Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/447803
Health and Wellness Magazine • 35 h&W: Can you describe your personal struggles with OA? piergeorge: It can be challenging some days to open a jar, button a blouse or type on a keyboard. I just get moving and do the best I can. I also eat foods associated with reducing inflammation. h&W: Why is moving despite the pain so important? piergeorge: There are days when it's tough to get moving because joints are stiff and you ache all over, but if you warm up gently and then increase circulation, it really helps with pain and stiffness. Aerobic exercise also helps to release endorphins, which naturally boost our mood and can help with pain management. Moving throughout the day, even in small spurts, reduces stiffness. h&W: What other preventative tips can you share? piergeorge: It's important to maintain a healthy weight. For every pound of excess weight, four pounds of stress are added to our knees and 10 pounds to the hips. Keeping muscles strong to better support the joints is also critical. Overall, eating well and maintaining some sort of physical activity are helpful for treating and prevent- ing OA. It's a manageable condition in which lifestyle is key. Piergeorge's Tips on Eating an Anti-Inflammatory Diet: consume foods in the allium family, like garlic, onions, shallots, leeks and scallions. eat omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, such as salmon, tuna, mackerel and halibut, as well as flaxseed, chia seeds and walnuts. snack on about a cup of berries per day. any type will do; they contain flavonoids called anthocyanins, which can potent- ially help reduce inflammation. cherries are also a good source of anthocyanins. eat two half-cup servings of pineapple per week. Pineapple contains bromelain, which has been shown to help with maintaining healthy joints and reducing pain. drink two cups of green or black tea a day. incorporate spices, such as ginger (up to 1 teaspoon daily) and turmeric (¼-½ teaspoon daily), into your diet. note: Be sure to check with your health care professional to ensure you don't have any food-medication interactions. For more information: www.arthritis.org ; www.susanpiergeorge.com