Snacking for joint pain

I’m having a day where I finish eating and immediately begin looking for the next snack victim. I blame catered meetings and knowing where the treats are kept at work. I was told earlier that eating strawberries is good for joint pain, as I sat at the kitchen table shoving them in my mouth and nursing a painful shoulder. Multi-tasking is key. Apparently the science behind this is that strawberries may reduce levels of C-reactive protein which is a sign of inflammation. Most sufferers of hypermobile joints will know how painful they become when inflamed. I’ve also been trying anti-inflammatory smoothies after exercise lately which I have been quite impressed with. http://bend-trend-hms.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/liquid-sunshine-smoothie-for-your-joints.html 

Another equally tasty snack is nuts- namely almonds, walnuts and seeds which are high in omega-3 fatty acids and also help with inflammation.

Something I wasn’t aware of before is that an imbalance in omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids can lead to pain and inflammation in joints. Health conscious people who keep on top of their veg consumption will be keeping their omega-6 down, as veg helps to reduce levels. Heartbreakingly of course junk food increases omega-3 fatty acids, so if you feel like your nutrition could do with some tweaking these are good things to keep in mind.

Having hypermobility syndrome or EDS Hypermobility type can mean that you have seriously alter your way of life to help deal with pain and joint problems. Diet, along with some willpower if you struggle with that sort of thing can really help.

Blueberries and raspberries along with strawberries may also be helpful as they are packed with vitamin C, which is good for keeping joint wear and tear at bay.

There is also a vitamin B-3 (some sort of secret vitamin perhaps as I only found out about it a week or so ago) that is also known as niacin. Word on the internet is that it helps protect your joints for the future, reducing the risk of developing nasty joint and pain issues like osteoarthritis. Good food sources for this are crimini mushrooms and tuna, chicken breast, asparagus and salmon.

Happy munching.

Liquid Sunshine- A smoothie for your joints

Joint inflammation in a nut shell: It’s not fun. Exercise is an important part of looking after yourself when you have hypermobility syndrome. Inflamed joints often show up uninvited after doing physical activity, which is a shame as the pain often overrides the feeling of ‘yes I can eat another dinner because of all the calories I have burned.’ I find anti-inflammatory creams often don’t cut it, especially after running or lots of swimming. I was told by my last physiotherapist that most people crave something sweet after exercising (or all the time!?), which is where the anti-inflammatory smoothie comes in. Sweetness in a cup that is a pretty colour and good for you. BRILLIANT.

The first one I have tried is pineapple and ginger. Pineapple is not loved by all, whether or not that is the extremely tangy taste, or the fact that is SO yellow I am not sure, but it does have good anti-inflammatory properties. Prepare for science:

 Pineapples come from the bromeliad family of plant, which rarely produce edible fruit, not entirely surprising as pineapples don’t look particularly mouth-friendly, but they are the exception. Bromelain is an enzyme which is used to help clear up all sorts of health issues. Included in this is asthma, breathing problems, a boost to the immune system and reducing inflammation. It is also famed for its pain relieving element.

Ginger is pretty much as super a food as you can get. In terms of anti-inflammation, it contains gingerols, substances which are believed to be behind the reduction in pain for sufferers of arthritis who regularly consume ginger. It is also, in my opinion, absolutely delicious.

With smoothies I often just use enough fruit to make myself one large glass, because I think they taste best when they are fresh. For this yellow delight chuck in:

-          3-4 rings of fresh pineapple

-          A handful of chopped mango

-          A medium piece of ginger, about 2 inches long

-          A few blueberries (because they are just generally SO good for you)

-          1/4 pint of coconut water (or more or less depending on your stance on coconut)

-          About a tsp. of fresh vanilla

Warning: results may look a bit like liquid sunshine, don’t be alarmed.