Often, we don’t think arthritis and chronic pain and allergies are connected.
Today, we explore how everyday foods and one rock star supplement can help the liver and immune system to combat both gracefully and effectively.
According to the Center for Disease Control, about 1 out of every 5 US adults has doctor-diagnosed arthritis in some form.
The term arthritis is broad and includes more than 100 different diseases and conditions, from rheumatoid arthritis to lupus to fibromyalgia and gout.
Allergies run rampant, as well.
Researchers at The Asthma and Allergy Association estimate that nasal allergies affect about 50 million people in the United States and that’s increasing.
I was surprised to learn that allergies, including asthma, affect as many as 30 percent of adults and 40 percent of children.
Allergies and the aches and pain and exhaustion of arthritic conditions can make us feel like we are sick with a cold or flu most of the time.
Then there’s the alarming rate of misdiagnosis.
For example, did you know that 66% of fibromyalgia cases are misdiagnosed?
Often the root cause is something like leaky gut, Lyme disease, heavy metal or environmental toxicity, or adrenal dysfunction.
With a misdiagnosis, often people go on to live with and manage constant chronic symptoms like:
While it’s key to get to the root cause, you can start feeling better quickly by using food as medicine and replacing pain management over-the-counter meds with supplements that naturally control the inflammation and allergy cascade that lead to many of the symptoms above.
Broccoli is the unsung hero of inflammation and allergy control and a true miracle food. It’s rich in vitamins K and C, but the real power here comes from a compound it contains called sulforaphane.
This is an incredibly powerful antioxidant, which researchers have found could help prevent or slow the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). Broccoli is also rich in calcium, known for its bone-building benefits— another huge plus for those with osteoarthritis.
The studies continue, however. UCLA scientists have proven how the indirect antioxidants in broccoli support the liver in detoxifying itself more efficiently, which leads to fewer toxins floating around the blood, which means less joint pain and brain fog.
UCLA research was also done on environmental factors such as allergy and asthma-inducing diesel exhaust that can trigger a flare up. Broccoli to the rescue!
Want to take it to the next level? Also, add in broccoli sprouts to your sandwiches or salad to get 30-50x the cancer-fighting ability as mature broccoli while giving your precious adrenal glands a lift.
The compound glucosinolate glucoraphanin also helps to improve blood pressure and kidney function. Powerful little food-as-medicine sprouts!
Good, quality green tea is packed with polyphenols, a type of antioxidant family believed to reduce inflammation and slow cartilage destruction.
“Studies also show that other antioxidants in green tea called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) block the production of molecules that cause joint damage in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)”.
The traditional medical system is ill-equipped to deal with this effectively with non-pharmacological approaches, which is why we must become our own health advocate and take matters into our own hands.
Certain types of fish are packed with inflammation-fighting omega-3 fatty acids.
When it comes to keeping inflammation at bay, we should have a ratio of 1 Omega 3 Fatty Acid to 2 Omega 6 Fatty Acids. However, the average American (due to diet) is out of balance by a ratio of 1:20. No wonder we are inflamed, in pain, and allergic!
Get your ratio of Omegas balanced by including fatty fish like wild salmon, mackerel, or herring in your diet 2-3 times a week. Also consider supplementing with a good quality fish oil.
The Italian in me is so pleased to see that…
“Studies have shown that people who regularly ate foods from the allium family – such as garlic, onions and leeks – showed fewer signs of early osteoarthritis (OA). Researchers believe the compound diallyl disulphine found in garlic may limit cartilage-damaging enzymes in human cells”.
How about a little Braised Broccoli with Roasted Garlic and Toasted Walnuts with your Wild Salmon? Have green tea as a mealtime drink and you’ve got 4 out of 5!
For dessert, have a few handful of cherries as studies have shown the anthocyancins they contain have an anti-inflammatory effect and are particularly effective in alleviating Gout.
Goodbye Ibuprofen and Hello Inflammablox and D-Hist.
When we are inflamed and achy, nothing works quite as quickly as NSAID’s (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories) like ibuprofen. However, this quick fix comes with a cost that actually keeps you locked in your pain cycle due to the fact that prolonged or excessive use (more than once a week) can lead to a thinner small intestinal lining, therefore allowing more toxins to escape from inside of your digestive system going directly into the blood stream causing more work for your body to detoxify what the digestive system should be handling.
Instead, switch (as long as you are not allergic to bees) to Inflammablox. This is a natural supplement I have used for years. The best part is that its ingredients cover both pain/inflammation (including pain related to injuries) and allergies. It’s a three-for-one!
With a powerhouse combination of Skullcap Root extract, Bee propolis extract, Turmeric Root extract, and Graminex (pollen extract), you can be sure to trust this synergistic formula to help with inflammation without having a negative impact on your gut lining.
There’s also D-Hist and D-Hist Jr. for children that work great for allergy season.
If you suffer with any of these conditions, I invite you to incorporate these foods and supplements into your diet and life consistently for 3 weeks and then to come back to this blog and let us know how much better you’re feeling.
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