Home Health Surprising Signs That Indicate You Have Gallbladder Issues
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Surprising Signs That Indicate You Have Gallbladder Issues

MJ Staff May 14, 2024

The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ tucked under the liver. It stores bile, a fluid produced by the liver and released into the intestines to break down fat in food. Although it plays an important role in digestion, the gallbladder isn’t a vital organ and doesn’t typically cause any problems. But when things do go wrong, gallbladder issues can cause debilitating pain and life-threatening complications. The earlier you catch potential gallbladder problems, the more likely you are to make a full recovery. These are 20 common (and not so common) signs of gallbladder problems.

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Your Gallbladder Is Small but Can Cause Big Health Problems

Bile produced in the liver travels through ducts to the small intestine, where it aids in digestion. Specifically, bile helps the intestines absorb nutrients that are fat-soluble. Those are nutrients found in high-fat foods like avocado and nuts and stored in fat tissue in the body. The gallbladder is a storage pouch for bile and helps deliver it to the intestines. The most common gallbladder disease is gallstones, which occur when substances like cholesterol, salts, and calcium build up and harden into small deposits, or stones, inside the organ. Gallstones can cause inflammation or swelling of the bladder, also called cholecystitis. If gallstones grow large enough or move into the bile ducts, they can cause blockage, leading to serious duct infections called cholangitis. Growths on the gallbladder may be benign polyps or, more rarely, gallbladder cancer. Another extremely rare condition called porcelain gallbladder is caused by the accumulation of calcium on the wall of the gallbladder. This condition dramatically increases your risk of cancer and usually requires surgery to remove the gallbladder.

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How to Know if You’re At Risk For Gallbladder Issues

Around 3 percent of the population will experience gallbladder problems in their lifetime, but most don’t have any symptoms. Women are at a far higher risk than men, especially as they age. Pregnancy, hormonal birth control, and menopause treatments increase women’s risk of gallstones. However, men aren’t immune to gallstones. Men over the age of 60 are at higher risk of gallstone issues than younger men. Native Americans of certain tribes and Hispanic people are more likely to have gallstone disease than White, Black, or Asian people. A family history of gallbladder issues increases your likelihood of developing gallbladder diseases, as does a diabetes diagnosis. High levels of triglycerides (fat in the blood) and low levels of HDL “good” cholesterol are other common risk factors for gallstones. Certain medications, including those to lower cholesterol and pre-existing conditions like anemia and Crohn’s disease, can also increase your risk of gallbladder disease.

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Rapid Weight Loss and Weight Cycling Raise Your Risk

It’s important to be aware that diet and weight play a very important role in gallbladder health. Higher weight is associated with an increased risk of gallstones and other gallbladder issues, possibly due to the link between high cholesterol and obesity. On the flip side, dieting, rapid weight loss, and weight fluctuations are some of the biggest risk factors for developing gallbladder conditions. Very low-calorie diets, including cleanses and detoxes, are particularly damaging to the gallbladder. These diets are thought to disrupt the natural balance of salts and cholesterol in the organ, leading to the development of gallstones. People who lose large amounts of weight over a relatively short period through diet, medication, or surgery are also at a much higher risk of developing gallstones. As many as 10 percent of people who undergo weight loss surgery have their gallbladder removed because of gallstones. If you are trying to lose weight, avoid very low-calorie diets and focus on gradual, rather than rapid, weight loss with a doctor’s supervision to help you reduce your risk of gallbladder issues.

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Pain On The Right Side of the Abdomen

The most common sign that something is wrong with your gallbladder is a pain in the middle and upper right part of the abdomen. This pain, called biliary colic, usually lasts several hours and doesn’t go away after changing positions or taking over-the-counter pain medicine. Most people who experience gallbladder pain describe it as a sudden, sharp pain that radiates out from the upper right section of the abdomen. Biliary colic can vary in severity and may get worse when you take deep breaths or after eating. It may also be accompanied by tenderness around the site of the pain. Many conditions can cause gallbladder pain. The most common cause is gallstones that block the flow of bile out of the gallbladder, causing the organ to contract or spasm. Gallstones can also get stuck in the bile ducts or cause damage to the gallbladder wall. Non-gallstone causes of gallbladder pain include infections, liver diseases that affect bile production, and cancer of the gallbladder or bile ducts.

