A relaxing way to ease your achy, swollen joints this winter

The dark, dreary days of January are here.

And if you suffer from arthritis, you might feel like your symptoms—pain, stiffness, and swelling—are worse than ever.

After all, colder temps cause the synovial fluid in arthritic joints to thicken, which can exacerbate already crippling symptoms.

The good news is, a relaxing morning ritual could be just what the doctor ordered to get you moving this winter…

Are antioxidants the key?

Research suggests that a simple combination of tea and a daily walk can help relieve arthritis pain.

According to a study published in BMC, people who drink tea have a lower risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Specifically, those who drink more than two cups a day experience significant protection compared to non-tea drinkers.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues. This results in inflammation to the joint as well as to other tissues around the body.

The magic may lie in tea’s antioxidant properties. See, when you steep tea leaves in hot water, you release the powerful compounds, including polyphenols—which help fight inflammation.

Gentle movement is crucial

In addition to tea, a daily walk can also help relieve arthritic symptoms.

And I’m not surprised—after all, getting regular, gentle exercise is key for keeping those symptoms at bay.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the more active you are, the less severe your symptoms. In fact, gentle movement can help reduce pain and improve physical function by nearly 40 percent!

So, while it’s temping to stay bundled up by a cozy fire, if you have arthritis, it could be the biggest mistake for your joints.

Instead, why not grab a hot cup of tea instead—and head outdoors for a brisk, relaxing winter walk?

Now that’s some solid advice for easing the pain, swelling, and stiffness of arthritis—no prescription drugs required.

Sources:

“Arthritis: ‘High tea consumption had an inverse association to the risk of RA’ says study.” EXPRESS, 04/04/2022. (express.co.uk/life-style/health/1590870/Arthritis-symptoms-tea-exercise-walking-risk)

“Vital Signs: Prevalence of Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis and Arthritis-Attributable Activity Limitation — United States, 2013–2015.” CDC, accessed 12/12/2024. (cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6609e1.htm)