Hey everybody, Mike Uhrlaub coming at you from the Flex Compound with another episode of Power Your Life. Many people are taking NSAIDs or prescription medication to relieve joint pain. But, have you ever wondered if you can heal your joints? Today I am going to share two secret minerals that can do just that.
Before we get into the secret minerals I want to share something that happened to me. A couple of weekends ago, my son, Garrett, was participating in a trap and skeet practice. As you guys know, over the last few weeks it’s been really windy around here and that day was no exception. Wind gusts were hitting up over 30 to 35 miles an hour and it was blowing the trap clays all over the place! This made shooting them very difficult. Usually, Garrett takes his time on his shot; Finds his target, works on his breathing, and when he does this, he’s very accurate.
One thing I noticed is if Garrett took too long to take his shot, like he usually does, the effect of the wind on the clay and the way it would make it move would cause him to miss. He had to adjust his shooting style. Make sure he could find the target more quickly and take the shot before the wind had a chance to blow the clay off course. Once he realized he had to change his shooting style by taking the shot quicker than he normally would, he started having more success.
Struggles in the Wind
Of course, this was initially frustrating for him, but I was really proud of how he stuck in there, made his adjustments, and just kept working at it. Even though it wasn’t his best day, he still managed to hit 20 out of the 50 targets. Now, that’s not too bad with the winds blowing like that and it being only like the second practice of the year for him.
As I watched him shoot, it really made me think about how his struggles with the wind at practice is a lot like what happens to us in life. Often when we’re faced with a problem or an obstacle, we have a plan or come up with a plan we think will work. But then something happens that is completely unexpected and you have no choice but to adjust your plan or approach. I think it’s important for us to always be flexible in our plans.
To always keep an open mind to other options when things, for whatever reason, are not the way you want them to be. It’s critical to change course and try it another way.
Those who can do this in life often have more success and enjoyment than those who just flat out refuse to change. They just keep forcing the same plan even though the conditions are different. I know change is hard for many people. But refusing to adjust your plans or habits despite the fact conditions have changed will only set you up for failure. When faced with an obstacle or problem, don’t be afraid to change your plans or approach even if it makes you uncomfortable. It is in that area of discomfort you will grow the most.
Speaking of discomfort…
Are Your Joints Causing You Pain and/or Problems?
I think everybody knows arthritis is on the rise in our country. In fact, according to the CDC, almost 23% of all Americans now suffer from arthritis. That’s almost a quarter of the country.
What can you do to prevent, stop, or slow arthritis now right now?
What most of us do is take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory commonly, called an NSAID for short. Things like Ibuprofen, Aleve, Naproxen, or Tylenol just to manage the pain, swelling, or soreness of the arthritic joint. But these NSAIDs, even Tylenol, come with a risk. The FDA came out with a report not too long ago about NSAIDs. The FDA Drug Safety Communication strengthened the warning that non aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can cause heart attacks or stroke. They had previously said this. However, they strengthened the warning due to some recent research. Now, I don’t know about you, but that just really scares me.
Here’s the thing… You can’t take NSAIDs or Tylenol for the rest of your life. You just can’t do it. It’s not healthy for you. But if you already have a mild amount of arthritis, those joints are achy; Or your arthritis is starting to advance and really limit what you can do in your life. Maybe limit your function and now you can’t walk as far. It hurts to climb stairs and you can’t kneel. You just feel yourself getting older before your time. What can you do?
What Can Replace Your NSAIDs or Pain Pills?
I’m glad you asked because I’m going to tell you! There are these reports that just came out and you should check them out. They’re from the journals of Integrative Medicine, Environmental Health Perspectives, and another article from Oregon State University. These articles are below under References below. These articles have shown there are two key micronutrients you can take that will actually help you heal your arthritic joints. These are naturally occurring and what we call trace minerals.
- Boron
- Copper
Mineral #1 – Boron
Is a trace mineral needed by plants and animals. Boron is only found in the soil and is absorbed by plants. We get boron through eating these plants or by supplementation.
What’s happening is, around the world, due to different ways our soil is being farmed, boron levels in the soil are becoming deficient. As a result, we’re getting less boron in our diets. That’s a concern because boron has been shown to reduce inflammation, arthritis, and the incidents of cancer. It has also been shown to improve wound healing, strengthen and grow bone. Improve hormone levels, increase antioxidants in the body, improve brain activity and performance. Lower the risk of stroke and heart disease, plus strengthen the immune system.
Interestingly, in these articles it was found that those with arthritis had lower bone concentrations of boron in the heads of the femur and synovial fluid than those without arthritis. The bones of those using boron were much harder and denser.
