Use it or lose it. No where is this more true than with our joints. Joint stiffness, joint pain, and a loss of range of motion has less to do with age than it has to do with lack of use.Our lives often lead us to a lot of sitting, which means our joints are not moving. How often do we allow our ankles, our knees, our hips to go through a full range of motion? Probably not often enough.When we have joint stiffness, joint aches, and joint pain it takes much more effort to do the simplest of activities, discouraging us from doing the very thing that will make us feel better.How do we break this cycle and make our joints be the levers that spring us into the joys of a more active life? Here are 8 simple tips to reduce joint pain and joint stiffness and fuel a more active life with less pain and more excitement. With each of these suggestions, make little improvements at a time. Gradual improvements allow our muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones to strengthen as they t…

Climate change is making life tougher for those with allergies, but it’s possible to be allergy-free. A European study published online concluded that allergic reactions to ragweed (the most common cause of what is known as “hay fever”) are in fact getting worse; people who are already sensitive to ragweed are becoming more sensitive, and more and more people who never had problems before are becoming allergic. In fact, in 25-40 years, these researchers estimate the population of Europeans sensitive to ragweed will double, from 33 million to 77 million. Although this study was done in Europe, similar factors, associated with climate change, are at work here in the US. As explained by Lewis Ziska, a plant physiologist at the US Department of Agriculture, warmer temperatures and higher levels of carbon dioxide have encouraged ragweed growth, producing a larger plant and about ten times more ragweed pollen. In addition, it appears that this pollen is a more potent allergen.The Europea…

There’s probably nothing more important than regular exercise for healthy aging.  But it’s hard to be active when your joints hurt. That’s why it’s critical to take good care of our joints, and part of that is giving them the nutrition they need. Staying away from the inflammatory Big Four—sugar, wheat and refined flour, processed oils is the first crucial step; getting adequate amounts of the healthy, anti-inflammatory oils, like flax, fish, coconut and olive oils is the next. You’ll also want to supply your joints with an array of antioxidants from fresh fruits and vegetables and from antioxidant supplements, like vitamins A, C, D and E; minerals zinc and selenium; and MSM, green and white tea, curcumin, CoQ10 and quercetin. Drink plenty of water. According to water expert Dr. F. Batmanghelidj, MD, dehydration can be a factor in joint pain and lower back pain. Water is one of the main components of cartilage, the slick, spongy material at the ends of bones. Ca…

Addressing Frequent MSM QuestionsThere are some compelling reasons to add MSM to your supplement protocol, especially if you're dealing with pain and/or inflammation. MSM is also an excellent source of sulfur, known as the "beauty mineral." Sulfur provides support for strong, thick, lustrous hair; a complexion free from blemishes and wrinkles; and nails that are strong without being brittle. In addition, MSM promotes detoxification.But how much should you take? And what about the possibility of adverse reactions?One 500 mg capsule a day is good insurance for most people to prevent sulfur deficiency and support construction of healthy connective tissues, detoxification, and beautiful, strong hair, skin and nails.Treating specific health problems can require anywhere from 1,000-6,000 mg a day (and higher doses under professional supervision) depending on body size, age and severity of symptoms. MSM is particularly good for symptom-relief related to allergies, asthma, athletic injuries, a…