Lube Up to Keep Repping

Older athletes often complain of joint pain after intense workouts, and some of those aches could be from mild-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis. In a recent study out of Scotland, researchers analyzed 58 rheumatoid arthritis sufferers and found that cod liver oil reduced the need for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Patients getting the oil—10 grams a day—were able to reduce their NSAID dosing by almost 40 percent. Taking 10 grams of fish oil caps, spread throughout the day, should have the same effect due to their high omega-3 content; however, fish oil doesn’t contain vitamin D, as cod liver oil does. If you use fish oil, also take vitamin D, which could be a factor in the pain relief demonstrated in the study.