin cancer.
It mainly affects older people, with 63% of cases diagnosed in those over 70, and tends to strike in men and women equally.

Smoking is known to significantly raise the risk of developing pancreatic cancer, with up to a third of diagnoses related to it. Scientists believe nitrosamines, carcinogenic chemicals found in cigarette smoke, may be the cause.

Diet, alcohol consumption, being overweight and inactive are all thought to increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.

Doctors think their may be some genetic link in up to one in 10 cases of the disease, but the vast majority of pancreatic cancer cases do not run in families.

Common symptoms of pancreatic cancer include jaundice, back or abdominal pain, weight loss and loss of appetite. These can vary depending on the form of cancer and where in the pancreas the cancer is located.

Rarer types of cancer - endocrine pancreatic tumours - can lead to hormones being produced.

If the cancer is contained within the pancreas, treatment for the disease may include surgery.

But in many cases, if the cancer has spread, surgery can be used only to relieve symptoms, and remove blockages in the digestive system. Radiotherapy may be used to shrink the tumour, and chemotherapy is often used after surgery or as the first treatment in advanced cases.

Overall, pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis. Often the disease can be quite advanced by the time a patient notices symptoms, goes to a doctor and cancer is diagnosed.

Only about 15-20% of pancreatic cancers diagnosed are suitable for surgery, and only 10 to 15 of every 100 people diagnosed are still alive a year later.

Screening for pancreatic cancer is currently only given to people over 40 with hereditary pancreatitis, and some people with a high incidence of pancreatic cancer in the family.
Source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article3497282.ece

HERE IN the West we tend to accept arthritis as an almost inevitable part of the ageing process, but other cultures simply don’t experience it in this way and there’s no reason why we should. According to Arthritis Ireland a shocking one in every six people suffers from at least one of the hundred-odd different forms of this debilitating disease, and it can strike at any time. By the age of sixty, nine out of ten of us will be affected, and yet as one specialist puts it ‘No person who is in good nutritional health develops rheumatoid or arthritis’ (which says something about our nutritional health!)

Arthritis simply means inflammation (itis) of the joint (arthron). Inflammation spreads to the surrounding area causing pain, stiffness, redness, and swelling that may lead to deformity. Your GP will probably prescribe painkillers, cortisone based drugs (steroids) or NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These measures may provide relief from symptoms, but they don’t address the root cause and can have nasty side effects. As always, the best plan would be to stop arthritis developing in the first place, but at any stage of the disease there are several nutritional, herbal and lifestyle measures you can take to prevent, limit and even reverse the damage.

Both steroidal and non-steroidal drugs work by reducing inflammation, and they do this by affecting chemicals that are made from the fats you eat. Basically, some fats cause inflammation and some reduce it, so the first thing to do is to cut out saturated fats (meat, butter, lard etc) and eat more of the healthy fats. These include olive oil, nuts and seeds, avocadoes and oily fish. Oily fish, especially the tinned variety eaten with its bones, has the added benefit of plenty of calcium, a lack of which is one of the major triggers for arthritis. If you don’t fancy eating fish on a regular basis it would be wise to take a supplement – plain old cod liver oil and evening primrose oil have been proven as effective as anti-arthritic drugs.

Other triggers include previous injury to or overuse of a joint, poor posture, being overweight, lack of muscle strength, viral or bacterial infection, stress, and taking in too many toxins from the environment and the diet; a diet that is low in nutrients and high in processed, acid-forming food and drink, and stimulants such as caffeine, alcohol, tobacco and sugar. What many of these factors have in common is that they act as powerful oxidants, poisoning the cells. The body attempts to protect the vital organs from damage by dumping toxins away from them, in the joints, and the result is inflammation, that familiar swelling and pain.

Aside from eating plenty of those healthy oils then the best diet is one made up of cleansing foods – wholefoods in their natural state, including wholegrains like brown rice and wholemeal bread, pulses like beans, peas and lentils, and large amounts of vegetables. Deeply coloured veg are the best source of antioxidants, which protect cells from the damage caused by all of these external toxins and by the disease itself, reducing inflammation in the process.

Some people find that foods from the nightshade family – potatoes, aubergines, peppers and tomatoes – can exacerbate arthritic symptoms, while others have trouble with oranges, dairy produce or wheat, so it might be worth cutting these out for a while to see if it makes a difference.

Because yo-yoing blood sugar levels add to the problem it’s important to balance them by avoiding sugar and eating regular, small meals that each contain a little protein – choose from those pulses, nuts and seeds, soya products, eggs, or lean white meat.

Regular exercise, in whatever form you can manage and enjoy, is important for several reasons: it keeps the joints supple and the weight down, strengthens muscles, balances hormones and blood sugar, and just as importantly lifts your mood and relieves stress. It’s widely accepted now that there’s a strong emotional element to arthritis, of keeping feelings bottled up, so it would be a good idea to find a way of expressing yourself, whether it’s exercising vigorously, gardening or writing, or just punching a pillow!

Yoga is a really good way of maintaining flexibility and achieving relaxation. Drinking plenty of water or herbal teas will help your body to detoxify, and long soaks in a warm bath will soothe aching joints; try adding essential oils of lavender or rosemary for added healing power. If you’re feeling more adventurous, excellent results have been seen with aromatherapy massage, osteopathy and acupuncture.

Many sufferers swear by the copper bracelets available in pharmacies, and this is probably because copper has potent anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving and tissue-repairing properties. Found in beans, peas, wholewheat, seafood and liver, it also features in good multivitamin and mineral supplements, which will include all of the other nutrients that work to support the whole skeletal system and overall health.

And arthritis is one condition that really responds well to supplements, partly because it puts such stress on your body that you need a strong source of vitamins and minerals to make up the deficit, and partly because some of the most effective nutrients just can’t be accessed from diet alone. Most chemists and healthfood stores carry a formula specifically designed for joint health, which is likely to contain some combination of glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM. All three have marked anti-inflammatory effects but they also have the ability to prevent and even repair damage to the whole skeletal system, and carry a host of other benefits.

Just bear in mind that glucosamine and chondroitin are made from the shells of crustaceans, so avoid them if you have a shellfish allergy, and also if you are pregnant or diabetic. Effective alternatives or additions are boswellia, which reduces swelling and pain, improves mobility and blood flow, and prevents the breakdown of cartilage and can be found in both tablet and lotion forms, and bromelain, an anti-inflammatory found in pineapples.

There are several food sources of anti-arthritic agents: red peppers and chillis for example, root ginger, garlic, and turmeric, the yellow spice used in Indian cooking. It’s well worth trying to incorporate them into your diet, and also eating plenty of cabbage and other greens, celery, turnip, soya beans, apples and lemons. Herbs such as nettle and dandelion, willow bark, devil’s claw and feverfew have been used for centuries to deal with pain relief and swelling and to improve blood flow and overall nutritional health. And your grandmother’s remedy of cider vinegar and honey was a great one – just combine a dessertspoon of each in a cup of hot water first thing every morning.
Source: http://www.southernstar.ie/article.php?id=623