When we think of our fitness, we invariably think about our muscles, our body fat ratios and, in some cases, our flexibility. But we rarely think about the condition of our joints… at least, not until it’s too late. Injury and chronic conditions like arthritis can be particularly punishing for our joints. And when we’re affected by joint pain, it spills out into every aspect of our lives. It prevents us from concentrating when we’re trying to work. It keeps us from playing sports with our friends or playing with our kids. It can prove a serious detriment to our physical, emotional and mental health and wellbeing. 

Image by Nastya Gepp via Pixabay

The good news, however, is that you are not powerless to reduce the effect that joint pain has on your life, your work and your relationships with friends and family. You don’t need to run into the expensive arms of big pharma, either. Here, we’ll look at some natural ways to alleviate joint pain.

Make strength training part of your fitness regimen

If you’re spending your workouts on the treadmill or elliptical machine, you could potentially do more to rid yourself of joint pain. Strength training can help to alleviate the swelling, pain and stiffness of conditions like arthritis. By strengthening the muscles that support the joints, they experience less stress when going through their range of motion. 

Use hemp based topical creams

Massaging sore joints with a topical cream can also help to alleviate the pain, swelling and stiffness of injured or diseased joints. Hemp is a wonderful plant with many nutritional and medicinal uses. And one way in which it can be especially helpful is when applied as a hemp pain relief cream. The natural.ly inflammatory compounds of the cannabidiol (CBD) within has been linked to joint pain relief.  

Take a CBD oil supplement

There’s been a great deal made of the healing properties of CBD. It has been linked to reduced stress, the alleviation of anxiety and depression, and a wealth of skin problems. However, as much as topical CBD infused ointments has been linked to reduced joint pain, preclinical studies indicate that taking CBD in the form of drops, tea or vape fluid can also fight inflammation and reduce joint pain. 

Eat an anti-inflammatory diet

Finally… inflammation is at the core of many of our nation’s most dangerous chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, and even some forms of cancer. And the body’s natural inflammatory response can exacerbate joint pain, even though it’s a necessary part of the healing process. Our sedentary lifestyles can enhance inflammation, as can our over-reliance on processed foods. Combined with the above measures, a naturally anti-inflammatory diet can help to make joint pain a thing of the past. Avoid processed foods, especially processed meats which are type 1 carcinogens. Eat more fresh foods (mostly plants), healthy fats, lean proteins and green veggies. These are all linked to a natural reduction in inflammation which will in turn give you more mobility and less pain in your joints.