Despite the high level of public interest in knowing how to prevent arthritis, there is no single strategy for avoiding this disease. There are many different forms of arthritis; so there is no easy way to prevent all of them. Furthermore, since the causes of certain types of arthritis are not known or understood, preventing them is impossible.
Autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis are diseases in which the immune system turns against the body. In these cases, it is impossible to know how to prevent arthritis because the reason for the inappropriate activity of the immune system is not yet known.
Another situation in which it is difficult to know how to prevent arthritis involves cases of septic arthritis. Septic arthritis is an inflammation of a joint or joints that is caused by an infection. An open or surgical wound can be the source of the infection. It can originate in the joint, or originate elsewhere in the body and travel to the joints through the bloodstream. The only prevention for septic arthritis is the normal precautions to avoid wounds and infections.
How To Prevent Arthritis – Good Nutrition
Gout is an arthritic condition that results when there is too much uric acid in the blood, and urate crystals can form in the joints. Since uric acid levels are increased by eating foods rich in purines, this is a condition that can be influenced by diet.
Purine rich foods that can contribute to flare ups of gout include meat, seafood, and beer. A diet rich in citrus fruits and vegetables, as well as generous consumption of fluids such as water, tea, coffee, and fruit juices can shorten or prevent flare ups of gout.
The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis. This is the form of arthritis that is usually associated with aging. Anyone who is interested in how to prevent arthritis would be well advised to achieve and maintain a normal body weight throughout life.
Any excess weight on a person adds to the pressure that is put on the weight bearing joints of the body like the knees and hips. This can aggravate the wear and tear on the cartilage, which cushions the bones of the joints.
The kind of diet that contributes to a healthy weight may also provide nutritional support for healthy joints. Naturally occurring substances in garlic and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli may slow or prevent the damage to cartilage that is prevalent in osteoarthritis. It is also believed that the omega 3 fats that are present in fish can reduce the inflammation of joints that is characteristic of osteoarthritis.
Followers of natural health promote pomegranate extract as a means of reducing inflammation of joints as well as slowing the erosion of cartilage.
Supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin are commonly used to support joint health, but they seem to be most effective in the early stages of osteoarthritis. Although, we can be good to our joints with a healthy lifestyle, it can be challenging to know just how to prevent arthritis completely.
Exercising and Taking Vitamins to Remain Arthritis-Free
We’ve all heard a lot about the benefits of regular exercise on the body. Exercise strengthens your whole body and helps keep your joints flexible. Some of the exercises you might try are Pilates, Yoga, and Tai Chi.
In order to get started, you should take a class in the exercise you’d like to try, especially if you’ve never done these exercises before. By doing exercises incorrectly you can cause damage to your body, so it’s best to learn to do them properly in the first place.
A vitamin regimen will help strengthen your body, your bones, and your joints. Making sure you get the right nutrients each day will help body parts deal with the stresses of constant use while your body ages.
If your parents or grandparents suffered from arthritis, your risk of getting it is much higher. Therefore, the sooner you start aggressively preventing arthritis, the fewer problems you will have in your old age.