Encouraging Health

You’ve heard of a green thumb. But how about green knees?

Could be a good way to describe the youthful knees of a green-tea devotee. Potent compounds in green tea — EGCG and ECG — may help battle cartilage and collagen destruction in arthritic joints.

Catechin Delight
The EGCG and ECG found in green tea are powerful flavonoids known as catechins. Seems these particular catechins may help fight inflammation, as well as some of the underlying mechanisms at work in both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

A Better Plan?
Of course, drinking a few cupfuls of green tea each day is no guarantee against knee pain, so here are a few of the more tried-and-true methods for keeping knees healthy:
* Lose weight if you are overweight. Excess pounds raise your risk of knee arthritis. Check your BMI here.
* Play it safe. A knee injury will triple your risk of knee osteoarthritis. When you exercise, take proper precautions to avoid getting hurt.
* Strengthen your quads. Weak quadriceps muscles are associated with knee arthritis, so work them out regularly, along with your hamstrings and all of your other leg muscles.

Knee Exercise: Leg Lifts

Warm up your knee joints by walking around awhile before you start this knee exercise.
Choose your location.

Beginners can do this knee exercise by sitting on the floor, or on a firm bed.

Make sure your back is well supported. Lean back on your hands, or against the headboard.

Place a pillow under your right knee.

Lift your right foot a few inches, and feel the back of your knee push into the pillow.

Hold for 10 seconds, then rest your leg.

Repeat this exercise until you feel a slight burning in the front of your leg. This knee exercise strengthens your quad muscle, which will help to support your kneecap and knee joint.

Repeat with the left leg, first placing the pillow under your left leg.

As with your right leg, hold for 10 seconds, then relax. Continue this knee exercise until you feel a slight burning in your quad muscle.
Do this knee exercise at least twice a day, increasing the number of leg raises as your quad muscles get stronger.

Note: When you can easily do this knee exercise for 3 minutes or more, you can add more resistance by sitting in a chair, straightening your leg and lifting it. Keep your leg straight while lifting, but do not lock the knee.

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knees, knee exercise, EGCG, ECG, arthritic joints

knees, knee exercise, EGCG, ECG, arthritic joints