From the Desk of Dr. Lasich

In case you have not noticed the change in the air, fall is here. Another year has nearly gone and you are another year older. Yes, time does march on.

Some of you may or may not know that my husband is struggling with an arthritic knee. We’ve had to modify our life and activities accordingly. Seeing the constant limp or the occasional wince is a good reminder that joints are worth preserving. If you find yourself saying, “Oh my aging joints”, please read about the rules of joint preservation below.

If you missed my recent lecture called “Grocery Cart Confessions: What you buy/eat may cause pain”, encore presentations will occur on November 17th and 20th. See the events page for details. If you have a group of individuals who would like to hear me speak about how nutrition can help you feel better, please contact me to arrange for a speaking engagement. I’ll even bring the treats.

Have a happy fall! And thanks for listening.

Oh, My Aging Joints

Time marches on until one morning you wake up with a stiff, sore joint. Ouch! Where did that come from? Maybe that skiing injury thirty years ago is sneaking back to take a bite out of your comfort level. Maybe the years of kneeling to clean floors, lay tile, or catch baseballs are taking a toll. At some point, you have to ask yourself one question: “How can I prevent further deterioration of my joints?” The answer is simpler than you may realize.

First, you have to RESPECT your body. Respect the fact that you are getting older. In this aging process, the body loses its ability to bounce back. Recovery times are longer and the tissues can only tolerate so much, now that you are older. Activities that you once did when you were younger may not be appropriate for you now or at least not that often. Respecting your boundaries, limitations, and physical condition is the first very important step towards preventing joint problems and preserving what you have.

The second step to prevent further deterioration of your joints is to HELP your body. You can help your body in so many different ways from what you wear to what you eat. For example, if you are worried about your knees, then you should be choosing proper shoe wear that is supportive and well-cushioned. At times, you may want to consider an assistive device like a walking stick to reduce the stress and strain on your knees. You can also help your joints by eating a nutritious low glycemic load diet which can help control joint inflammation and improve your joint healing potential. Every day you should be thinking of ways to help your body from the minute you get out of bed to the time you go to sleep. Take charge of how you feel and help yourself.

As time marches on, preparing your joints for the future should be a matter of respecting your body and helping your body. Just by following those two simple rules, joints can live a happy, healthy, and full life. Like it or not, time does not stop and the person with the most joint replacements does not win.

LIFE Quotes

“This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.”
– T.S. Eliot “The Hollow Men”

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