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Arthritis has forced Japan’s speed-eating champ to retire.

Takeru Kobayashi, 29, from Nagoya, Japan, who recently won second place in a hot dog-eating competition in New York City, said he intends to give his jaw a rest after a painful bout with arthritis prevented him from winning first place in the said contest for the seventh time.

Dubbed as “The Tsunami” by fans, Kobayashi lost by three hot dogs to Joey Chestnut who gobbled up 66 hot dogs in 12 minutes at Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island, Brooklyn. Kobayashi managed to eat 63.

Still, the slim but muscled Japanese who weighs only 75 kilograms broke his record last year of 53.75 frankfurters in 12 minutes. He currently holds the No. 2 slot in competitive eating as ranked by the International Federation of Competitive Eating.

Kobayashi had hoped to retain his title this year but an early attack of arthritis made that impossible. Days before the competition, he said he was in so much pain that he could barely open his mouth.

“Already I can’t open my jaws more than just a little bit. There’s no pain only if I open my mouth about enough for one finger. More than that is painful and I can’t open it,” Kobayashi said earlier.

“To tell you the truth, I’m desperate about healing completely before the July 4 contest,” he added.

Kobayashi said his ailment was a “vocational disease” that stemmed from his hard training. He consulted a doctor for treatment but the disease apparently cost him his seventh win in the annual competition.

Kobayashi told fans that he lost only once in a hot dog eating contest to a hungry bear! As a speed eater, he has taken on quite a number of diverse challenges.

“In other contests, he shovels down everything from cow brains to rice balls, holding records in hamburgers (97), bratwurst (58) and lobster rolls (41), all inhaled in 10 minutes or less,” according to Iris Kuo in The Wall Street Journal.

“Sometimes, I grow really weary of eating,” he said.

Kobayashi is not alone in his predicament. Over 46 million American adults have arthritis and many are suffering because of this. Experts say that figure could rise to 67 million by 2030.

Due to the pain, inflammation, and stiffness caused by arthritis, many people are unable to perform simple tasks like walking, bending, climbing stairs or attending social activities like church and family gatherings. The crippling effects of arthritis have reduced the quality of life of countless sufferers.

For those who are tired of the pain, swelling, and inflammation of arthritis, a new product called Flexcerin my help. Flexcerin lubricates and restores joint function to improve mobility and flexibility. This will help you do the things you want to do. For details, visit http://www.flexcerin.com.

About the author: Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine http://www.thearticleinsiders.com.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

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