I Scream, You Scream, Inflammation Mutters
No, this is not the screenplay for an action horror thriller called "Joint Catastrophes Unmasked." or "And You Thought You Could Go Out for Some Sugar."
On a much more focused note, inflammation is the number one cause of pain. Lack of proper blood flow is the number one cause of inflammation. Think of your entire body as one big river. That river is your circulation. If dams appear in that river, then the blood that is supposed to be nourishing your joints starts to dry up. This is where inflammation will begin and continue unless proper blood flow is restored. More suggestions on this below.
As for sugar intake, be very careful about how much you consume when you are having joint pain. The secret about sugar is that the more you eat, the more you will want. And the more you want, the more you are feeding the inflammation. If you think sugar destroys the enamel on your teeth, imagine what it does to your joints. Yes, that's correct, say goodbye to cartilage and say hello to bone spurs. As an acid, sugar literally eats away the cushioning that supports our boney structures. Now that does sound like a horror movie.
Here is what to do:
If you are having pain in your joint or joints, try to stretch and get your blood moving through gentle exercise. Increased blood flow will help to "wash" the inflammation out of the body and warm the joint. It is not a cure for arthritis that has already set in, but a way for you to minimize the level of discomfort and prevent further damage.
As for consuming sugar, easy does it. For now, we are all confined in our houses and, of course, cookies, ice cream and cake seem seriously appealing. Moderation is the key.
We can much better keep our sense of resilience alive in this very difficult time by keeping ourselves level and healthy. Breathe in, breathe out. Try to respond instead of react and find a time to have gratitude in each day.
At the moment when all we want is for someone to take care of us, this is when we need to be mindful. We can look at each other and know that my mask protects you and your mask protects me. Onward we go as a community.
