6 Anti-Inflammatory Foods For Your Back, Hips & Knees
Being a naturopathic physician, for the better part of the last 20 years, my main job has been to keep my patients' joints moving freely...or to free them up when they’re stuck.
Today, I’m going to share what I’ve learned over all these years with you...and let you in on a “trade secret” that will help your joints feel like they just got an oil change. Can you imagine feeling a smooth, painless range of motion in every joint in your body all day long starting from the minute you get out of bed? This article is your guide…keep reading.
Over the years I discovered a pattern in patients with joint pain that holds true regardless of which joint is affected, whether that pain is mild, moderate or severe, or whether it’s been there for weeks, months, years, or even decades.
When joints are stiff and sore, the REAL CAUSE of the pain is the process that is happening below the surface. And when you learn to treat the pain at the “root”, it goes away and doesn’t come back.
Turmeric Bomb
4. Take small pinches and roll into balls the size of marbles.
5. Place in the freezer for an hour.
Ingredients
Equipment
1. Gather all the ingredients.
2. Measure all ingredients and put in a small bowl.
Instructions
3. Mix all ingredients well to form a paste.
6. Place in a glass jar with a lid and store in the refrigerator. Eat two to three pieces per day as needed. Enjoy!
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Inflammation- It’s a blessing and a curse. The inflammatory process is a necessary part of healing from illness or injury, but when that process stays “turned on” for too long...it becomes a major contributor to every chronic disease there is. The chemicals of a long running inflammatory reaction will act like a molecular firing squad that will relentlessly attack your joints, muscles and nerves—causing steadily increasing pain, stiffness, and misery.
The root causes of joint pain are:
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Muscle Tension- The tension and stiffness in the muscles and tendons surrounding a joint is a totally overlooked contributor to the pain that is felt in the joint. Even minor injury in or around joints can set off major muscle tension which then causes more pain than the original injury.
Fibrosis - Fibrosis is a medical word for scar tissue. When there is inflammation and muscle tension in and around a joint...it doesn't take long for scar tissue to begin to form. And when it does, fibrosis will further limit range of motion and it can entrap nerves and blood vessels...contributing to even more stiffness and pain.
When I discovered that this pattern of inflammation, muscle tension, and fibrosis were the underlying root causes of virtually all cases of joint pain...it set me off on a mission of scientific discovery.
With my background and expertise in nutritional and herbal medicine, I went looking for compounds that could address all of the root causes of joint pain at once. After years of clinical experimentation, I discovered six powerful, all natural ingredients that alleviate all three primary causes of joint, muscle and nerve discomfort…
INGREDIENT #1
You may have heard of turmeric... you might even have a jar of it in your spice rack.
The powder in that jar is made from the root of the turmeric plant, which has been dried and ground into a fine powder. But, hidden inside that yellow powder a golden secret.
Turmeric powder contains a wide range of different botanical ingredients known as “phytonutrients”... one of which is called curcumin.
Recent research has revealed that curcumin acts like a “molecular kill switch” to inhibit the inflammatory process at it’s very core.
Curcumin (the active ingredient in turmeric) does this by inhibiting the action of an inflammatory chemical called NF-kappa B.
Multiple studies have confirmed that the effect of shutting down NF-kappa B with curcuminis...you guessed it...less pain. And less stiffness, more range of motion, and an overall better quality of life.
Without any side effects at all!
Unfortunately, there’s a catch (there’s always a catch right?). In that little jar of turmeric powder...less than 2% of it is actually curcumin. And, as I’ve said...it’s the curcumin that does the work.
In order to deliver the full benefits of turmeric for many patients, I exclusively use a powerful extract called BCM-95® curcumin...
BCM-95® contains 95% curcumin...compared to the less than 2% curcumin in the turmeric in your spice rack!
That makes BCM-95® the world’s best curcumin extract with over 50 clinical studies and a 15-year track record for safety and effectiveness!
The potency and bioavailability of BCM-95® curcumin puts it at the top of muy list of ingredients to use to keep joints moving freely and painlessly.
