Millions of people all around the world suffer from arthritis and the problem can range from mild joint aches to excruciating pains that are so severe that they can be debilitating. There are a plethora of painkillers and medications available on the market. Yet, most only provide temporary relief.
There is also the risk of experiencing adverse side-effects from consuming medication for prolonged periods. The best way to combat arthritis is to treat the cause and not the symptoms. Usually, combating the cause requires a holistic approach.
While many people will roll their eyes in skepticism if they’re told that certain foods like ginger extract can work wonders on their arthritis, there are thousands of others who have tried it and benefited greatly.
The same applies to magnetic therapy that’s used to alleviate arthritis pain. For every one person who scoffs in disbelief, there are many others who’ve benefited from it. The only way to find out if it will work for you is to give it a try. Arthritis arises from imbalances within the body. By fixing these problems, you’ll fix your arthritis too.
In this article, we’ll look at fasting as a way of treating arthritis. This is rarely mentioned as a method of pain relief and yet it’s immensely potent at not only treating arthritis but a myriad of other health problems.
The Standard American Diet (SAD), is high in toxins and fat. Obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes and many other health problems are directly or indirectly related to the food we eat. Inflammation in the body occurs when there is too much sugar and harmful toxins in the body. Arthritis pain is exacerbated when the body is inflamed.
Fasting is an unbelievably effective tool to combat obesity, inflammation and many other problems. If you stopped to think about it, you’d realize that most religions throughout the passage of time have always recommended periods of fasting.
Christianity recommends fasting and prayer. Islam has Ramadan which is a month of fasting. The Hindus fast for several days before auspicious events and so on.
Fasting is seen as a way to purify the body and improve the health of the individual. You do not have to be religious to know that it actually works.
To reduce inflammation in your body, you’ll need to abstain from food and drink. Drink refers to any liquid other than water. You can and should drink lots of water when you’re fasting. This will help to flush out lots of toxins in your body.
So, how long should you fast?
Anywhere from 3 to 7 days is excellent. While it may seem extreme and dangerous, rest assured that the human body can live for 3 to 4 weeks without food and still not get ill.
When starting off, you may try fasting for a day or two. Ideally, you should aim for 3 days and then you may take a one day break and have some food and fast for another three days after that. Do note that it’s best that you speak to your doctor before fasting.
If you’re diabetic or you have gastric problems, fasting may not be suitable for you. Your doctor will be the best person to advise you on this.
The act of fasting will give your digestive system a break since it doesn’t need to digest and assimilate food round-the-clock. Initially, it will be toughest on the first day. By the third day, your hunger pangs will dissipate and your body will start burning its fat stores for fuel.
If you’re worried that it will be difficult, you may wish to be on a fruit and whole foods diet for about 2 weeks before fasting. This will make it easier on your body since you’re easing into the fast.
Do note that most people experience symptoms such as aches, pains, fatigue, rashes and other issues like dark urine and itching. This is due to the detoxification process. The toxins in your body are being released and eliminated from the fat stores. So, you will feel worse in the beginning but over time, you will feel better.
Fasting will reduce the inflammation in your body, burn off your excess fat, make you feel lighter and more energetic and restore balance in your body. Give it a try and you’ll notice your arthritis pain diminish and it may even disappear. You’ll be amazed at how powerful fasting really is.