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Yellow, Jaundiced Skin and Eyes

Jaundice is the most well-known and noticeable symptom of gallbladder issues. The condition causes the skin and whites of the eyes to turn a pale yellowish color. Jaundice is caused by the accumulation of bilirubin, a yellow substance found in bile produced when the body disposes of dead red blood cells. The liver typically breaks down and removes bilirubin from the body as waste. But certain gallbladder, liver, and pancreas diseases prevent bilirubin from being excreted, causing a toxic buildup of the substance in the bloodstream. In addition, gallstones and certain gallbladder growths and infections can cause jaundice by blocking the flow of bile. Jaundice can be a symptom of other minor and more severe health conditions, including anemia and hepatitis. When experienced along with pain or tenderness in the upper right section of the abdomen, jaundice is usually a sign of gallbladder issues.

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Dark Pee or Clay-Colored Poop

The buildup of bilirubin in the body caused by blocked bile ducts doesn’t just discolor the skin and eyes. It also causes unusually colored waste well. A characteristic sign of gallbladder issues is pale, clay-colored poop. This is because the salts in bile turn poop brown. If bile is backed up in the gallbladder or bile ducts, these salts never reach the intestines, and poop ends up being light-colored. Gallbladder problems can also result in poop that is fatty and particularly smelly because of a lack of bile, making it into the intestines to break up fat in food. People with unhealthy gallbladders may also have dark urine that is dark brown or orange due to a buildup of bilirubin in the body. Along with abdominal pain and jaundice, changes in the color of waste are the primary symptoms of gallstones and other gallbladder diseases. Dark urine is also caused by dehydration, liver issues, or infections, so without the other symptoms may not be a sign of gallbladder disease.

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Chronic diarrhea

Gallbladder problems often appear as bowel issues, specifically changing the color, consistency, and frequency of bowel movements. Bile is important for the proper digestion of food and absorption of nutrients in the intestines. Since waste from digested food is excreted from the body as poop, it’s not surprising that anything that affects bile will also affect poop. Many people with bad gallbladders experience chronic diarrhea, having to go to the bathroom up to 10 times a day for months at a time. Their poop is often chalky or extremely pale in color from a lack of bile. Gallstones cause inflammation and scarring of the gallbladder that gets worse after you eat. For that reason, people with gallstones and other chronic gallbladder issues may notice that diarrhea is more common after eating. This may cause people with gallbladder problems to avoid food in order to avoid this symptom.

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Sudden Fever or Chills

Chronic gallbladder disease can cause many uncomfortable symptoms, including pain and jaundice. Some people with gallbladder issues also report having a fever or chills. Fevers are associated with a gallbladder infection, which can be serious or even life-threatening. When gallstones block the bile duct and cause bile to build up, this can lead to swelling of the gallbladder. In addition to causing pain and other symptoms, gallbladder inflammation makes you more susceptible to infections. If you’re experiencing characteristic signs of gallbladder issues such as abdominal pain, jaundice, or discolored waste, a sudden fever or chills is a sign of a serious gallbladder infection that requires immediate medical attention. Even a low fever may be a sign of a growing infection. Left untreated, gallbladder infection can spread to other tissue and cause serious complications, like perforation or splitting of gallbladder tissue.

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Nausea and Vomiting

The gallbladder’s important role in digestion means that when it isn’t working properly, it can cause serious problems with your ability to keep food down. Gallbladder disease causes inflammation, lack of blood flow, and damage to gallbladder tissue. It blocks digestive fluids from moving through the digestive system properly. So, it’s no surprise that people with gallbladder conditions may be more prone to nausea and vomiting. These symptoms are especially common after eating a large or fat-heavy meal. Gallbladder issues cause vomiting and nausea in a couple of ways. First, gallbladder diseases can cause severe abdominal pain and discomfort, which can cause or worsen nausea. Additionally, the interruption of bile flow prevents your body from properly digesting food and can cause you to experience an upset stomach. Sometimes, people mistake digestive issues related to gallbladder disease for less serious problems like food poisoning.

