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Bones, Joints and Inflammation…What’s Food Got To Do With It?

Jul 18, 2013 | Arthritis, Back Pain, Blog, Blood Clots, Bones, Breast Cancer, Chiropractic, Chiropractor, Health & Wellness, Inflammation, Joints, Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis, Sciatica, Subluxations

Inflammation

Did you know that inflammation has recently been linked to cause bone and joint problems in the body?  We know that inflammation has been attributed to many diseases but it is also being blamed for bone and joint problems which can cause pain, swelling, red colouration to the area, and sometimes loss of movement or function.

Inflammation Can Cause Wear and Tear

Osteoarthritis is a condition where low grade inflammation causes pain in the joints as a result of wear and tear of the cartilage that covers and cushions the joints.  Often the wear and tear is caused by overuse or improper joint mechanics.

Osteoporosis on the hand is a generalized disorder of skeletal bones where the bone tissue is decreased and the bone becomes weak and more susceptible to breaking.  This can be problematic for post-menopausal women as the estrogen levels are reduced it accelerates the leaching of calcium from bones.  Years ago it was common to have hormone replacement therapy but this was shown to increase the risks of breast cancer, blood clots, heart attacks and strokes.  With osteoporosis we’re talking about the density of your bones.  If you can imagine taking a healthy bone and one with osteoporosis, placing them in a tank of water, the healthy bone will sink to the bottom because of it’s dense, while the osteoporotic bone will float because it is porous (less dense).

There are 208 bones in our bodies and 143 joints.  When any of these are weakened they can throw off the balance of our body mechanics, which can affect our overall physical health.  Most bone problems are a result of improper joint mechanics.  Imagine installing a car part improperly, or it gets loose, it’ll cause wear and tear where it shouldn’t or premature wearing.  It’s the same thing with our joints.  Unlike a car, our parts cannot be replaced.  So we need to prevent, maintain and achieve optimal function of our spine and joints to live healthier.

What Does Food Have To Do With Inflammation?

When bone and joint problems like osteoarthritis are caused by inflammation in the body, the food you eat can either help or hinder your body’s fight against inflammation.  To help your body win the battle increase the amounts of these foods:

  • Wild Caught Salmon
  • Green Tea
  • Spinach
  • Blueberries
  • Tumeric
  • Kelp
  • Papaya
  • Sweet Potato

Also, try to decrease or eliminate these foods:

  • Trans-fats
  •  Sugar
  • Processed Foods
  • Dairy Products
  • Nightshade Vegetables (eggplants – tomatoes –peppers and black pepper)
  • Gluten (a lot of people are sensitive to gluten and are unaware of it)

How Can a Chiropractor Help?

Chiropractic adjustments help keep our bodies aligned and working properly.  When we have an injury or inflamation resulting from overuse, we can over compensate other areas of our bodies to avoid the pain we are in.  This can cause the body to begin to wear and tear abnormally, as mentioned above.  It becomes a vicious circle of pain, inflammation, more pain and more inflammation.  Correcting the mis-alignment through a hands on assessment and adjustment from our Chiropractor allows our bodies to function with optimal health.

When is the last time you’ve had an assessment from a qualified Chiropractor and discussed any concerns you may have?

Photos courtesy of:  eatingwell.com and territurnerfitness.com