Arthritis: Causes and Treatment

Arthritis is defined as joint inflammation and is also used to describe dozens of other rheumatic diseases. The term 'Arthritis' covers osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, gout and fibromyalgia, to name but a few. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis and usually affects older people as it is a degenerative condition. However it can affect younger people, particularly if a joint has been injured or is deformed. There is no known cure for osteoarthritis but general wear and tear on the joints is a factor in developing the disease.

Osteoarthritis affects cartilage which covers bone between the joints and acts as a shock absorber. When the cartilage wears out bones rub against each other which can cause excruciating pain. Osteoarthritis attacks people in different ways. It generally develops slowly over the years but in some people it can develop extremely quickly. Sometimes the disease can be quite mild whereas in other cases it can produce a lot of pain and disability. Osteoarthritis frequently occurs in the hands, spine (including the neck and lower back) plus the knees and hips. Symptoms involve pain and stiffness in the joint. In the very early stages of the disease people may only suffer pain after exercise which quickly disappears after rest. As time goes on the pain can become constant and prove particularly debilitating. In its worst form, mobility may be lost. Fortunately, the majority of people are not crippled by osteoarthritis. When treated properly, millions of people live full and active lives for years.

Correct management of the disease is vital. Obviously, in order to treat the disease, doctors need to ascertain that symptoms are, in fact, those of osteoarthritis and not some other illness. In order to diagnose osteoarthritis, as there is no simple test which indicates the presence of the disease, doctors usually carry out several tests. These include a clinical history of the patient, a physical examination, X-rays and often MRI or Magnetic Resonance Imaging. If the test results prove positive, the doctor will then embark on a programme of pain management. This will vary from person to person, depending on the severity of the pain.

There are many treatments which help to control and lower the pain, plus helping to restore mobility. Good nutrition and rest are an essential part of the treatment in addition to exercise and weight loss. If people are carrying too much weight, then weight loss is crucial as osteoarthritis will aggravate weight-bearing joints such as the hips, knees and spine. Before taking up any form of exercise it is advisable for the patient to discuss the subject with a doctor. The wrong sort of exercise could result in more damage to the joints. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen are usually prescribed for pain relief. The use of heat cushions or ice packs will also often help to reduce pain. Never take alternative or herbal medicines for arthritis without a doctor's approval. When treating knee joints, a series of injections may be prescribed to reduce pain, under the careful supervision of a doctor. This treatment may not be suitable for all people suffering from painful knee joints. The decision will be made by a doctor. Finally, surgery may be an option in some cases, particularly those concerning the hip as well as other joints. Joint replacement techniques have improved tremendously over the years and, for people suffering constant pain, surgery can provide them with a new lease of life.

Rheumatoid Arthritis - A Disabling and Horrible Disease

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a vicious disease that affects the joints of the body. It has been known to cause pain, swelling, and stiffness. If a single knee or hand has rumatoid arthritis, the other knee or hand will most likely develop it. Rheumatoid arthritis often occurs in more than a single joint and is capable of affecting any joint in the body. People diagnosed with rumatoid arthritis often get feelings of sickness and fatigue and are more prone to get fevers.
The length of rumatoid arthritis varies from a month to two years. After it has run its course, it leaves without leaving any damage . Many people experience times when the symptoms worsen (flares), and times when they improve (remissions). Others have a severe form of rumatoid arthritis that can last anywhere from a few months to a lifetime. This form of the disease can cause serious permanent joint damage.

Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in the joints. Some very common side effects include:

Joints are swollen, tender and warm

Joint inflammation often occurring in the wrist and finger joints closest to the hand

Joint inflammation affecting other areas such as neck, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, ankles and feet.

Fatigue, fevers and an overal feeling of unwellness

Pain and stiffness in joints lasting for more than 30 minutes in the morning or after a long sleep

These symptoms can last for years!

What Causes Rheumatoid Arthritis?

The exact cause of rumatoid arthritis is unknown, but it is known that with this arthritis, a person's immune system attacks his or her own body tissues. Researchers are learning many things about why and how this happens. Things that may cause rumatoid arthritis are:

Genes (past on from parents): Researchers are discovering that certain genes may play in the role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis.

Environment: Some scientists believe that something must happen to trigger the disease process in people who have the genes that make them more likely to develop rumatoid arthritis.

Hormones: Other scientists and researchers believe a variety of other hormonal factors may also contribute to rumatoid arthritis.
Rheumtoid Arthritis Treatment:
There are many ways that doctors can treat rumatoid arthritis. The goals of treatment are to:

Reduce pain and swelling

Stop or slow down joint damage

Help people feel better and stay active

Treatment for rumatoid arthritis may involve:

Changes in lifestyle: Make sure to keep a good balance between exercise and rest, take care of your joints, eliminate stress from you life, and eating a health, well-balanced diet.

