When joint inflammation hits, what’s the best plant medicine to bring it down? Chlorophyll, the green pigment in leaves and algaes. After needing a hip replacements (or two), we’re left wondering what caused the osteoarthritis in our joints. We can cause this in our bodies through demineralization from eating disorders, overuse and misalignment.

Many don’t see the effects that binge eating, bulimia and anorexia have on the teeth and hipbones. These eating disorders demineralize the body and create micronutrient deficiency. That’s where the plants come in. It’s a micronutrient issue.

Super dense nutrition in the form of superfoods correct the demineralization and lack of micronutrients found in joint problems. Superfoods are super high in vitamins, minerals and electrolytes. Chlorophyll, the green pigment found in leaves and algae, is a superfood that nourishes, creates and purifies blood, detoxifies the liver and neutralizes toxins.

Ann Wigmore popularized wheat grass in the 1970s. In the 1980s, we called them adaptogens—all the wonderful Chinese and Ayurvedic herbs that were super high in nutrient content. The ‘90s brought the blue-green algae from Klamath Lake, however the Koreans had been using chlorella for centuries. The algae chlorella removes toxic metals. Spirulina is another popular chlorophyll-based super food and similar to the algaes grown by the Aztecs to feed their citizens.

Some favorites over the years are detox baths with seaweed, wheat and barley grass, moringa, cilantro, dandelion and raw juicing of greens like kale, spinach and celery.

The key activity with joints is to bring down the inflammation. The anti-inflammatory chlorophyll-based superfoods do this. They create the building blocks of fine bones.

Sheila Shea is the director of the Intestinal Health Institute, whose goal is the healing of the gastrointestinal system using natural methods. Through colon hydrotherapy, real food nutrition and detoxification, the Intestinal Health Institute works to bring the gut back online. Shea has practiced colon hydrotherapy for 41 years and is a subject matter expert on sugar and metabolic syndrome. Connect at 520-325-9686, [email protected] or IntestinalHealthInstitute.com.