Updated: 7/5/2019

How to Maintain Healthy Joints for a Lifetime

Everyone wants to move freely without pain.

And no one really wants to take potent drugs or have joint replacement surgery.

But that seems to be an inevitable consequence of growing older.

What if you could make some simple changes in your life that would help preserve your joints? Especially if those changes were not difficult and enhanced your life in other ways?

Most likely the answer would be, yes.

The healing functions of your body are actually designed to maintain stable joints indefinitely. When those healing functions are inhibited, however, damage from day-to-day wear and tear accumulates and joints start to break down. The dysfunctional healing process that results is actually destructive and accelerates joint deterioration. Before long all that is left is bone grinding on bone and your only option is a trip to the orthopedist.

The simple solution is limiting the things that inhibit normal healing.

It isn’t as difficult as it might sound. Embracing a healthful lifestyle is a matter of doing life better.

Tips from Dr. Rawls

• Cut back on (or better yet, eliminate) foods made from wheat, corn, soybeans, and sugar. If you eat like most Americans, processed food products, meat, and dairy derived from these sources makes up most of your food. For a multitude of reasons, these types of foods are really bad for your joints. If you need help with the conversion, which will also restore normal gut function, see Protect Your Collagen.
• Get plenty of sleep! Sleep is when the body repairs itself. At least 7-8 hours of restful sleep is necessary for optimal maintenance of body parts.
• De-stress. The modern world is saturated with stress. Continually “running from the tiger” inhibits normal repair functions in the body and allows tissues to breaks down.
• Stay active, but not excessively active. Regular physical activity stimulates repair functions in the body and helps maintain healthy joints. Excessive physical stress, however, accelerates wear-and-tear. Follow the 70% rule; never exceed 70% of your maximal ability.
• Practice yoga. Yoga stretches ligaments and enhances joint support without increasing wear & tear. Many top athletes now include yoga as an important part of their regular workout routine.
• Take herbs. Plants also have to deal with repair of damaged tissues. Over millions of years, plants have developed very sophisticated biochemical solutions for enhancing repair processes. Instead of one chemical substance, like a drug, plants have a whole spectrum of chemical substances that balance inflammatory pathways and enhance healing processes.
• Balance your essential fatty acids. Supplemental omega 3 fatty acids balance the inflammatory response in the body and optimize healing.
• Anti-inflammatory drugs can be useful for breaking the cycle of runaway inflammation, but should never be used long term. Drugs artificially inhibit inflammatory pathways, while simultaneously blocking healing pathways. This can result in harmful side effects, including stomach erosions and increased risk of heart disease.
• If you are ready to embrace a healthy lifestyle and all the wonderful benefits that come with it, consider Dr. Rawls’ Herbal Protocol, an intensive guided program that supports the healing systems of your body.

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