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Bloating and Gassiness

Other common complaints of chronic gallbladder disease that are often mistaken for simple digestive issues are bloating, abdominal discomfort, and gassiness. A dysfunctional gallbladder slows down the digestive process, making you feel full for much longer than you normally would. Even if you haven’t eaten or have only eaten a small amount, you may still feel stuffed. The abdominal pain caused by gallbladder issues usually results from swelling, inflammation, and increased rigidity of the organ. That can make you feel bloated or just generally uncomfortable. Bloating may occur because you Some people with gallbladder disease also report being gassy. This may be due to your body trying to release some of the pressure in your abdomen by burping or farting. If these symptoms don’t go away over time or worsen when you eat, it might be worth ruling out gallbladder issues.

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Acid Reflux and Heartburn

Some of the lesser-known signs of gallbladder disease are those that resemble indigestion and upset stomach. Heartburn and acid reflux are not as common as abdominal pain and some other symptoms of gallbladder issues. Heartburn is caused by stomach acid rising into the esophagus, resulting in a burning sensation in your chest. Millions of people experience heartburn each day, and most of the time, it’s just a sign that they’ve eaten too much spicy or acidic food. Sometimes, though, heartburn can be an indication of a more serious issue, like gallbladder disease. If you are experiencing heartburn for the first time or have a sudden increase in heartburn symptoms, that could be related to gallbladder disease. This is especially true if you notice these symptoms alongside other potential gallbladder issues.

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Loss of Appetite or Weight Loss

Gallbladder issues can result from significant weight loss. Ironically, gallbladder issues can also cause significant weight loss. Several symptoms of gallbladder disease, including chronic diarrhea and vomiting, can directly cause weight loss. Other symptoms, such as nausea, bloating, heartburn, and indigestion, make people more likely to avoid food altogether. And the fact that these symptoms are frequently triggered or worsened by eating makes matters worse. Many people with gallbladder disease report loss of appetite, especially as other symptoms worsen. The perpetual feeling of fullness makes people with gallbladder problems even less inclined to eat and more likely to lose weight. Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss combined with other gallbladder symptoms may be a sign that you need to talk to your doctor about potential gallbladder disease.

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Vitamin Deficiency

The primary role of bile is to break down fat. Without it, your body is unable to process the fat in food. Although people sometimes equate fat with bad, fat is absolutely necessary to keep us alive. And, in fact, many vital nutrients, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are fat-soluble. That means that they are absorbed along with the fat in food and are stored in fatty tissue in the body. Vitamin A is important for healthy bones and skin. Vitamin D is necessary to absorb calcium and is vital for bone health, while vitamins E and K promote healthy blood. Deficiencies of these fat-soluble vitamins aren’t just potential signs of gallbladder issues. They’re also serious health conditions in their own right. Vitamin A deficiency causes blindness and makes you more vulnerable to infections. Lack of vitamin D causes muscle pain and bone loss. Vitamin E deficiency can cause nerve damage, while too little vitamin K leads to increased bruising and bleeding. If you don’t have enough bile, you won’t be able to absorb these nutrients properly.

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Pain Under the Right Shoulder Blade

Most people associate gallbladder problems with abdominal pain. But it turns out that back or shoulder pain can be a hidden sign that you need to get your gallbladder checked. That’s because the swollen, inflamed gallbladder can press against the phrenic nerve, which extends from your abdomen to the neck. This nerve is important for controlling the movements of your chest muscles to allow you to breathe. So what does that have to do with back pain? Sometimes, when nerves are irritated, they can cause what’s called “referred pain.” Basically, you experience pain in one place on your body but feel it somewhere else. A classic example of this is that during a heart attack, people often feel pain in their left shoulder or arm. In the case of gallbladder issues, the pressure on the phrenic nerve is felt in the right shoulder blade or the right side of your back. As with abdominal pain, gallbladder-related back or shoulder pain usually worsens after eating.