Medicine: A majority of people suffering from rumatoid arthritis take medicine for pain relief, to reduce swelling and to prevent the disease from getting worse.

Surgery: Many types of surgeries are available to those with severe joint damage.

Regular Doctor Visits: Visit your doctor on a regular basis so he/she can see if it getting worse, determine if the medicine is helping, and change the treatment if needed.

Uric Acid Diet - How to Eat a Low Uric Acid Diet and Prevent Gout

A diet low in purines is a diet that will produce low levels of uric acid. This type of diet is commonly referred to as the uric acid diet. Many gout sufferers, myself included, know that an excess build up of uric acid in the body is what causes a gout attack. Therefore, eating a low uric acid diet is the best way to prevent gout.

There is no cure for gout. In other words, there is no magic pill you can take that will eliminate gout attacks. There is, however, much you can do to successfully limit or completely prevent gout attacks from occurring. I haven't had an attack of gout for almost four years.

Exercise is important. You don't have to be a triathlete but 20-30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise, two or three times a week will go a long way in helping your body to rid itself of the uric acid that is in there. Eating a diet that is low in purines is even more important.

What to eat: Foods that are low in sugar and salt are great. Instead of using salt to season your food, use herbs like basil, marjoram and oregano. These herbs are great gout preventors. Eat brown rice, whole wheat breads, and lots of fruits and vegetables. Be careful with the fruits and vegetables, though. Some of them actually contain high levels of purines. Cherries are probably the best food out there for preventing an attack. Not only is it low in purines but they are very high in fiber which helps to flush everything out and they are a natural anti inflammatory.

What Not to eat: Shellfish, spinach, salt and sugar, alcohol, caffeine, diet soda, red meats. I know it sounds like you can't eat anything good but the truth is you can eat all of these things and still prevent an attack if you eat them in certain combinations.

Adaptive Eating Utensils For Rheumatoid Arthritis

People with advanced rheumatoid arthritis often experience deformities in their upper body joints that make it difficult for them to complete basic daily living tasks. Eating is one of these basic tasks that can be impaired by upper body arthritic deformities. If you are one of these people, meals may already be a frustrating time of day for you. Here are some helpful tips to increase your independence during mealtimes.

First, move your arms and hands and assess what motions you are able to use. Maybe you can't curl your fingers around a spoon handle anymore, but maybe you can pinch it between your thumb and the side of your hand. Can you move your shoulder? Can you bend your elbow? Can you turn your forearm to make your palm face the ceiling? Move each joint and look at what kind of movement you have or don't have. This will help you determine how you should adapt your place setting during meals.

Next, eat a meal and pay attention to what the main problems are as you eat. Decide if the problem that is really bothering you is a simple one to fix. Maybe the whole issue is that your food slides off your plate and you are unable to stop it. Maybe you can't cut meat. Maybe you can get the food on your spoon or fork, but you can't turn your wrist enough to bring it to your mouth without spilling it. These are just samples of problems that might occur. You might have these or others, or combinations. Try to determine what is causing the problem and how easy that problem is to fix. Having another person help you with this might be a good idea, as another set of eyes may see an issue with a plate, glass, or utensil that you don't notice.

After assessing the situation, you are ready to decide what adaptations you might need during meals. Some adaptations are simple and some are specialized. Here are some examples of simple problems and adaptations to correct them:

Problem: Your plate slides on the table and you can't stop it.
Solution: Place a wet washcloth under it or purchase nonskid shelf liner at your local discount store and place a piece of this under your plate.

Problem: You are unable to tip your glass or cup to drink.
Solution: Use a short straw to drink liquids.

Problem: You are able to hang on to your silverware, but it just does not feel secure or you drop it sometimes.
Solution: Purchase plastic handled picnic ware or similar silverware that has slightly larger handles. These utensils are easier to hang on to than traditional silverware, but are not specialized and are readily available at your local discount store.

If your problems at mealtime are more complicated than this, you may need adapted utensils or dishes. Thanks to the internet, these are also readily available. There are many different types of adapted utensils and the selection can be confusing at times. Here are some sample problems and solutions that involve adapted utensils and dishes:

Problem: You are unable to close your fingers around small handled utensils.
Solution: Purchase large handled adapted utensils or purchase foam tubing to place around the handles of the utensils you have. Foam tubing is less expensive, but wears out faster. Large handled utensils cost more, but are more sanitary and last longer.

Problem: You can't cut your meat.
Solution: Purchase a rocker knife. This type of knife is specially designed to allow you to use a rocking motion to cut, rather than the traditional sawing motion.