Next on the list is:
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Doctor Joshua Levitt ND |
Dr. Josh draws upon the science of both conventional and naturopathic medicine and artfully combines the two into a unique “best of both worlds” approach. He is widely known for his exceptional diagnostic skills, his depth of knowledge, and his casual charismatic style.
Looking to put these natural ingredients to the test? I've put together a video presentation that reveals the easiest way to consume all 6 of these ingredients daily (only takes 30 seconds), where to find the highest quality ingredients and how to secure them at the lowest possible price. If that sounds like it could be of value to you, then click the button below to watch my video presentation, while it's still available to the public.
What Now?
Turmeric
(but not just any old turmeric...)
INGREDIENT #2
Boswellia
Boswellia is a plant extract derived from the resin of the Indian Frankincense tree.
And most people have heard of Frankincense...because it comes up often in the Bible. You probably know the story, along with gold and myrrh, Frankincense was one of the three gifts brought to baby Jesus by the wise men.
And it is truly... an herb fit for a king.
Boswellia is known traditionally as an effective pain reliever, used to help prevent the loss of cartilage in joints.
Modern science has confirmed this.
Studies have found that boswellia works to control a number of the main enzymes that trigger inflammation and cartilage destruction.
And unlike pharmaceutical treatments that only disrupt a single enzyme, boswellia acts on more than 6 different types of enzymes all at the same time. By acting upon these enzymes (including a famous one called 5-LOX), boswellia minimizes the damaging effects of inflammation and stimulates joint repair by activating the production of collagen.
This helps keep joints lubricated, allowing for smooth, free, frictionless mobility.
I recommend boswellia to any person who is suffering with pain or any chronic condition that has inflammation at its core.
That brings us to the next ingredient to help keep joints limber and pain free:
INGREDIENT #3
Quercetin
Quercetin is a plant pigment called a “bioflavonoid” that is found in a number of common foods, including red wine, onions, and tea...and is associated with a wide range of health benefits. It also has a fascinating history…
When early American settlers headed west across the country in covered wagons, they'd carry with them barrels of fat for cooking. To prevent those precious fats from going bad (and to add some flavor), they'd toss a few yellow onions into the barrel.
The quercetin in those onions protected the fat from oxidizing and going rancid, keeping it safe for human consumption. Modern science has now shown that the same power of quercetin is helpful for protecting joints from damage caused by the free radical damage associated with inflammation.
Free radicals are unstable, reactive, toxic compounds that can damage cells, tissues, significant damage to your body’s cells and tissues—including those in your joints, muscles and nerves.
Normally, when free radicals are produced, our bodies have a built-in defense mechanism that uses antioxidants to help bind and keep them in check. But when free-radical production exceeds antioxidant capacity...that’s when the trouble starts.
The antioxidant, free radical scavenging action of quercetin is one of the main reasons why I recommend it to patients in pain. The other is that quercetin has been shown to help repair damaged DNA. In that way, quercetin acts like the supervisor of an internal cellular clean up crew.
You already know an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. And you also know that eating more vegetables is part of that equation. What you might not know is that quercetin is part of the reason why. The quercetin in plant based foods help to “mop up” the free-radical damage, repair damage to DNA, prevent the growth of abnormal cells, and slow down the cellular aging process.
Quercetin is a critical ingredient for anyone interested in preserving the health of their joints in the long term.
And so is...
INGREDIENT #4
Bromelain
We know it as one of the ingredients in a smoothie or on a summer fruit platter...but people in the tropics have long used pineapple as a medicinal plant.
It took until 1957, when a chemist at the Dole pineapple company made a discovery that explained what ancient islanders had known all along. The inner core of pineapple contains a powerful healing nutrient called bromelain.
We now understand the reasons why the bromelain found in pineapple has been used to relieve joint pain, reduce stiffness, speed healing, improve immunity, support cardiovascular health, and even relieve indigestion.