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Bad Breath

Many things can cause bad breath: a garlic-heavy meal, smoking, or slacking on your dental health routine. But if you have persistent bad breath with no obvious cause, it could be a sign of something more serious. When your gallbladder isn’t functioning normally or if gallstones are causing bile duct blockage, you may experience extremely foul-smelling that doesn’t improve with time or changing habits. Bad breath related to gallbladder issues is usually described as smelling like sulfur or rotten eggs. In addition to the odor, you may also have a sour taste in your mouth that you can’t get rid of. The bad breath may be accompanied by a yellow-colored tongue. Generally, tongues covered in a light yellow film are harmless, but they can be indicative of gallbladder or liver issues caused by an accumulation of bile.

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Extremely Itchy Skin

Your skin is probably not the first play you’d look for signs of gallbladder issues. But a surprisingly common symptom of gallbladder issues is intense, uncontrollable itching. Although the exact cause of gallbladder-related itching is unknown, it’s likely to be at least partially due to a buildup of bile salts in the body. The itching associated with gallbladder disease is much more severe than what you experience with a bug bite. In many cases, the itching is so debilitating that it may require medication to get through the day. A majority of patients with gallstone-related jaundice reported severe, persistent itching. Gallstone blockage of the bile ducts has been associated with itchiness in the palms of the hand and the soles of the feet. Heat may make the itching worse, and some people report that the symptom is worse at night.

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Dizziness and Lightheadedness

Feelings of dizziness or lightheadedness are less common but real symptoms of serious gallbladder problems. People with severe gallbladder infections are most at risk for these symptoms. If the infection spreads from the gallbladder into the bloodstream, it can cause you to go into shock and become dizzy and disoriented. This is a serious, life-threatening condition that requires urgent medical attention. Although dizziness and lightheadedness aren’t common symptoms, they can also occur in people with other gallbladder diseases. For example, severe abdominal pain and nausea related to gallstones may cause temporary dizziness and fatigue. Nutritional deficiencies caused by a lack of bile and an inability to absorb fat-soluble vitamins can also cause these symptoms.

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Gallbladder Attacks Can Mimic Heart Attacks

A sudden gallbladder attack that causes severe upper abdominal pain may convince you that you have a heart attack. Both conditions cause sudden intense pain in the lower chest that may extend to the shoulder. Gallbladder attacks can also cause pressure in the center of the chest. Other symptoms that may occur during a heart or gallbladder attack are nausea, vomiting, severe heartburn, and dizziness. Although the symptoms are similar, gallbladder attacks are felt on the right side of the body, while heart attacks are felt on the left. Serious gallbladder issues can also cause a drop in blood pressure and elevated heartbeat. In addition to causing dizziness, gallbladder infections that spread into the blood can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, which leads to heart palpitations and rapid breathing.

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When To See a Doctor

Many signs of gallbladder disease can mimic other health conditions. Individually, symptoms like abdominal pain, a low-grade fever, occasional lightheadedness, or changes in bowel movements aren’t a cause for concern. But if you’re experiencing combinations of more than one of these and other symptoms listed above, it might be a good idea to see a doctor to determine if you have gallbladder disease. For example, if you experience the following symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention:

  • Abdominal pain that lasts longer than a few hours, especially if the pain is severe or radiates from the upper right side of the abdomen.
  • Yellow skin or whites of the eyes
  • Pale, chalky poop or dark-colored urine
  • Nausea, vomiting, or an inability to keep food down, if accompanied by the symptoms above
  • Fever, chills, or sudden dizziness, if accompanied by the symptoms above

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Diet Can Help Prevent Gallbladder Problems

Your diet can help you reduce your risk of developing gallbladder issues. A gallbladder-healthy diet is low in saturated fats that may trigger gallbladder attacks but includes healthy unsaturated fats. The diet is high in fiber, vitamin C, and calcium and low in sugar. Some specific elements of the gallbladder diet are:

  • Avoiding saturated fats, including those found in meat, cheese, and other animal products
  • Including monounsaturated fats found in most nuts, seeds, avocado, olives, and some plant oils
  • Incorporating polyunsaturated fats, including omega-3 fats, found in fatty fish, walnuts, and flaxseed
  • Eating fiber-rich foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, may help promote gallbladder health.
  • Reducing added sugar and processed foods, which are associated with a higher risk of developing gallstones.
  • Drinking coffee every day has been linked to a decreased risk of gallstones.

