Arthritis is the most common diagnosis in North America - more than the common cold. This condition begins when old cartilage cells are cleared away faster than they are replaced with new ones. This deficit of new cells can be likened to spending just a little extra more money than you deposit monthly. Sooner or later, your account will be empty. With arthritis, old cells are taken from a joint faster than new cells are added. This results in the joints becoming dry sooner or later.

Healthy joints Water mostly fills the Joint spaces. There are small, magnetic proteins embedded in collagen that constantly push each other apart. This suction creates a vacuum that is soon filled with nutrients and water. Every time you move the joint, some of this water is squeezed out along with waste from the joint cells. Between movements – when the joint is at rest – it once again draws in nutrients
and water.

Sick joints
Many different things can interfere with the balance of death and cell life: nutrient imbalances that create a deficit in the structure of joint cells, toxins from infections and our environment, trauma to the joints, and stress that suppresses new joint cell formation. All of these influences can slow the production of new cartilage cells and hasten the death of existing cells.

When a person lacks sufficient nutrients to make complete, healthy cells, immature and imbalanced cells will be produced instead. These may function for a time; however, sooner or later they will shatter and splinter into fractions of protein in your joint capsule. These act like slivers of broken glass. As they slice through certain “guardian” cells (called mast cells) large amounts of histamine are released and inflammation sets in. The grinding in your joints can often be heard when they become inflamed.

Illustration of Joints

Nutrient rescue
To make sure our joints remain healthy we all need the right amounts of nutrients at the right times. These nutrients include joint-specific proteins such as glucosamine, chondroitin and hyalurnic acid, minerals including potassium and magnesium, and special fats that reside specifically in your joints. But there is another essential element to joint health: movement.

Movement is key
Remember, joints are made of living cells. Each cell must get nutrients in and waste out. But the cells have no blood supply. They have to get their nutrients by the gentle action of movement. Think of a sponge in a pail of water: If you want circulation in the sponge, you must squeeze and release it. To get healthy joints you must move them to squeeze out the waste and draw in the nutrients. So for good joint health you must move. Your body was made to move. By moving more you’ll enjoy greater flexibility and less pain. So, keep moving every day for healthy joints.

Source: riVita’s Weekly Wellness Report 30/8/2008; http://taniachin.info/237/arthritis-want-healthy-joints-keep-on-moving/