Problem: Your food slides off your plate and you cannot stop it.
Solution: Purchase a plate guard or a plate with a lip on it. Both of these items are designed to stop food from sliding or rolling off of a plate.

Problem: You have severe ulnar drift and you cannot hang on to anything.
Solution: Purchase a universal cuff. This is a simple elastic band that slides over the palm of your hand. The band has a pocket in it that will hold the handle of a spoon or fork, allowing you to hold the utensil yourself.

There are many more examples of adaptive utensils available. Adaptive utensils and dishes have been designed to overcome just about any obstacle to eating. Many of these devices are available on the internet at Arthritis Supplies, so please visit their website at http://www.arthritissupplies.com to browse their selection of adaptive utensils and dishes.

If determining what adaptations you need for eating is too overwhelming for you, an occupational therapist can help you decide. You do not need to see an OT for months to do this. Two or three sessions to assess your eating and determine which adaptive devices will work for you should suffice. Check your insurance plan to see if occupational therapy is covered and where an occupational therapist is located in your area. For more information on occupational therapy, please visit The American Occupational Therapy Association at http://www.aota.org/Consumers.aspx

Eating does not have to be a frustrating, humiliating experience. Adapting your utensils and dishes can help you regain your independence and your dignity during meals, so take a look at your mealtime set up and take control of it today.

Stop the Pain and Progression of Rheumatoid Arthritis X

THE FLAXSEED OIL AND COTTAGE CHEESE DIET

This is the tenth articles in this series. Our friend also introduced us to another important part of his treatment which he continues to this day. The book describing this treatment is written by a German doctor. The book is a little difficult to read because it is from a lecture given at a medical convention and was translated from German. If you Google "Budwig flaxseed and cottage cheese diet," there are tons of information. I spent hours researching this topic. At first I was afraid it was voodoo medicine. She claimed she was able to cure cancer patients that were sent home as terminally ill. This just seemed too good to be true and you know what they say about that.

But I encourage you to do just some of the research I did and see the many testimonials. The doctor was nominated for the Nobel Prize for medicine several different times. She was one of the first to warn us about the dangers of margarine. She was taken to court several times because of her claims that were ahead of her time, but she won every case. This lady was ahead of her time. It was fascinating reading all of her accomplishments. But before I get carried away, let me concentrate on what we do from what we learned from this research.

I also take this mixture after seeing all of the health benefits. My wife mixes equal amounts of organic cottage cheese and liquid flaxseed oil, usually 3 tablespoons of each. It is important to use organic cottage cheese and it is quite a bit more expensive. But regular cottage cheese has a corn by-product, yes even in cottage cheese. We use an organic flax oil which is found in the refrigerated section of vitamin stores. She also uses fresh ginger root, which helps reduce inflammation and local unfiltered honey. We use strawberries or blueberries for taste also, if they are safe for you. All of this must be blended completely to the consistency of pudding. You don't want to see the oil separated from the cottage cheese.

I hate cottage cheese but love this pudding mixture, so please give this a try even if the thought of cottage cheese makes you sick. I promise that was the way I felt. But when this is blended correctly (get rid of those curds), you will never know you are eating cottage cheese, especially when you use honey and your favorite fruit. Our friend credits this twice daily intake of this pudding mixture to his success. My wife notices when she travels to England and can't get this that she doesn't feel as well.

Information on Rheumatoid Arthritis - Do Natural Treatments Work?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease. For some reason, the body mistakenly attacks the fluid and tissue surrounding the joints, causing chronic pain and inflammation along with fatigue and numerous other symptoms. Most patients are prescribed medication, but are do natural treatments for RA work as well?

Many scientists have researched information on rheumatoid arthritis and have come to the conclusion that there are many natural cures and remedies that can be effective. One of the most important contributors to RA is a poor diet. Eating saturated fats like bacon, red meat, butter, and cream stimulate inflammatory chemicals in the body. Many report that switching to a vegetarian or vegan diet greatly improves their RA symptoms, while others don't seem to notice a difference.

Sugar also has a negative effect, so it is important to avoid sodas, pastries, and sugary cereal. Overall, it's important to eat lots of fruits and vegetables and keep your dairy, wheat, meat, and sugar intake at a minimum.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been recognized as being a highly effective treatment for rhuematoid arthritis, so eating cold water fish and taking supplements on a regular basis is recommended. Finally, probiotics are an important part of a healthy diet. A balanced digestive system will help alleviate some of the symptoms of RA.

Information on rheumatoid arthritis will tell you that there are numerous herbs that have been known to work as well as prescription medications. Boswellia is probably the most popular of these. Others include Devil's Claw, White Willow, Ginger, Burdock, and Yucca.