 

Where Do We Find This Stuff? Here Are Our Sources:

Gallbladder Disease: Signs, Symptoms, and Complications

14 Gallbladder Attack Symptoms to Look Out For

Symptoms of a Gallbladder Problem

Gallbladder: Pain, Symptoms, Problems, and More

Gallstones and gallbladder disease Information

14 Signs and Symptoms You May Have a Gallbladder Problem

7 Gallstone Symptoms You Need to Know About

Symptoms You May Not Realize Are Being Caused by Gallbladder Disease

What Are the Symptoms of a Gallbladder Attack

Home Health 10 Natural Remedies for Arthritis That Actually Work
Health

10 Natural Remedies for Arthritis That Actually Work

MJ Staff May 14, 2024

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Joint pain is a very common health problem that does not discriminate in age, race or spatial location. Commonly caused by damage or injury to the joint, the cartilage between the two bones often becomes scarce leading to inflammation, which then causes a level of discomfort or pain. It is safe to say that joint pain often attacks us when we least expect it. One night we go to bed feeling fine and the next day we wake up in pain. What should we do when this happens – when the pain strikes us unexpectedly? Here are ten home remedies to eliminate, eradicate and destroy joint pain once and for all.

1. Add Epsom Salt to your bath

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[Photo by Joanna Alderson/Flickr]

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This home remedy has been used for some years for a duality of purposes. Epsom salt is composed of magnesium and sulfate which as been shown to help the healing process by aiding in the maintenance of creating a steady blood flow and helping to reduce the stiffness of the body, which is a common symptom of joint pain. When added to a bath, Epsom salt is known to alleviate pain and reduce swelling that is often related to joint pain.

Epsom salt also is known to reduce stress, which is shown to be highly beneficial to someone experiencing joint pain. The simple science is that when you are calm and stress-free, you are more likely to allow your muscles and joints to relax, which intern allows them to receive the much-needed rest that they deserve. Research has shown that compared to someone that is always tense and under a lot of stress, the calm person will be less likely to experience excoriating joint pain.

For this home remedy, simply run a warm bath and add 2 cups of Epsom salt. You can then soak in the tub, relax, meditate, breathe and lower the cortisol level in your body for at least 20 minutes to let the magnesium absorb through your skin and work its magic.

2. Add exercise to your daily routine

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If you go a couple of days without exercise, you may seem to notice that your joints begin to ache. Your joints may begin to ache because the synovial gel between your joints starts to lump and thicken. When this gel thickens, your body does not move correctly causing the joint pain that you may be experiencing.

I know this is the last thing on the planet earth that you want to do when you are experiencing joint pain, but the long-term benefits will outweigh the short-term pain that you are experiencing. It has been proven that if you are having bad joint pain, one of the worst things you can do is stay static.

Whether the exercise is from walking your dog or going to the gym, it is essential to incorporate into your daily routine to promote blood circulation to the area. When going to the gym make sure you do exercises that specifically target the affected area so that you can see maximum results.

If you do not want to purchase a gym membership or if the gym simply does not appeal to your lifestyle, you can buy resistance bands at your local superstore like Wal-Mart. A resistance band permits you to target the affected joint specifically and stretch it out. Resistance band training can be done in the comfort of your home sitting in front on the TV.

3. Incorporate probiotics into your diet

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[Photo by Pen Waggener/Flickr]

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It is often the case that when thinking about the benefits of probiotics we immediately turn to gut health. But over the course of the last couple of years, it has been shown that probiotics have numerous benefits other than achieving optimal gut health. Research has shown that probiotics have anti-inflammatory properties that have been known to reduce joint pain. The beneficial bacteria found in probiotics have an impact on inflammation, reducing common biomarkers of inflammation.

In studies completed by scientists, they found that people who have a daily dose of probiotics had significantly lower markers of inflammation as compared to those who did not consume probiotics.

A rich source of probiotics includes yogurt, kefir, tempeh and kombucha. If you are finding that you are not receiving enough probiotics from food sources, then there are dietary supplements on the market available. Healthy foods along with the intake of probiotics supplements can work together to keep joints healthy and the rest of the body in tip-top condition.

