There is a great deal of debate in the medical world about the
effects of overall diet on arthritis and using diet toward alleviating
the condition. Doctors have known for a long time that diet affects gout,
a specific type of arthritic condition, however the jury remained out
for a long time on other common types of arthritis such as
rheumatoid and osteoarthritis.
However, overall dietary health is important and does come into play.
Being overweight can affect certain arthritic conditions, forcing some
joints to carry more of a load. This added weight stresses the joints, causing
overuse or more wear to components, and pain, especially in the knees.
So making sure arthritic sufferers eat good foods and get help from healthcare
providers to create and follow a well-balanced dietary plan is advised.
To begin, here is a look at some vitamins, minerals, nutrients/foods and
some herbal applications to consider.
VITAMINS
Vitamin B5 - When grouped and taken together,
B vitamins work at their
peak. They, and B5 specifically, are good for reducing swelling.
Vitamin B3 - This vitamin reduces tissue swelling and dilates small
arteries, increasing blood flow. Note that Vitamin B3 is NOT advised
for persons with high blood pressure, gout or sliver disorders.
Vitamin B6 - Another B vitamin that reduces tissue swelling.
Vitamin B12 - This vitamin aids in multiple functions. It helps
with cell formation, digestion, myelin production, nerve protection.
Vitamin C - This vitamin acts as an anti-inflammatory, relieving
pain, and rids the body of free radicals. Click here for
more info on Vitamin C.
Vitamin E - This is a strong antioxidant that protects joints from
free radicals while increases joint flexibility. Click here for
more info on Vitamin E.
Vitamin K - This vitamin assists with mineral deposit into the bone matrix.
Click here for
more info on Vitamin K.
MINERALS
Boron - This trace mineral aids in bone health.
Click here for more info on Boron. Anecdotal reports,
combined with some epidemiological findings, suggest that supplemental boron
may alleviate the symptoms of osteoarthritis. See the site
http://www.all-natural.com/bone.html for an example of material
about the boron-arthritis connection.
Calcium - This is a much-needed mineral for bone health.
Click here for more info on Calcium.
Magnesium - Magnesium helps keep calcium in balance within the system.
Click here for more info on Magnesium.
Zinc - This mineral is necessary for bone growth, but is often lacking
in arthritic patients.
Click here for more info on Zinc.
Manganese - Manganese is also necessary for bone growth. However, do not
ingest manganese with calcium because they can work against each other.
Click here for more info on Manganese.
Copper - Copper helps to strengthen connective tissue.
Click here for more info on Copper.
Germanium - This antioxidant helps with pain relief.
Click here for more info on Germanium.
Sulfur - A lack of sulfur can result in deterioration of ligaments,
cartilage, collagen and tendons.
Click here for more info on Sulfur.
NUTRIENT COMBOS
Chondroitin Sulfate - This lubricant in joints, joint fluid, and connective
tissue, can be found in the sea cucumber.
Gelatin - Help with raw cartilage replenishing with this cheap source.
Glucosamine Sulfate - This combo is necessary for tendon, ligament, bone,
cartilage, and synovial (joint) fluid formation.
Quercetin - This helps with inflammation reduction. (one source of this
substance is the common apple)
Type II Collagen - Use this for growth and repair of joints, articular
cartilage and connective tissue.
OTHER FACTORS
There are many factors to consider with regards to arthritic diets and
nutritional healing, and each factor may not apply to each individual. For
example, certain people are allergic to specific foods, and these allergies
can indeed worsen arthritic conditions. Ingesting foods that contain sodium
nitrate or tartrazine can inflame rheumatoid arthritis, while ingesting foods
containing a substance called hydrazine can contribute to systemic lupus
erythematosus, an arthritic condition connected to lupus. There is a rare type
of arthritis called Behcet's Disease, and eating black walnuts can cause
flare-ups in people with this rare condition. So as you see, there is a
variety of arthritic conditions and along with them a variety of foods that
may trigger them. The best way to approach the situation is to examine each
arthritic condition and tailor one's approach based upon the specifics.
