Life! From the very beginning it’s all about movement. You wiggle, crawl, and walk, your movements growing bolder with age. Eventually you run, jump, and leap! Movement is a marvel of energy, coordination, and strength. It’s required for everything you do, big and small, whether running a marathon or picking up a pen. But you couldn’t do anything if your limbs weren’t constructed to twist and bend and move in different directions. Even your neck and torso have to be mobile for you to live fully.

An individual bone is about density and durability; it’ll break before it bends. So Mother Nature cleverly created joints to connect those durable bones in a manner that makes them beautifully usable. The opposable thumb that put us ahead in evolution is only one example of this physical wonder that pins your skeleton together.

Joints are integral to your physicality and you need them working as they were intended to work in order to live the life you want. However, you don’t think about them until they begin to bother you. If it reaches the point that you’re aware of a problem, the issue is more difficult to address. The secret is to focus on a preventative approach so you’ll never suffer the discomfort of joint pain and/or stiffness.

Let’s learn about joints and what you can do keep them healthy. Joints are fascinating, acting much like the hinges that allow a door to open and close. However, providing care for your joints simply isn’t as easy as greasing a squeaky hinge.

Joints 101

There are 360 joints in the human body and six different types of joints. Is it any wonder an unhealthy joint makes itself known? Check out the chart below, which provides images of the types of joints you utilize every day, they’re location, and how they work.

Each joint type allows your body to move and stabilize, so when a joint isn’t working properly, your body won’t either. Consider this–according to USA Today, the life expectancy for women is 81.2 years and, for men, 76.4 years. Diseased or injured joints aren’t likely to last as long as you normally can live! A recent article in The Examiner states, “Thankfully, uninjured human joints can last a lifetime of activities including running. It’s only once they’re injured or diseased that the surfaces become rough and the wear and tear then accelerate into arthritis. Preventing and curing arthritis can extend the life of a joint.”

With this in mind, let’s look at nutrition and how eating well helps to keep joints functioning.

Dieting for your joints

Inflammation, which causes swelling, is generally painful. That’s dangerous because pain limits movement. Less movement (Link to movement article) lowers your overall health, setting you up for obesity and heart disease. What can you do to avoid this? Eating the right foods helps decrease inflammation.

There are nine foods and ingredients that cause inflammation:

Sugar – The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition warns that processed sugars trigger the release of inflammatory messengers called cytokines.

Saturated Fats – Many studies show saturated fats cause adipose (fat tissue) inflammation, which worsens arthritis.

Trans Fat – Found in fast foods and other foods you don’t prepare yourself, these fats cause systematic inflammation.

Omega 6 Fatty Acids – Excess consumption of omega-6 causes the body to produce pro-inflammatory chemicals. Common sources of Omega 6 fatty acids are vegetable cooking oils, margarine, shortening, etc.

Refined Carbohydrates –They fuel the production of Advanced Glycation End (AGE) products that stimulate inflammation. Refined carbohydrates include foods such as cookies, crackers, breads and potato chips.

MSG – MSG can create pathways for chronic inflammation. In additional to Chinese food, MSG in found in many processed foods. Hydrolyzed vegetable protein, textured vegetable protein, and yeast extract are also loaded with MSG.

Gluten And Casein – These may promote inflammation, especially if you already have arthritis or a gluten allergy. Gluten is food in wheat products, while casein is found in dairy.

Aspartame – It’s a neurotoxin that affects the brain. If you’re sensitive to this chemical, your immune system attacks it and that triggers an inflammatory response. Aspartame is a sweetener found in many sugar-free products.

Alcohol – Causes dysfunction in the liver and can interrupt other organs, ultimately leading to inflammation. Avoid or use in moderation.

These foods and ingredients are everywhere so cutting them out completely is nearly impossible. However, start small and work your way to bigger changes. The more you remove these foods and ingredients from your diet, the healthier your joints become and the less inflammation you’ll suffer, even if you already have a joint disease or injury.

Besides changing your eating habits, you can proactively help your joints by taking vitamins. The appropriate vitamins!

Frontrunners health to the rescue

Our Premium Multivitamin and Multi-mineral 2 daily,  has been developed specifically to promote overall well-being. We’ve combined very high potency vitamins, essential folate, important phytonutrients, and nature’s incredible carotenoid antioxidants into a powerful tablet that boosts your entire system!

Carotenoids are the deep red, orange, and yellow plant pigments found in many vegetables and some fruits. Even red or pinkish colored sea animals, such as salmon, lobster, shrimp and crab, contain carotenoids that they’ve absorbed from their algae diets. These extremely healthy foods all contain the carotenoid astanxanthin, and we’ve included this remarkable constituent in our multivitamin. It alone provides numerous health benefits!

The vitamins and nutrients in our 2 Daily Multivitamins support all of these important aspects of your bodily functions:

• healthy aging (Astaxanthin)
• energy production
• blood cells and the nervous system
• hormonal balance
• protection against free radical damage (Astaxantin)
• ocular health
• cardiovascular health (Astaxanthin)
• blood sugar
• immune system (Astaxanthin)
• cognitive and longevity support.

Most important for you and your joints, two of the vitamins found in our product (vitamins E and A), are known for anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamin B6 is also included because  its lack may lead to inflammation.

A healthy diet supplemented by oral vitamins is ideal for keeping inflammation at bay or even helping to reduce it. When you take care of your body, it rewards you by allowing you to move freely without joint pain.

Be proactive! Try our Multivitamins to help your joints stay inflammation free. The rest of your body will be grateful, too! (Frontrunners Health multivitamins can be found within our office or through our website. )

For more information on the many ways we can help you stay healthy and feeling your best, contact Dr. James Mixon and his team of healthcare professionals at (972) 840-2520.