Arthritis and rheumatic conditions affect a large percentage of people. In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), over one in five adults (18 years of age and older) and one in two seniors (65 years of age and older) have been diagnosed with some form of arthritis. This means that about 46 million adults in the United States have some form of joint disease such as arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout or lupus.

Medical science offers little help for these conditions beyond pain killers for symptomatic relief. In fact, most doctors not only regard arthritis as incurable, they also feel it’s inevitable for many of us because of our genetics. The truth is that these diseases aren’t inevitable or incurable. They are brought on a by a combination of lifestyle factors, including a lack of proper nutrition, unnecessary mechanical wear and tear on the joints, toxins and infections. Also, many people have cured themselves of these conditions through appropriate changes in diet and lifestyle and the use of supplements, herbs and other natural therapies.

This issue of Sunshine Sharing explores what you can do to maintain good joint health so you can stay healthy and active. It also covers natural approaches to helping these conditions that go beyond just relieving the pain.