I hear a lot of people talk about their aching joints and knee pain. There are many ways to keep joints healthy, like daily stretching, and eating a diet rich in anti-inflammatory and lubricating foods. Your chiropractor or physical therapist will also be able to help. Even if you already take actions like these, why are your joints still painful?
Your water may be part of the problem, and your joints might be full of calcified build-up that feels like crunching little shells each time you move. If you currently have joint pain, there may be excess calcification occurring in your body, due to an overload of calcium. Author David Wolfe has been referring to this extra calcium as “bad calcium.” “Bad calcium” shows up not only as joint pain, but can influence dental plaque, plaque in your arteries, and thickened tissue (like in the eyes). This calcium often comes from well water and hard city water, as well as overdoses of calcium supplements. I grew up with a well, and there was always hardened white grit stuck to the faucet of the bathtub. (A sign that I was also drinking excess calcium.)
If you’ve got aching joints, eat more foods that contain sulfur and restrict foods in the nightshade family. Sulfur helps to repair and rebuild cartilage between joints. Asparagus, eggs, garlic and onions are great for this. You can also try MSM, which is Methyl-Sulfonyl-methane, a mineral form of sulfur that is available as capsules and in a powder form. Try cutting back on nightshades like tomatoes, eggplant, bell pepper, and potato. For some people who are sensitive, the solanine compound in nightshades can be very irritating. Substitute similar vegetables like cucumbers and squash, in place of the ones listed above.
Minerals are important to keep your bones strong, but calcium is not the only one required. Three that are especially helpful for healthy bone formation are silica, magnesium and phosphorus. Silica will be found in cucumbers (with the skin) and bean sprouts. Magnesium is abundant in halibut, almond, cashews, and raw chocolate (My nutrition clients love to eat chocolate for breakfast). You’ll find phosphorus in cashews, dried fruit and sesame seeds.
Also consider that you may have food allergies that are spurring the pain between your bones. Allergies to gluten, pasteurized dairy and various other foods cause an inflammatory response in the body and contribute to pain in the joints. If you suspect that certain foods are not cooperating in your body, consider being tested for food allergies or sensitivities. You may have to take certain ingredients out of your diet. Although it can be hard to give up some of the foods that you may be used to, once you have a supportive plan in place, it’s much easier.
© 2011 Ava Waits