Another Interesting Fact
The other interesting fact was in areas of the world where boron intake was less than one milligram a day, the rate of arthritis in that population was between 20% and 70%. Areas of the world where boron intake was between 3 and 10 milligrams, the rate of arthritis in that population was 0% to 10%.
I’m going to geek out on you with my physical therapy research stuff but I won’t bore you with a lot of numbers but this is really cool and interesting. The Australian study showed 71% of people in this study with mild to medium osteoarthritis lowered pain levels and stopped taking their NSAIDs within eight weeks of using boron. 78% of those with the mild to medium arthritis improved their mobility and flexibility within eight weeks of using boron.
Now, 75% of those that had severe arthritis were also able to stop taking their NSAIDs within eight weeks of using boron. 63% of the group with severe arthritis improved their mobility and flexibility within eight weeks of using boron as well.
You guys, I’m telling you! This is huge, right? Boron has been proven to help those with arthritis among the other things I’ve listed. It’s natural, has no side effects, and it’s inexpensive
Mineral #2 – Copper
Everybody’s heard about copper. We’ve got copper bracelets, copper braces, copper this, copper that. But listen, I’m not talking about braces, wristbands, or stuff like that. What I’m talking about is copper being taken as a supplement. Oral intake of copper.
Copper plays a huge role in your health. It is essential for brain development, maintenance of brain health, efficient communication between your nerve cells; Maintenance of healthy skin and connective tissue, healing a wound, heart and blood vessel health. It keeps your blood cells healthy, is necessary for energy production, and collagen formation.
Here’s how it helps YOU. Copper will reduce the rate of arthritis and supports joint health through its role in the college in production. Cancer prevention occurs through its antioxidant properties. It reduces blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Improves the immune system and helps present prevent osteoporosis.
You see, copper plays this really big role in creating connective tissue. This is the stuff that holds everything together in your body. It is necessary for your cartilage, discs, and blood vessels. Copper helps the cross-linking of the collagen and the elastin in the process of creating the connective tissue. Connective tissues made up of collagen and elastin. Those two have to come together. They get kind of woven and cross-linked with each other in order to create the connective tissue.
When they’re effectively cross-linked, there is less wear and tear on the joints because the connective tissue is stronger.
What does this mean to you? Without copper in your body, your joints will wear out faster. You’re going to suffer from arthritis, degenerative disc disease, disc problems, and, just in general, pain.
How Does This Happen?
This happens by impairing aspects of the immune response and the tissue repair process.
Both boron and copper are essential for you to have. Not just for a healthy body, but for healthy joints, discs, ligaments, and tendons as well.
Take a look at your current joint supplements. If you’re taking a glucosamine-based type of supplement, take a look at it. If you’re taking a joint supplement, there’s a lot of them out there, take a look at it. See if boron and copper are included… If not, then I would highly suggest you find a joint supplement that does have them or supplement it on your own.
By the way, now that the weather is getting warmer and many of us are starting to get more active again and there’s things that start to happen. With this increased activity, we start seeing back pain start to rear its ugly head. If you don’t do something about your back pain, it will keep you from enjoying the spring and soon to be summer weather.
Are You Suffering From Back Pain?
If you’re having back pain and would like to, not only find out what the root cause is, but want to fix things for good; You should sign up for our new back pain breakthrough exam session.
All you have to do is just click on the link HERE to find out more about this amazing new program.
We’re going to wrap things up. You’ve learned all about boron and copper as well as the importance of it. Like I said, take a look at your joint supplements and see if that is included in there. If it’s not, then I highly recommend you start supplementing with it or find supplements that do include that.
Now I’d like to leave you with this thought-provoking quote from Warren Wiersbe. “Real contentment must come from within. You and I cannot change or control the world around us, but we can change and control the world within us.” I’m going to let you chew on that one for a while.
Until next time. Power Your Life and keep moving forward.
References
- “FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA Strengthens Warning That Non-Aspirin Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) Can Cause Heart Attacks or Strokes.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, 9 July 2015, www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-drug-safety-communication-fda-strengthens-warning-non-aspirin-nonsteroidal-anti-inflammatory#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20Food%20and%20Drug,a%20heart%20attack%20or%20stroke.
- Higdon J, Drake VJ, Delage B, Prohaska JR. Copper. Linus Pauling Institute Oregon State University. 2001.
- “How CDC Improves Quality of Life for People With Arthritis.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2 Nov. 2020, www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/factsheets/arthritis.htm#:~:text=In%20the%20United%20States%2C%2023,arthritis%20report%20severe%20joint%20pain.
- Newnham RE. Essentiality of boron for healthy bones and joints. Environ Health Perspect. 1994;102(Suppl 7): 83-85.
- Pizzorno L. Nothing Boring About Boron. Integr Med. 2015;14(4): 35-48.
