#arthritisandwater
Soaking the body in warm water is one of the oldest forms of medicine, and for good reason. Warm water therapy can work wonders for types of musculoskeletal pains such as arthritis.
Water will reduce the force of gravity that’s compressing a joint, offers 360-degree support for sore limbs, decreases swelling and inflammation, and can also increase circulation to affected areas.
But there is a new body of evidence that suggests arthritis and water share an even closer relationship than was first believed. Studies have shown that not only will soaking the body in water help arthritis, but drinking enough of it will have a hugely positive effect too.
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that is caused by the inflammation of one or more joints. There are over 100 different forms of arthritis but the most common forms of the disease are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Both are degenerative joint diseases, with osteoarthritis initially affecting the smooth cartilage lining of the joint. This makes movement more difficult than usual, leading to pain and stiffness. When the cartilage eventually thins, the tissues within the joint become more active and this can then lead to swelling and the formation of bony spurs, called osteophytes.
Rheumatoid osteoarthritis occurs when the body’s immune system targets affected joints, leading to pain and swelling. The outer covering (synovium) of the joint is the first place affected. This can then spread across the joint, leading to further swelling and a change in the joint’s shape.
Whatever form of the disease you suffer from, one thing is constant: the effects are extremely debilitating. Pain is often a constant and may be localized to the joint affected. Unfortunately for sufferers, traditional drug-based treatments are extremely hit and miss and may only temporarily deal with the pain and not the problem itself. This is the reason why arthritis and water as a treatment should be explored.
Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, such as lower back pain and ankylosing arthritis of the spine, are signs of water shortage in the spinal column and discs – the water cushions that support the weight of the body. These conditions are most effectively treated by consuming water. But far from being just an effective treatment for these specific types of arthritis, drinking water can benefit all forms of the disease.
Water acts as an hydration agent for distribution of essential nutrients such as electrolytes which include potassium, sodium, bicarbonate and chloride around the arthritis affected joints of the patients. The more water we drink, the more we expose the site of arthritic pain to electrolytes. This acts as a soothing agent as electrolytes are essential for the normal function of our body cell development, which includes those in arthritis affected joints, surrounding muscles and tissues. They nourish cells with nutrients, allowing them to grow and repair normally.
Joints affected by arthritis are also the site of waste and toxin build up, as our body fights against its own auto-immune response system to heal damaged areas. This causes toxins to be expelled by cells, and when we don’t drink enough water, this waste is allowed to sit there, exacerbating symptoms. Not only will adequate water intake act as the perfect natural lubricant to our joints, it also helps flush out toxins.
Another reason why arthritis and water intake should be considered together is water’s potential to reduce the weight of sufferers. Adequate water (especially if it’s the healthiest water, such as ionized water) consumption kick-starts the body’s metabolism and the optimal processing of the foods we eat. An adequately hydrated person has a more effective food-burning process and so feels less hungry, more often. This will lead to weight loss over time and weight loss is a benefit to most arthritis sufferers as it can reduce the stress and strain on arthritic joints.
So as we have discovered, effective treatment of arthritis doesn’t have to involve long-term medication in the form of potent drugs. Arthritis and water as a natural treatment turns out to be the perfect alternative. We just have to make sure we are drinking enough water. And to increase the effect of water on the disease, it’s recommended we drink the healthiest water: ionized water.
To your health,
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