Many people with arthritis swear they can predict a change in the weather by the amount of pain they feel in their joints. “Growing up, my grandmother would tell me when it was going to rain. She told me she would know the rain was coming by the aching in her knees.” Says Kelly Wilson, 52, of Chicago, who has arthritis. “Now that I have arthritis, I understand what my grandmother meant.”
Wilson has osteoarthritis in both knees. She typically manages her joint pain with low-impact exercise, eating an anti-inflammatory diet and drinking Tart Cherry Juice. But when the bitter cold of winter sets in, Wilson has the challenge of increased joint pain.
This additional pain is not only brought on by the weather, but all of the extra stress she places on her knees during the winter months. These extra challenges are from walking through snow piles, occasional snow shoveling and the constant sub-zero wind chill temperatures of the Chicago.
How to Enjoy Arthritis Relief in the Winter
Follow an Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Just like certain foods can cause inflammation in your body, a number of other foods can help fight inflammation naturally. Foods like French fries, excess alcohol and processed meat like bacon, sausage and beef jerky. While foods like tart cherries, almonds, broccoli, salmon, oranges and carrot help to reduce inflammation naturally. Check out the Free Downloadable book: The Best Foods for Arthritis Sufferers.
Stay Hydrated
During the cold winter months, sweat evaporates rapidly in cold, dry air. In addition, cooler temperatures can trick your body into thinking it’s not losing fluids due to sweat. Stay hydrated by drinking hot tea and water.
Try Drinking Tart Cherry Juice
Published research shows cherry juices helps to reduce joint pain due to arthritis. This is due to the presence of anthocyanins. These naturally occurring flavonoids provide powerful anti-inflammatory benefits. In addition, drinking a glass of Tart Cherry Juice daily can also reduce muscle soreness from shoveling snow.
Finally, cherry juice is made from mixing 1 ounce of tart cherry juice concentrate with 7 ounces of water to make a 100% pure glass of tart cherry juice. Drinking cherry juice not only helps you to stay hydrated but also fight joint pain and muscle soreness naturally.
In addition, to the pain relieving and anti-inflammatory benefits of drinking tart cherry juice, cherries are available in easy-to-swallow Tart Cherry Capsules
Keep Extra Gloves and Hats
If it’s cold outside, keep an extra of pair of gloves, socks and a hat in your glove box. During the winter months, you may find yourself having to walk through snow drifts or scraping off several inches of snow from your windshield. Once you get into your car, your gloves and socks will probably be covered in snow. As the car heats up, all of the melting snow stuck to your socks, hat and gloves will soon turn to water making everything damp.
Get a Massage
According to the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, arthritis sufferers who enjoyed an hour-long massage once a week for at least six weeks experienced a reduced amount of pain. The muscles and joints are so intertwined that cold, stiff muscles could be the cause of increased joint pain. Book a massage today to enjoy reduced wintertime arthritis pain.
Enjoy a Warm Bath
Heat water, including a water bath or hot tub, is great for soothing muscles and joints. Also, try to let your body temperature fall back to normal before going back out into the cold immediately.
Venture Out During the Day
Winter daytime and nighttime temperatures can be dramatically different. Try to avoid going out during the bitter cold of a winter night. The warming sun and higher temperatures will help to reduce winter joint pain.
Check out these different ways to enjoy the pain relieving properties of the Tart Cherry:
- Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate
- Michigan Tart Cherry Juice
- Tart Cherry Capsules
- No Sugar Added Dried Tart Cherries