| Just about everyone I know has experienced | | | | or milled flax seeds. Milled flax seeds can be added |
| some kinds of aches and pains and some people | | | | to just about anything you are eating like yogurt |
| feel them everyday. More than 60 million | | | | or dressings and the taste is not discernable so it |
| Americans suffer from chronic pain. Many of the | | | | can be added to almost anything. |
| aches and pains we feel in our joints and muscles | | | | Vitamin C |
| are due to inflammation. Inflammation is actually | | | | Vitamin C is a very potent antioxidant that has |
| just part of our own body's defense against | | | | many benefits and can be taken very |
| things such as infection, toxins, and irritation. | | | | inexpensively several times per day. It can help |
| Today more than half of Americans are inflamed | | | | reduce inflammation and help keep your immune |
| because of their poor eating habits, lack of | | | | system strong. It can be found in 500mg-1000mg |
| exercise, and lack of proper nutrients. When your | | | | strengths and can be taken 3 to 4 times per day |
| natural balance of inflammation goes into | | | | for maximal effectiveness. This is probably the |
| overdrive you will feel even more pain and | | | | cheapest and most widely available method on |
| swelling everywhere. Aside from the symptoms | | | | the marketplace. Stock up on Vitamin C now |
| of pain and swelling it also makes us over weight. | | | | before the flu season hits! |
| Then the body fat that you gain actually produces | | | | Acai |
| more of the chemicals in your body that cause | | | | Acai has been hyped as the new wonder |
| inflammation so it quickly becomes a vicious cycle | | | | supplement for just about anything. It is one of |
| and your whole body can be in a state of | | | | the most potent antioxidants from fruit with the |
| inflammation. So what can you do about it? | | | | highest known ORAC value. It is a strong |
| Adoptive a lifestyle fitness program. | | | | antioxidant that has been shown to very |
| Fish | | | | effectively reduce inflammation. The main problem |
| At the top of the list of natural products and | | | | with Acai right now is its high exposure and hype. |
| natural supplements is fish for its abundance of | | | | This has led many companies to market very |
| omega-3 fatty acids. The EPA and DHA found in | | | | cheap Acai products with trace amounts of Acai. |
| fish oil has an anti-inflammatory effect which can | | | | Make sure you buy from a reputable company |
| reduce pain and stiffness. By adding a 4 ounce | | | | and stay away from the overhyped ads with the |
| serving of fish to your diet 2 to 3 times a week | | | | most expensive products. There are several fly |
| you can reduce inflammation and in many cases | | | | by night companies offering acai as a miracle drug |
| take less anti-inflammatory medications. | | | | and many have products with low quality and |
| Olive Oil | | | | small amounts of Acai. |
| An easy way to add more pain relief to your diet | | | | Consistent Exercise for Pain Relief |
| is by using olive oil. Olive oil is a very healthy | | | | The last part of your natural pain relieving arsenal |
| source of monounsaturated fats and has an | | | | should include some type of exercise. At certain |
| ingredient known as oleocanthal. Oleocanthal acts | | | | levels exercise produces endorphins. Endorphins |
| very similar to NSAIDS (non steroid | | | | are natural opiates that are chemically similar to |
| anti-inflammatory drugs), such as ibuprofen and | | | | morphine. Endorphins can give a natural pain killing |
| naproxen sodium. Studies showed that oleocanthal | | | | effect for a period of time. The other chemicals |
| can inhibit the prostaglandins that cause | | | | stimulated from exercise are serotonin and |
| inflammation, pain and fever. Olive oil can be used | | | | norepinephrine. These act by increasing your |
| in cooking, drizzled over vegetables, and made | | | | mood much like antidepressants do. When your |
| into dressings. | | | | mood is elevated your mind will focus less on pain |
| Fruits and Vegetables - the antioxidant advantage | | | | and you will feel better. Exercising for pain relief |
| Most people today have heard the free radicals | | | | can come in all forms such as swimming, biking, |
| do major damage to the body and the damage | | | | walking, running, and even light resistance training. |
| they do can cause cancer. Sometimes free radical | | | | Some pains in the body are from muscles and |
| production gets so out of hand that it also adds | | | | tendons that are too tight pulling on one another |
| to the inflammation of the cells. The main | | | | creating tension and pain. Massage therapy, |
| antioxidant that has been shown to have | | | | stretching, and hot whirlpools can help to alleviate |
| anti-inflammatory effects is Vitamin C which can | | | | some of this tension. |
| be found in abundance in various citrus fruits. | | | | My Pain Relief Cocktail |
| Other forms of antioxidants are found in noncitrus | | | | As a former infantry marine that used to run for |
| fruits, all the different berries, and the green dark | | | | miles in boots and sometimes in full gear including |
| leafy vegetables. The phrase "eat the rainbow" | | | | flak jackets and packs I developed some early |
| are words to live by. Take a look in the fruits and | | | | arthritis in my knees. I used to take NSAIDS like |
| vegetables section of your grocery store and buy | | | | Alleve and Motrin daily to help deal with the |
| food of all different colors for added pain relief. | | | | constant nagging pain but I've found that I can |
| Some tropical fruits also have bromelain and | | | | manage the pain even better with steady |
| papain. Bromelain is found in pineapples and is an | | | | supplementation. My two favorite supplements for |
| enzyme that can block some substances | | | | this are fish oil and vitamin C. By taking 3,000mg |
| responsible for pain. The papaya, which contains | | | | of Vitamin C per day along with 6 grams of fish |
| the enzyme papain, has substantial | | | | oil per day I'm able to alleviate and reduce |
| anti-inflammatory properties. | | | | inflammation and pain to barely noticeable levels. I |
| Natural Supplements for pain relief | | | | space these out through the day and I stay |
| Fish Oil | | | | consistent with it. In the last year I've also added |
| Eating your way to relieve pain is one way but if | | | | an Acai supplement for an added antioxidant |
| relied upon exclusively it can result in an expensive | | | | punch. |
| grocery bill. A simple way to insure you are | | | | In many cases pain can be better managed |
| getting the same benefits is by supplementing | | | | through proper diet, natural supplementation, and |
| with some potent antioxidants and a quality fish oil | | | | exercise. In extreme cases pain relievers may still |
| supplement. If you aren't a fan of fish or just | | | | be needed but at least the dosage may be |
| don't end up eating a few servings a week you | | | | reduced which makes for a better long term |
| can add fish oil or fish oil capsules to your daily | | | | healthy solution for the body. These |
| diet. Most people have found this the easiest way | | | | recommendations will not work overnight like |
| to get their EPA and DHA. Aside from the | | | | popping a few pills will but given a couple of |
| anti-inflammatory benefits found in taking a few | | | | weeks time the inflammation in the body will |
| grams a day of fish oil, there is also the effects | | | | continue to reduce and the benefits will be felt. |
| of lowering body fat. Lowering body fat then can | | | | Stay consistent with this program for a month |
| lead to your body producing less of the chemicals | | | | and you will notice positive benefits that extend |
| that cause someone to be in an inflamed state. | | | | beyond just pain relief. |
| Another way to get omega-3's is through flax oil | | | | |