Over the past year, I have experienced a new and surprising health issue:
Sore, stiff and achy joints.
I began to feel old before my time with a stiff and achy knee and knew that this was a sign of inner inflammation that, in true Kezia style, I was determined to get to the root of. So here is my round up for 3 tried and tested ways to nourish and heal your joints so that we can be in our 80’s doing yoga and walking up mountains 😉
But first what is the ROOT cause?
All my one2one clients know this well but I am all about finding the ROOT causes of you health issues. You don’t just get IBS or stiff joints for no reason (most of the time) there is always a ‘why’ at the bottom of it even if it takes a bit of digging to find it out.
So for me when it comes to joint health there are a few root causes that could be getting in the way (warning these are pretty brief and broad stroke and often intertwined and remember I ain’t no doctor this is all based on my experience only so ALWAYS see a doctor as they are super clever and often very kind):
- Auto-immune condition. These conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and other forms of arthritis but also conditions like ME and CFS etc often have joint issues attributed to them. Auto-immune conditions are when the bodies immune system starts to go over board and attack itself. Again you need to look at why again (genetics, stress, gut damage, parasites etc) but this is a common reason for sore hot joints.
- Lifestyle/diet mismanagement. Maybe you run 20 miles a week, eat no healthy animal proteins or get zero sleep, live of off oven pizza and dairy milk and feel stressed out of your nut daily. All could be root factors.
- Parasites. I know this might gross you out but if all your troubles started after you got sick while traveling through Nepal or wherever, parasites could still be an issue….nice!
(Genetics can play a role too but the research and science of Epigenetics clearly shows us that environmental factors can override negative gene expression.)
For me investigations are still under way as they have ruled out arthritis, plus I have managed to wave goodbye to most of the pain, swelling and discomfort by implementing all the things below (it was super mild anyway) but it is likely down to parasites (thanks Indian adventures!!) or auto-immune condition around my thyroid that runs in family – I will let you know when I do!!!
3 Ways to Nourish and Heal Your Joints
BIG OBVIOUS POINT- the foundation of all of this is having a natural and healthy diet so don’t expect these supplements to be a quick fix – you have to create a foundation of health and then add these things in. That why I created my Flourish eCourse and Community as this takes you through the 6 foundations of healthy, healed and joy filled living so start here before you do anything else.
Plus all of these tips are going to help your digestion, skin, hair, nails, energy, immune system, so even if you don’t have joint issues implement them!!!
1.Be friends with omega 3 fatty acids.
Joint pain is basically inflammation in and around your joints. Omega 3 fatty acid helps to reduce inflammation in the body and this study compared the effectiveness of omega 3 fish oils with ibuprofen with people with back and neck issues and it appeared that omega 3 help to reduce arthritic pain.
The best sources are through oily fish and supplements like this one, so make sure you’re having oily fish like mackerel, sardines or wild salmon several times a week. Chia seeds are also fabulous so I make sure I have about 2-3 tbsp of them a day and I really notice a difference when I have them. (Check out my chia seed bars recipe here)
2.The golden elixir.
Make ginger and turmeric you go to herbal tea! Whether you have joint issues or not, this is going to do your digestion, skin, energy, immune system and joints SO much good. Turmeric has something can curcumin in which more and more research bringing to light it benefits and often it is touted as too good to be true. Read more about the benefits of turmeric here.
Ginger is again known for it anti-inflammatory benefits, is a wonderful digestive aid and very soothing to the body. I often grate fresh turmeric and ginger into tea pot and drink that in the morning and literally feel so much better doing it.
You can also get turmeric supplements which I have also tried with much success, or just juice fresh ginger in the morning, and I find these make a big difference to my joint health, allergies, immune system and well-being. PLUS is super cheap to do – winner!
3. Collagen.
Recently a one2one client I was working with was raving to me about how much better they were feeling after introducing collagen into their diet, they had been running for the first time in years just by making some simple changes and adding in more good stuff – like collagen.
“Collagen is a long-chain amino acid and the most abundant protein in the body. It is composed of the individual amino acids Glycine, Proline, Hydroxyproline and Arginine and in nature is found exclusively in animal tissue, especially bones and connective tissue.
It is what is responsible for giving skin elasticity, hair its strength, and connective tissue its ability to hold everything in place. In fact, the collagen protein makes up 30% of the total protein in the body, and 70% of the protein in the skin!” source
Psst….and one of the best places to find this is, can you guess??
BONE BROTH! Click here to find out more about this super cheap and effective healing food.
Often used to help nourish hair and skin this study also shows the benefits of using collagen in regards to joint health. Last year I was also sent a new supplement to try made of denatured collagen that is shown to support joint health and I have to say I noticed quite a big difference from using it. It called Motus and you can grab some here and I even got a wee discount code for you just use MYMOTUS to get 10% off 😉
Otherwise, I also use this collagen and add it to my hot chocolates, porridge and anything else I fancy as it tastes of nothing.
And if you are interested in healing your body, feeling a WHOLE lot better and using food as your medicine why not book yourself in for a free 30-minute initial free one2one consultation to see how I could help you heal and thrive!
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