Cold Weather and Joint Pain – How to Protect Yourself

Did you ever wonder why cold weather causes joint pain and aching bones? Or what you can do to alleviate your pain?

Weather-induced inflammation

Some scientists believe it’s not actually the cold that affects your joints, but the changes that occur in the weather when temperatures drop from warm to cold. Before the start of bad weather, the atmosphere changes and barometric pressure drops. Barometric pressure is the weight of the surrounding atmosphere, so when that weight lessens, it allows the tissues that encompass the joints to expand. That puts pressure on your poor joints and as your body strives to adjust, the pain begins. It’s even worse if you already suffer from an injury or stressed joints!

Another scientific theory is that joint paint arises from blood flow issues. Cooler temperatures affect circulation, which means there is less blood in joint areas to keep them warm.

And here’s one more theory; 70 percent of our body composition is water, and colder temperatures change the thickness of our joint fluids. Think of how difficult it is to stretch a rubber band after it’s been in the refrigerator! Our bodies, like that rubber band, lose elasticity during cold weather.

Natural treatment for joint pain

There’s simply no denying that when cold moves in, joints tend to swell and tighten. Keeping yourself warm helps with joint and muscle flexibility. And certainly exercising to keep your blood flow healthy and to strengthen your joints is important. But what about the foods you eat? Foods play a far greater role in joint pain than most people realize.

First, let’s look at the foods that worsen the condition. Ideally, you if you suffer from joint pain, you should trying avoiding these foods, or at least lessen how much and how often you eat them.

Dairy milk – Cow’s milk and cream cheese are considered highly inflammatory because of how often they can cause upset stomachs, diarrhea, constipation, hives, and even breathing issues.
Fatty red meats – Unfortunately for those of us who love meat like beef ribs, ground beef, and other fatty cuts, animal fats have been linked to numerous health issues and are tagged as inflammatory culprits.
Cheese – It’s not just cream cheese that is considered an inflammatory because of bad fat. Research indicates about 60-percent of people in the world have difficulty digesting cow’s milk, which is why cheese—especially the varieties high in sodium—can cause inflammation. Natural hard cheeses with less sodium are not as much of an issue.
Margarine – Along with other spreads, margarine is high in partially-hydrogenated oils or trans-fats, and exacerbates inflammatory responses.
Cured, processed meats – These kinds of meat are processed with inflammatory elements such as salt, nitrite, nitrates or sugar to increase their longevity and flavor.
Sugar – A rapid rise in blood sugar is a major cause of inflammation because sugar actually produces biochemical changes in your cells. Avoiding sugar is an important step in preventing sugar-induced inflammation! This includes soft drinks and juices that are sweetened.
Alcohol – Excessive consumption of alcoholic beer, wine, cider, or spirits in general has been linked to chronic inflammation.
Vegetable Oils – Surprisingly, too much omega-6 fatty acids, which include soy, safflower, and sunflower vegetable oils, are reported to cause inflammation.
Fried foods – Ah, there go the French fries, onion rings, hamburgers and potato chips! But the nature of fried foods makes them inflammatory offenders.

You get the picture. Who doesn’t love a thick, juicy hamburger and a side of hot, seasoned french fries? Unfortunately if your daily meals are dominated by the foods like those listed above, inflammation can whittle its way into your body.

When looking for natural treatments for joint pain, food should always be your first line of defense. Here are eight excellent anti-inflammatory edibles:

Fatty fish – Mackerel, tuna, sardines, salmon, cod, snapper and bass contain omega-3 fatty acids that really slam inflammation. Frying isn’t a healthy cooking choice, so stick with boiling or baking.
Alcohol – Remember, excessive drinking is a problem in terms of making inflammation worse, but moderate drinking is reported to lower the potential for cardiovascular disease and isn’t considered an inflammatory issue.
Vegetable oils – Omega-3 fatty acid vegetable oils such as virgin olive oil, flaxseed oil, and hemp oil are good substitutes for those Omega-6 fatty acids that you should avoid. The Omega-3 fatty acids help fight inflammation responses.
Whole grain foods – Any food containing whole grain is great for inflammation reduction because of the fiber content. Fiber tends to reduce the level of some inflammation causing proteins.
Nuts – Walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds and sunflower seeds fight inflammation by providing an Omega-3 boost.
Soy milk – A good substitute for cow milk; or try rice milk or almond milk.
Olive oil – This is an excellent substitute for margarine. Or try ghee, a clarified butter, which consists of milk fat that’s been rendered from butter, separating water and milk solids from the milk’s butterfat.
Dark leafy vegetables – The vitamin E in spinach, collard greens, kale and broccoli, protects against the cytokines that cause inflammation.
Fruit – Strawberries, raspberries, cherries, apples, and pineapple combat inflammation.
Dark chocolate – What an indulgent way to battle inflammation! Stick with chocolates containing no less than 70 percent pure cocoa.
Additional anti-inflammatory foods to consider include green tea, beans, soy, tomatoes, beetroot, garlic and ginger.

For your own comfort and health, grab a few of these nutritious foods the next time you’re grocery shopping.

A high quality supplement designed to fight joint pain

When you’re eating well and you still have pain, it may be time to try a natural supplement. Inflammease is a Boswellia-Turmeric Complex containing botanical extracts that provide support and protection for the body’s connective tissues. That means it’s not only good for your joints, but also the surrounding tendons, ligaments, and cartilage.

Inflammease contains a combinations of three well-researched herbs, Boswellia serrata, Turmeric root, and Devil’s Claw. All three contain powerful compounds that act as anti-oxidants and inflammation fighters.

Don’t let fall and winter slow you down!

Stiff, aching joints can be helped. You have choices! The right diet, exercise, and a supplement such as Inflammease are all safe and natural treatments for joint pain.

Stay healthy, stay active, and enjoy the seasonal changes.