Improve your lifestyle

It is now well accepted that your lifestyle has a big part to play in the way the body’s immune system works.

Stress depresses the immune system, causes more inflammation and increases the recovery time from illness.

Those with joint problems should consciously take time out to relax. Yoga, tai chi and meditation are helpful.

Often, those with joint problems also have an understandable tendency to reduce their ‘movements’.

However, gentle exercises up to a level which does not give rise to pain can be extremely useful in keeping joints moving, improving blood flow and hence, healing.

Above all, ensure that there is a positive mental attitude, as this will determine how your body reacts in various ways, reducing stress.

• Try to incorporate twenty minutes gentle exercise into your daily routine – ex. walking or swimming
• Be sure to allow time each day to relax
• Adopt a positive mental attitude

• Meat,especially sausages, processed meats, bacon & ham
• Processed food in general
• Animal fat and dairy products
• White flour
• Sugar (particularly white sugar, brown sugar and corn syrup)
• Eggs
• Citrus fruit, such as oranges, grapefruit,  tangerines & clementines
• Tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants & peppers (members of the deadly nightshade family)
• Alcohol
• Fizzy drinks
• Coffee and black tea

• Vegetables
• Vegetable oils (cold pressed)
• Whole grain products such as brown rice, millet & buckwheat
• Green leafy vegetables
• Oats
• Kidney beans
• Dried fruits such as figs & raisins
• Pumpkin, sunflower & sesame seeds
• Pineapple, papaya, mango & guava
• Berries such as blueberries, blackberries & cherries
• Oily fish such as herring, mackerel, salmon, tuna & sardines