Pain and Inflammation
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Author: Silvia Bürkle - HQ Metabolic Balance
Stop the pain! You can feel what you eat in your joints!
In addition to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and arteriosclerosis, chronic inflammatory joint diseases such as rheumatism, arthritis or osteoarthritis are becoming increasingly common.
Being able to move only with difficulty and in pain, feeling powerless or even waking up in the night from pain often considerably reduces the quality of life of those affected. It is alarming that not only older people suffer from it, but increasingly also children, adolescents and young adults.
Why do joints become inflamed?
Whether we sit down or stretch, whether we run or jump – we owe these movements to our joints. To prevent bone from rubbing against bone, the joints are covered with cartilage, a smooth elastic layer that ensures smooth movement. Wear develops over many years. An initial slight roughening of the cartilage layer is slowly but steadily degraded. The joint fluid, the so-called “synovial fluid”, also loses its shock-absorbing and lubricating effect. The abrasion of the damaged cartilage often leads to irritation and painful inflammation of the synovial membrane; typical complaints are stiffness and pain after prolonged sitting or during exertion. In advanced stages, the joint sometimes can no longer be moved.
In addition to genetic predisposition, advanced age or joint malposition, other causes may also be responsible. It is known that permanent overstraining of the joints promotes such joint or cartilage wear. Extreme high-performance sports over many years, heavy physical work as well as heavy strain due to excessive body weight can lead to premature wear.
Being overweight causes double damage in the case of inflamed, painful joints: The high body load not only accelerates cartilage degradation. Body fat also produces inflammatory substances, which are also involved in the breakdown of cartilage. A healthy body weight can therefore help prevent the development of osteoarthritis and slow its progression.
The next key role in the fight against osteoarthritis and other joint inflammations is lack of physical exercise. The smooth interaction of loading and unloading in the joints ensures that the synovial fluid is massaged into the cartilage. This provides the joints with necessary nutrients, such as calcium, potassium or magnesium.
Weight loss and exercise are essential to relieve joint inflammation. Especially if we take into account that our muscles, no matter how old we are, have a maximum age of 15 years, because their cells are constantly renewed. They are always in puberty, so to speak, and therefore very trainable. Exercise not only strengthens the muscles, but it also contributes to a healthy body weight, thus avoiding permanent overloading of the joints. However, in addition to exercise and weight loss, nutrition can also make a useful contribution here.
What role does nutrition play
A healthy diet rich in vital substances is important for everyone and especially when well-being suffers, pain occurs and mobility in the joints decreases. What we eat largely determines the condition of our joint cartilage and the muscles and fascia surrounding it. An alkaline-rich diet can help with joint discomfort and relieve pain. This is because a diet that contains excess acid and provides too little fiber causes the body to bind toxins between cells in fat and connective tissue. Often, joint spaces also form such a temporary storage. In its attempt to neutralize the excess acids itself, the body deprives bones and cartilage of necessary minerals. The consequences: degenerative joint changes, inflammations such as arthritis, and rheumatic diseases.
A study conducted by the University of Michigan in 2015 showed that a predominantly vegetarian diet with fish significantly improved the joint complaints of osteoarthritis patients, compared to the comparison group that continued to eat a mixed diet. This can be explained, among other things, by the fact that the high proportion of plant foods, such as vegetables, herbs, legumes, nuts, whole grains and fruit, the body is simultaneously supplied with a lot of anti-inflammatory vital substances, which have a strong antioxidant effect and absorb free radicals that can attack the joint cartilage.
In addition to vitamins and minerals, amino acids are also important building blocks for the joints.
Collagen – protein for the “inner beauty”
Protein used to be the nutrient for bodybuilders or those who wanted to become one. Protein is not only the “muscle maker”, but also responsible for the structure of the cells and serves as a building material for all organs and the blood. A valuable structural protein is collagen, which is found everywhere in the body. Many people associate collagen with firm connective tissue, absence of wrinkles and eternal youth. However, this is only half the truth, because collagen is also a supporting tissue and thus a component in bones, cartilage, tendons, in the skin and many organs. Collagen fibers are composed of several hundred amino acid building blocks. The body can build collagen itself, provided it has the necessary amino acids available.
Unfortunately, there are not many foods through which we can absorb collagen. There is a persistent rumor that gummy bears, which are composed of 80 percent collagen (gelatin), could be beneficial for maintaining cartilage mass. In order to cover the daily requirement of collagen of approx. 15g, one would have to eat at least 14 ounces or 400 g, which corresponds to approx. two bags, of gummy bears daily. However, this is not compatible with a healthy diet. After all, the sugar content of two bags of gummy bears is terribly high.
But there is also a healthier alternative – a good bone broth. Collagen and valuable minerals are cooked out of the beef bones and consumed as broth or used to prepare meals.
Spices and herbs – especially active against joint inflammation
Spices and herbs are also used very frequently in naturopathy to alleviate or cure a wide variety of diseases. They contain an abundance of so-called secondary plant substances, which maintain health in many ways.
In addition to the well-known anti-inflammatory spices turmeric, ginger and chili, the combination of cumin, nutmeg and coriander is also said to be effective. The essential oils, which are abundant in the combination of spices, are transported into the blood via the intestines and then migrate to the synovial membrane. They promote blood circulation in the joint and thus ensure a good supply of nutrients. However, some patience is required for the pain-relieving effect, because the first changes are only noticeable after about four weeks, if you take half a teaspoon of the spice mixture at least twice a day. It is best to add the mixture to yogurt, cottage cheese, soups or stir it into hot water.
Metabolic Balance and joint disorders
The pain is quickly numbed with medication, with the desire for quick
relief. But this completely ignores the fact that nature can help much more sustainably. Many natural foods, such as herbs, spices, vegetables or high-quality vegetable oils, applied internally and/ or externally, are anti-inflammatory par excellence. They can relieve chronic inflammation and pain just as effectively as chemical medications – but in a sustainable way and without side effects!
And this is exactly where Metabolic Balance comes in with its individual meal plan. The individual nutrition plan according to Metabolic Balance can provide a natural alternative against joint pain. The individual selection of suitable foods, taking into account the latest scientific findings, provides all the necessary nutrients and vital substances to nourish joints and cartilage and to combat inflammation. In addition, of course, the side effect of weight loss through the Metabolic Balance program is a significant help for recovery and relief for the joints.
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