| Arthritis is a painful, inflammatory disease of the joints. | | | | - Lose weight. The more you weigh, the more |
| There are, however, some things you can do on a | | | | pressure you put on your knees and hip joints. (Heavy |
| daily basis to help avoid this painful disease. | | | | people are 30% more likely to develop arthritis.) |
| - Take Vitamin D. Vitamin D is known as an | | | | Experts says that if you can lose just 11 |
| immune-system-boosting supplement. It can lower the | | | | pounds--regardless of what you currently weigh--this |
| risk of rheumatoid arthritis. You should take at least | | | | can cut your risk of developing arthritis in half. |
| 600 IU to 800 IU per day. | | | | - Quit smoking. Not only is smoking a filthy, nasty habit |
| - Cut back on red meat. Red meat can cause the | | | | that can give you cancer, but it can also double your |
| inflammation and damage of joint tissue. If you can cut | | | | risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis. |
| back on your consumption of red meat and substitute | | | | - Increase your intake of selenium. Selenium is an |
| chicken, eggs, fish or beans, your arthritis joint pain will | | | | antioxidant that can get rid of free radicals before they |
| subside. | | | | attack your joint tissue. You can get selenium in the |
| - Exercise more. Any kind of exercise will be good and | | | | form of a supplement at a health store, or you can eat |
| will help tone your muscles and boost blood flow to the | | | | more sunflower seeds, Brazil nuts, pumpkin seeds or |
| joints. But if you can ride a bicycle, this will benefit your | | | | mushrooms. Do yourself a favor. If you do or don't |
| joints even more. The smooth, repetitive motions of | | | | have arthritis, follow the guidelines above and you will |
| bicycling can help thicken the cartilage in your legs and | | | | spare yourself a lot of pain and suffering. |
| hips. | | | | |