A Healthy Garden, A Healthy Gardener

A healthy gardener is a happy gardener, right?  In order to grow and take care of a garden, we have to take care of ourselves first or maybe it's the other way around.  There has to be a symbiotic relationship between the garden and the gardener.

I have a new doctor and I showed her my Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) report from April of last year and I asked her to translate it. She glanced at it and said that I had arthritis and there is no cure for it.

Instead of wasting her time with too many questions, I went home to research how to live the arthritis and the pain (in my lower back, in my case).  I came up with the following results that I want to share with you, BUT, you should consult your own physician about your own ailments.

1.  Reduce weight by taking smaller portions; be aware of the intake of calories; avoid sugary foods and drinks; and eat plant-based foods.

2.  Eat more fruit and vegetables loaded with antioxidants that will help protect your cells from damage.  Apples, onions, shallots, and strawberries (that are now in season) may help reduce joint inflammation and pain.

3.  Omega-3 fatty acids may relieve joint pain and decrease morning stiffness.  It supposedly reduces inflammation in the body.  It is recommended that we eat fatty fish twice a week.  Over the Counter Omega-3 is also doable.

4. Exercise.  Gardening is on the top of my list and walking is recommended.  The worst thing that I can do for my pain is to lay down and give in to the pain;  however, it is recommended to take short rests and refrain from chores.  Work a little, rest a little.

5.  Finally, stay hydrated.  It will help with weight reduction and it will flush out toxins.  I still have problems with drinking water, but I have startedl to drink water more than usual.

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I stocked up on canned salmon, sardines, and herring.  Fresh salmon, trout, mackerel, and tuna are excellent choices for Omega-3. The Omega-3 balances out the carbohydrates that shows up as triglycerides in a lab report.  .

There are so many more ways that we can protect ourselves against arthritis and to stay healthy.  I need to go out in the garden and move around and keep moving and grow vegetables that are a vital part in the plant-based diet.

Source:  WebMD, my doctor, myself.

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