4. Get more sleep

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[Photo by Craig Sunter/Flickr]

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Just like your iPhone, your body needs to be recharged every night. Sleeping is your body’s way of recharging and repairing for the next day’s work. If you are not getting enough sleep, your body is not getting the rest it needs for optimal performance.

If you are someone who is only getting a limited amount of sleep or not getting enough high-quality deep sleep, then this could be a contributing factor to your joint pain problem. For your body to heal, you need to be receiving a high-quality 8-hour sleep every night.

High-quality sleep entails that you are in REM (rapid eye movement) sleep for a specific number of hours a night. Consider downloading a sleeping tracking app to your smartphone to determine whether you are attaining high-quality sleep during the night.

If your joint pain is impeding you from obtaining the quality sleep you deserve, visit your doctor to get a sleep aid. He/she can prescribe you the right medication tailored towards you to help you achieve a better night’s rest. If you are seeking a more natural sleep remedy, you can try elevating your legs and aligning your spine by propping a pillow in between your legs. Elevating your legs has been proven to ease compression on the joints allowing for a more restful sleep.

5. Omega 3’s

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[Photo by frankieleon /Flickr]

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If you naturally want to reduce inflammation and be pain-free incorporate more essential fatty acids like omega 3’s in your diet. When we consume omega-3 fatty acids, we are feeding various prostaglandin pathways that are anti-inflammatory in nature. By feeding these anti-inflammatory pathways, we are fueling the recovery of our overall joint health. Omega 3 also aids the liver in the process of getting rid of toxic inflammation build-up in your body.

From a dietary standpoint, eating wild-caught salmon, mackerel, and other fatty fish is one of your best options for incorporating Omega 3 into your diet. You can also get omega-3 fat from grass-fed beef; pasture-raised dairy, flax seeds, chia seeds, and walnuts.

If you simply do not like these foods or feel as if you do not eat them enough, you can always supplement omega 3 in the form of fish, krill or cod liver oil. The most usual Omega 3 supplements are fish oil based. By giving your body the raw materials to manufacture its onboard anti-inflammatory chemicals, fish oil fuels your body’s ability to control inflammation and pain anywhere in the body.

Incorporating omega-3 fatty acids into your diet or lifestyle is a simple natural way to throw your body into fighting mode to combat pain.

6. Turmeric

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[Photo by Janine/Flickr]

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Turmeric is loaded with benefits for almost every health problem. The operational ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, which is most absorbable to our bodies and has been found to be a natural anti-inflammatory. Through research, it has been shown that turmeric treats joint pain just as well, or even better than ibuprofen. Instead of putting dozens of potentially dangerous chemicals into your body with the use of ibuprofen, turmeric is a natural solution to your joint pain problems. Whether you consume turmeric or apply turmeric, it never fails in giving you the best results.

If you are keen on applying turmeric to the affected area you are experiencing joint pain, you can do so by making a thick paste with part oil, water, and turmeric. You are then ready to apply it to the skin where you will leave it on for about half an hour. After about half an hour you can rinse it off with some water and pat your skin dry with a towel.

If you are interested in consuming turmeric, you can mix in some turmeric and a teaspoon of honey to warm milk to achieve the best results. If you are a tea drinker, you can also add a teaspoon to some tea and enjoy. Any of these methods can be done once a day for the best results.

7. Olive oil

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[Photo by U.S. Department of Agriculture /Flickr]

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Using olive oil in any way possible can help reduce the effects of joint pain to a visible extent. Olive oil can be used for cooking or massage. Any use of olive oil is extremely useful in healing the after-effects of joint pain as it is full of pro-inflammatory enzymes which help to curb the painful pressures of joint pain.

Studies have shown that just 1 and ½ tablespoons of olive oil are equivalent to just 200mg of ibuprofen. This remedy is suitable for someone seeking a natural way to reduce inflammation in his or her joints.

Olive oil is frequently used in medicinal massages in India. Doctors prescribe olive oil massage for the relief of swelling, muscle pain and sprains. You can use ½ cup of the regular extra virgin olive oil that is available in your local grocery store for a full body massage. To decrease the density and enhance the aroma, mix a few drops of essential oil such as rose or lavender.

