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Arthritis affects more than 40 million
Americans and is referred to as the most common chronic disease
in people over 40.
Doctors believe there are over 100
different forms of arthritis, all sharing one main characteristic:
they all cause joint inflammation.
What can you do to relieve the symptoms
of arthritis? A lot.
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.
What is known however, is that overall
dietary health is important and does come into play. Weight and
nutrition are two factors that play a role in arthritic pain.
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.
If you suffer from arthritis make
sure you eat good foods and get help from healthcare providers
to create and follow a well-balanced dietary plan.
To begin with, here are some vitamins,
minerals, foods, supplements and herbal applications to consider.
Vitamins that have shown to reduce
tissue swelling or provide relief include Vitamins B5, B6, B12,
the antioxidant vitamins C and E, and vitamin K, which improves
bone health.
Several independent studies have
found that rheumatoid arthritis patients given increased doses
of zinc showed marginal improvement.
Other minerals to consider include
Boron, Calcium, Magnesium, Manganese (not to be taken with calcium),
Copper, Germanium and Sulfur.
The National Institutes of Health
is studying the food supplements, glucosamine and chondroitin,
for use in relieving symptoms of pain and stiffness for some
persons with osteoarthritis.
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 anti-inflammatory properties. Increasing dietary fish
intake or fish oil capsules (omega 3 capsules) can relieve inflammatory
conditions like arthritis.
For more information, see http://www.omega3fats.com
Glutathione is an antioxidant with
anti-inflammatory properties and can be safely boosted by consuming
its precursors available in the supplements, N-Acetyl-Cysteine
(NAC) or undenatured whey protein.
For more information, see http://www.1whey2health.com
Quercetin is also known to help
reduce inflammation, while Type II Collagen plays a role in growth
and repair of joints, articular cartilage and connective tissue.
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 always better
to increase in vitamin or mineral intake through your normal
diet.
Foods To Avoid
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. The best way to approach the situation
is to examine each arthritic condition and tailor one's approach
based upon the specifics.
Ingesting foods that contain sodium
nitrate or tartrazine can inflame rheumatoid arthritis, while
ingesting foods containing a substance called hydrazine can contribute
to an arthritic condition connected to lupus.
Black walnuts can cause flare-ups
in people a rare type of arthritis called Behcet's Disease.
With osteoarthritis, deterioration
of cartilage is a concern. Since there is some evidence that
Vitamin A, contributes to cartilage deterioration, those with
osteoarthritis should avoid large doses of it.
Although clinical proof is not available,
anecdotal evidence suggests that in the case of fibromyalgia,
eliminating wheat, dairy, citrus, sugar, aspartame (Nutrasweet),
alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco can provide relief.
Many nutritionists and naturopaths
suggest that those suffering with rheumatoid arthritis avoid
dairy products all together, as they seem to exacerbate rheumatoid
arthritis flare-ups.
The report "I Cured My Arthritis
You Can Too" available at the link below suggests that white
flour aggravates arthritis symptoms. http://www.health-naturale.com/arthritiscure.htm
DISCLAIMER:
This article is NOT intended for medical advice. Always
check with your doctor for diagnosis and treatment of any illness.
Priya Shah is the Editor of The Glutathione Report, a newsletter
featuring regular updates on the health benefits of glutathione
http://www.glutathione-report.com For a comprehensive report
on arthritis, read the Arthritis Relief Report online at http://www.health-naturale.com/arthritis
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