Arthritis Signs Connected to Your Weight that Almost Everyone Misses

Download the printable One Sheet HERE.

One topic that comes up repeatedly, in different forms, is: how do I know if my weight gain is due to my arthritis? Followed by how do I know if I have arthritis? Is my depression connected to arthritis? Do I need a blood test to confirm whether I have arthritis?

Here is the short answer to these questions. If you have random, unexplained weight gain, it's your body's inflammatory response. Yes, it falls under the umbrella of arthritis. Arthritis means inflammation. Why your body inflames doesn't change the fact that you need to address inflammation right away to prevent further damage, whether to your gut, bowels, joints, or muscle tissue.

The most frequent thing I hear is, "Why do I feel so horrible after eating a meal out or consuming popcorn, hummus, or sourdough bread?" 

The short answer to this is that your body’s inflammatory response, whether it be upset stomach, acid reflux, diarrhea, headache, sinus issues, all point to signs of inflammatory response to overconsumption of something it didn't like by reacting. Hear me out, this is important to take away before you throw your hands up in frustration and say, “I can't be that perfect or im not willing to give up my favorite foods or activities. THE GOOD NEWS IS...

• You can do all things through Christ. He will strengthen you, so stand firm on Phil 4:13.
• You don't have to be perfect, but you do have to accept your body’s healthy boundary by surrendering your habits to align your pleasures with what your body is telling you it needs more or less of. 
  

Take the short quiz below to see whether you may have arthritis or are among the 1% who don't.

Instead of writing a book on each form of arthritis, I'm here to make it easy for you to understand. This is how Europeans educate their physicians, since their health care system isn't run like a business to make money, but rather to keep people healthy and get them well quickly when needed. Understanding what the word means—making it easier to understand where the word came from in the first place. 

The word arthritis comes directly from two ancient Greek words: arthron (meaning "joint") and the suffix, itis (meaning "inflammation"). Any itis (sinusitis, tendonitis, bursitis, dermatitis, appendicitis) is inflammation.

Focusing on the root cause (the why) of your itis is the first step, which always comes back to lifestyle, which includes what you eat or don't eat every day, and which supplements and/or forms you use.

• Do you eat mostly fish (not fatty--white fish or shellfish)?
• Leafy greens?
• Do you eat red meat, pork, suishi/raw fish, or gluten?
• Nuts (all types), beans /legumes? Ground chicken or turkey? 
• Do you eat white fish (at least 4 times per week)? The lighter and whiter the better! 
• Do you consume any nightshade vegetables or fruits? Tomatoes and goji berries are fruits. 
• Do you eat more than 2 eggs weekly? This includes fresh/organic.

Which supplements you take and which ones you're not taking or using to supplement your anti-inflammatory diet are also key.

• Do you drink ready-to-drink, pre-made protein shakes? Store-bought whey protein powder? 
• Do you eat yogurt?
• Do you add cream, milk, or nut milks to your coffee or tea? 
• Do you only drink vegan protein powders? 
• Do you take omega-3 that's microfiltered/purified with at least 900 mg of EPA and 600 mg of DHA?
• Do you take gelatin, powdered gelatin, or gelatin gummies? 
• Do you take powdered collagen or other gummies?
• Do you move your body enough (10,000 steps every day)?
• Do you sit for less than 4 hours daily? This includes driving, school, and church.
• Do you get 7-8 hours of sleep every day? If you do and you're still struggling, it’s a sign your sleep quality needs improvement. 
• Do you get enough rest mentally and physically (stress is a cause, not a symptom)?
• Do you take medications, hormones (including bioidentical), steroids, or pain killers?
• Do you drink alcohol?
• Do you smoke? This includes prescribed medical marijuana for pain.
• Do you spend more than 20 minutes in the sun between 10 am and 2 pm?
• Do you drink 8 glasses of water daily? 
• Do you have prediabetes or diabetes?
• Is your job physical, causing repetitive stress? 
• Do you sit most of the day? Sitting is the new smoking and is as bad as repetitive stress when it comes to inflammation.
• Do you have acute or chronic pain?
• Are you injured?
• Have you had surgery of any kind recently or ever?
• Do you suffer from autoimmune health issues? 
• Do you suffer from cancer or treatment of cancer (current or previous)?  

The most effective way to alleviate your chronic or acute aches, pains, or health issues is prevention. Prevention is always the best solution. Don't wait until it’s emergent. Listen to your body when it whispers inflammation, aches, pains, stiffness, or illness. 

How?

• Eat clean, choose the best anti-inflammatory foods from the approved list, and avoid all others to prevent dietary triggers. Everybody is different; some bodies can tolerate more of certain foods, while others are very sensitive and will elicit an inflammatory response.
  
  
• Shut it down as quickly as possible using the RICE method, which is:
  
  Rest the area that’s troubling you. Get off your feet and lie flat on your back with your feet up on an ottoman or couch (your legs should be bent at a 90-degree angle for best results). If it's your stomach, ease up on eating to allow your digestive system to rest and clear the offending trigger. If it's skin-related (meaning you're breaking out or experiencing puffiness), stop using any cleansers, creams, lotions, or makeup, and eat cleaner by avoiding dairy products and meats (eat from the clean list). Whatever ails you, the above applies to REST it. This includes your eyes after looking at your phone or computer screen all day, which can dry them out and cause styes.
  
  Ice is your best friend and THE MOST underused, successful, all-natural, free method for pain relief. It can help tired, swollen eyes by hydrating them: place ice chips directly on your closed eyes and let the melted water hydrate them while reducing swelling that causes aches and pains. 
  
  
• HYDRATE BETTER! The solution is always dilution: if food was the trigger, you need to flush your system. This is even more important if you have had surgery and your body is full of toxins, drugs, or other substances that can trigger an inflammatory response.
  
  Aim to drink 4-8 ounces (dependent on your weight and hydration status). Drinking more water IS NOT BETTER. The best way to hydrate is to add one scoop of LynFit Essential Amino Acids, which contains a full spectrum of low-sodium mineral electrolytes. Low sodium is best for inflammation, which is often worsened by water retention from excessive sodium intake. This is a part of your body's healing process, but it should be kept in check to avoid more pain, liver, kidney, or heart damage. 

At LynFit, a natural approach is a holistic approach that addresses the underlying issues that often cause aches, pains, or illness. Today's media is driven by sponsored ads that sell rather than tell, meaning they don’t explain why or what you need to do; they only sell you on what they want you to buy.

The best approach is natural, do no harm first, and whatever you choose needs to also be sustainable, both doable and affordable over the long run, as most of our bodies require more of the specific nutrients our bodies need to keep inflammation balanced and heal and repair themselves.

It's also important to note that managing inflammation isn't an either-or choice. If your body has long-term chronic arthritis or repetitive stress that’s damaged your joints, destroyed gut health, and may have required surgical interventions and/or prescription medication use, your treatment requires additional and continual nutrients daily.