As you’ve learned, one of the root causes of joint pain is fibrosis...that microscopic scar tissue formation that eventually leads to restrictions in mobility and increased stiffness and pain.
Well, bromelain is the perfect natural solution because it actually breaks up that fibrous scar tissue.
In fact, this is why bromelain is the active ingredient in meat tenderizer. When you sprinkle it on a piece of tough or gristly steak, it digests and breaks down the fibrous protein in the meat - which leaves you with a soft, tender steak.
And...Bromelain can have the exact same effect inside the body.
Breaking up the scar tissue (fibrosis) that restricts joint mobility.
Increasing circulation in the affected area
Safely thinning the blood to prevent clotting
Blocking production of compounds that increase swelling and pain.
Supporting the immune system...your #1 ally or long-term health.
Bromelain is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and goes straight to work:
It can break apart the fibrous scar tissue which improves blood flow and restores the health of connective tissue and organs damaged by inflammation.
And best of all, because bromelain is a food derived nutrient, it’s totally natural, extremely safe, and it does its work without any serious side effects.
For that reason, bromelain is a critical addition to any effective joint pain management protocol.
But about 15 years ago, I discovered that bromelain works way better when it is combined with:
INGREDIENT #5
Magnesium
One of these things is not like the others…
You’ve already learned about why I recommend curcumin, boswellia, quercetin, and bromelain...and you now know that each one of those ingredients comes directly from a plant.
But now, I’m talking about magnesium...a mineral that you can find right next to sodium on the periodic table of elements.
Magnesium is one of the most versatile, abundant, and essential minerals in the body. It plays an essential role in more than 600 biochemical reactions that power every cell, every organ, and every body system.
Magnesium is involved in reactions that generate cellular energy, form and break down protein, manufacture and metabolize hormones, regulate gene expression, and control muscle tension.
We absolutely depend on Magnesium for life but unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, most people do not get enough of this vital mineral. Government data demonstrates that up to 75% of American adults are not meeting their recommended intake of dietary magnesium.[1]
This epidemic of magnesium deficiency is caused by three main problems:
Magnesium is found in healthy foods like vegetables, beans, whole grains, nuts, and seeds...which most people don’t eat enough of.
Even when people do make health food choices, most agricultural soil is depleted because of corporate farming practices...so even healthy foods don't contain the amounts of magnesium that they used to.
Stress depletes magnesium. Need I say more?
Because magnesium plays an important role in muscle contraction— when magnesium levels are low…
Muscles tend to go into spasm.
And in the presence of inflammation and fibrosis, those spasms can be even more intense and unrelenting. I can’t tell you how many times I have had patients tell me that their leg and foot cramps almost immediately disappear when they start including magnesium in their protocol.
When people get turmeric, boswellia, quercetin, bromelain, and magnesium into their system… something almost magical happens. But in order for that combination to have it’s most powerful effect...it needs to get past the guards inside the GI tract.
That’s why I also recommend:
INGREDIENT #6
Piperine
Piperine is a highly absorbable plant extract derived from black pepper. I recommend it not so much for what it can do for the root causes of joint pain...
But because of what it does for all of the other five nutrients I recommend.
And that is...it increases their absorption. Quite literally, piperine gets the curcumin, boswellia, quercetin, bromelain, and magnesium past the guard gate and into the bloodstream where they can do their best work.
In one study, when researchers tested the blood levels of curcumin alone versus combining it with piperine…
After just 45 minutes of use, patients taking the combination had blood levels of curcumin 2,000% higher than those taking curcumin alone.[2]
But it doesn’t just work with curcumin from turmeric.
Piperine increases the bioavailability of a wide variety of nutrients by interacting and enhancing the absorption and metabolism of these nutrients.
That’s why piperine needs to be included with all of the other ingredients for the best results. What this means is that by adding Piperine to the formula.
So...there you have it. What you’ve just read is the result of a decades-long process of pattern recognition in my practice that led to the discovery of a simple, safe and natural solution that has already helped thousands of people find relief from joint, muscle, and nerve pain...and I hope it helps you too.