Arthritis is a Real Pain -- Here Are 6 Ways to Avoid It!

Arthritis is painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints. According to the Arthritis Foundation, there are more than 100 different types of arthritis. They also report that more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children have some type of arthritis. It is a real pain, but there are ways you can avoid it.

Here are 6 recommendations from pain doctors on how to avoid getting arthritis:

1. Eat foods that fight inflammation - eating foods rich in good fats like nuts, seeds, avocado, and fatty fish helps to fight inflammation. The same is true of cultured foods like yogurt or fermented vegetables like sauerkraut. Also, be sure to cut way back on refined sugar -- it's one of the worst foods for inflammation as well as heart disease and diabetes.
2. Lift weights - you don't have to be a body builder, but lifting weights helps to build mass which can prevent osteoarthritis. It also strengthens the muscles around the joints.
3. Yoga - pain doctors recommend yoga as a way of keeping muscles and joints flexible and strong. Yoga, Pilates, and even martial arts are effective ways to do this.
4. Watch your weight - extra weight puts extra stress on your bones and joints.
5. Go easy on alcohol and tobacco - avoiding them altogether would be ideal. Why? Smoking increases the risk for rheumatoid arthritis, and alcohol increases the risk of developing gout, a common type of arthritis.
6. Stress and medication - According to the Arthritis Foundation, stress and medications can trigger the development of rheumatoid arthritis. If you are on medications, talk to your doctor about whether they are causing arthritis-like symptoms.

Read more at www.rd.com/health/conditions/prevent-arthritis-doctor-tips/