The term arthritis covers over 100 different diseases and conditions.
Since it would be impossible to cover all of them in a work such as this, we
will look at the most common conditions: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis,
fibromyalgia, and gout.
There is a prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers that have an
abnormally low blood zinc level. Several
independent studies have been
conducted where rheumatoid arthritis patients have been given increased doses
of zinc and showed marginal improvement, yet the tests were not extensive enough
to be conclusive. The effects of copper
on rheumatoid arthritis have been
studied for a long time, and although results vary there seems to be some
case for using copper to improve the condition, although this therapy has been
dismissed by most of the medical profession as relatively ineffective. Copper
therapy is not discouraged however when approached from food sources, and
may work on some individuals. It is suggested that if you do attempt copper
therapy, that copper-rich foods are utilized instead of copper supplements, because
copper supplements can cause side effects which include change in sense of
taste and smell, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abnormal blood clots, increased
joint pain, chills, anemia and kidney problems, and excess copper can cause
cirrhosis of the liver in patients prone to Wilson's Disease. Check with
your doctor to be sure you are not prone to storing excess copper in your body.
There is an extensive choice of foods you can enjoy in order to increase your
copper intake: lamb; pork; pheasant quail; duck; goose; squid; salmon; organ
meats including liver, heart, kidney, brain; shellfish including oysters,
scallops, shrimp, lobster, clams, and crab; meat gelatin; soy protein meat
substitutes; tofu; nuts and seeds; chocolate milk; soy milk; cocoa are
just a few of the foods that are rich in copper.
As for foods to avoid when suffering with rheumatoid arthritis, many
nutritionists and naturopaths suggest avoiding dairy products all together, as
they seem to exacerbate rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups. Because of the risk
in overdosing, one should be discouraged from taking doses of vitamins that
are higher than recommended without a physician's direction. Some vitamins
and minerals can actually worsen certain conditions, and the concentration that
can be attained through vitamins can be dangerous. It is much better to approach
any desired increase in vitamin or mineral intake through food therapy.
There has been some success with the food supplements glucosamine and
chondroitin in relieving symptoms of pain and stiffness for some persons
with osteoarthritis. These supplements can be found in pharmacies and health
food stores, however the purity of the products or the dose of the active
ingredients cannot be specified because the FDA does not monitor these
supplements. The National Institutes of Health is studying glucosamine and
chondroitin, so more should be known about the effectiveness of these products
for osteoarthritis in the near future. Patients with osteoarthritis taking
blood-thinners should be careful taking chondroitin as it can increase the
blood-thinning and cause excessive bleeding. Fish oil supplements have been
shown to have some anti-inflammation properties and increasing the dietary fish
intake and/or fish oil capsules (omega 3 capsules) can sometimes reduce
inflammation of arthritis. With osteoarthritis there is also the concern with
deterioration of cartilage; therefore those with osteoarthritis should avoid
large doses of Vitamin-A, since
there is some evidence that it contributes to
cartilage deterioration.
In the case of fibromyalgia, although clinical proof is once again sparse,
there is a great deal of personal experiences of improvement of this
condition when certain dietary practices are followed. Eliminating wheat, dairy,
citrus, sugar,
Aspertame, alcohol, caffeine,
and tobacco seem to be universal
in those that have had success with treating the illness through dietary means.
According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, author of "The Total Health Program," nine of
ten sufferers of fibromyalgia are female, and 76% of those who followed suggested
dietary rules experienced a significant reduction in pain. The thing to keep in
mind with fibromyalgia is that, unlike the other common arthritis ailments, it is
more of a syndrome than a disease, and much of it can be reversed. Making
corrections to diet as well as reducing stress and getting plenty of rest can
lead to a full recovery.
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