If you are not keen on rubbing olive oil on your skin, adding olive oil to your cooking routine is easy as pie. When a recipe calls for oil, simply switch out your normal cooking oil for olive oil. You can also cook all of your meat in olive oil as this is a simple way to add this oil to your diet without even compromising the taste of your food. Another delicious way to incorporate this oil into your diet is to dip bread into a mixture of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

8. Stay hydrated

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[Photo by Dirklaudio/Flickr]

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I know this sounds trivial, but an essential part of eliminating joint pain is hydration. When your body is hydrated, it allows for free-flowing nutrients to move through your bloodstream and into your joints. On the contrary, when you are dehydrated, nutrients cannot easily move through your bloodstream causing a lack of nutrients to reach your joints.

Since your body is made up of 90% water, it is essential to stay hydrated at all times. Some simple tips to tell if you are dehydrated are the following: If your pee is yellow or if you press your finger into your skin on your forearm and your arm stays white for a long period, these are all signs that you are dehydrated and need to drink water as soon as possible.

Although drinking an adequate amount of water may not entirely cure your joint pain, it could be a tool to help your body aid in the combat against your joint pain. Think of it like this; you want more soldiers standing with you rather than fighting against you for you to defeat the battle.

The daily recommended dose of water you should be consuming is at least eight glasses. If you are not someone who drinks water or easily become bored of drinking water, you can add flavor droplets to transform the water into a tasty treat.

9. Incorporating more potassium into your diet

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[Photo by fdecomite/Flickr]

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Have you ever experienced joint swelling and wondered why this is happening? When you are experiencing joint and tissue swelling this is because you have too much sodium and not enough potassium in your body. As we all know, sodium brings water and nutrients into your cells, while potassium flushes waste, water, and toxins out of your cells. It has been shown that Americans consume ten times too much sodium and only 1/10th of the potassium, which causes your cells to swell up and hold onto water.

As you start to consume foods or do cleanses that are higher in potassium, your body can flush and get rid of the extra fluids in your joints or even reduce things such as cellulite. A great source of potassium can be added to your diet through the consumption of dark leafy greens such as kale, spinach, and seaweed. If you are simply not a fan of eating a whole bunch of greens, creating a smoothie with spinach, yogurt, banana and avocado is a great way to get the recommended daily dose of potassium. There are also potassium supplements that can be bought at your local supermarket and integrated into your daily supplement routine.

10. Cayenne

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[Photo by James Diedrick/Flickr]

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This herb is known to have some anti-inflammatory properties that are known to aid the human body in the healing process. Born in South America, it’s the active ingredient of capsicum in cayenne that thins your blood and helps your circulatory system deal with inflammation. Capsicum is also known to interfere with the neurotransmitters that send pain signals to our brain. An analogy can be made that capsicum is like the linebackers of a football team who block the opponent players from doing their job. In essence, the capsicum blocks the pathway usually traveled and did not allow the pain signal to reach the brain, therefore reducing or eliminating the level of pain.

If you like the taste of Cayenne, which is a little bit spicy, you can simply add it to your recipes when cooking. If this is not something that appeals to you, a cream can be created that may be applied to your skin. To create the cayenne cream mix, three tablespoons of cayenne powder with 1 cup of oil and heat on the stovetop for about 10 minutes or until everything is melted and evenly mixed. Remove from stove and transfer to a glass container and place it in the fridge for 30 minutes or until cool. The cream is then ready to be applied to your skin where it should stay on for 30 minutes and then be washed off. But beware that you do need to use this cream with caution and wash your hands throughout after application as it can cause extreme pain and irritation of both the eyes and mouth.

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[Photo by Take Back Your Health Conference/Flickr]

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Let it be known that you do not have to do all of these remedies in one day. If you simply incorporate one and then try another, you may find that it will set you on a cascade to the future of better overall joint health. You may find that one day you are looking in the mirror and looking back at a person wondering when you became pain-free. Who knows one day you may find that you are out with friends a year from now, and you are teaching somebody that you love and care about that one remedy you adopted in your life has now impacted them. You may find that you have created a ripple effect, and there is no better satisfaction in life than helping others through their pain and suffering.

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