In addition, many sufferers of RA find that using acupuncture and exercising on a regular basis is highly beneficial. Yoga in particular is singled out as a fantastic treatment for RA. Information on rheumatoid arthritis abounds all over the internet, but don't think you have to rely purely on traditional Western treatments.

The Disadvantages of a Vegetarian Diet

The disadvantages of a vegetarian diet are many, but I will limit this article to covering the major ones that I have been forced to deal with in the forty-three years since I first made this momentous change in my diet.

Here are nine of them:

You will appear to have lost a lot of weight -- and your plump friends will be concerned.

You will need to develop a pat answer for friends who warn you of disastrous consequences they read about vegetarianism the last time they were in their doctor's waiting room.

You will become a stranger to your doctor, unless you choose one who shares your passion for strenuous outdoor activities, such as hiking, skiing, or bicycling.

As the years slide by, you will watch your friends deal with weight gain, high blood pressure, various cancers, diabetes, heart problems, and more, while you industriously go about your life undisturbed by health issues. You will have little to talk about when your friends get together to chew the fat -- literally! -- about their latest blood work and CAT scans.

The most heartbreaking disadvantage of a vegetarian diet is that you will need to keep making new friends to replace your contemporaries who have passed on.

You may find it shocking to go to high school reunions and see what has become of the charming athletic young hell-raisers you grew up with.

People will be stunned when they happen to ask your age. They won't believe you.

Those on a vegetarian diet hurt the economy by not going to the doctor as often. They also don't contribute to the mega-profits of the Pharmaceutical Industry. They also reduce employment for the butchers, Cattlemen's Association, and the dairy industry.

Of course, the disadvantages of a vegetarian diet are minor compared to the disadvantages of eating the Standard American Diet. Lacto-ovo Vegetarians suffer 34% fewer fatal heart attacks. They are 40% less likely to die from cancer. They are the group of Americans who live the longest, as long as they don't smoke.

Among the Seventh-Day Adventists, the most-studied and longest-lived group in America, the vegetarians had one-half the high blood pressure and two-thirds the rheumatoid arthritis compared to the Adventists who ate meat.

One way or the other, if you decide to undertake a vegetarian diet, beware of these facts. Certainly, you may miss the flavor of pepperoni on your pizza, but you won't miss the indigestion that used to come with eating such greasy delicacies.

On the other hand, you may enjoy the new feeling of closeness to all the animal kingdom, which your carnivorous friends regards -- except for their pets -- as merely sources of food. You will no longer be a cruel predator in the Peaceable Kingdom.

7 Major Differences Between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Arthritis is a very painful condition that affects millions and millions of Americans every year. There are many different types of arthritis including psoriatic arthritis, gout, septic arthritis, scleroderma, osteoarthritis, gonococcal arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Arthritis of all types is a condition that affects the body's joints. A joint is defined as the location where two bones in the body come together. People suffering from arthritis experience joint inflammation that may occur in one bodily joint or many joints.

Two types of arthritis that are commonly discussed include osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. You may be wondering what some of the major differences are between these two conditions. Here are seven major differences between osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

1. Osteoarthritis is more common than Rheumatoid Arthritis. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), OA affects around 27 million American adults 25 years and older. The Arthritis Foundation reports that RA affects about 1.5 million people in the United States.


2. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition caused by the wearing of bodily joints over time. RA is an autoimmune disease that occurs when a person's immune system attacks the body's joints.


3. Typically people experience OA when they get older. RA can strike a person at any point in life. When it occurs in children, it is sometimes called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.


4. RA can occur quite quickly whereas OA tends to have a more gradual progression over the course of many years.


5. RA tends to strike in a more symmetrical manner where a person might experience inflammation and pain in both hands or both feet. In contrast, OA can easily affect only one joint in the body.


6. Both types of arthritis cause a sense of stiffness in the morning. While the morning stiffness may lessen as the day goes on for those with OA, people with RA are more likely to experience this stiffness for a longer period of time during and throughout the day.


7. Rheumatoid arthritis is often accompanied with other symptoms which include overall tiredness and malaise, whereas the discomfort associated with osteoarthritis is specific to the joint that is affected.

Arthritis of any type is painful and challenging. Treatment most typically aims to help reduce discomfort, aid physical functioning and if possible, to prevent additional damage to bodily joints.

A thorough physical examination by a trained health care professional like a board certified orthopedic physician is advisable if you think you might be suffering from any type of arthritis including osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

Eat Your Arthritis Pain Away - How Low Glycemic Meals Can Help

In ancient times, food was the original medicine. There are hieroglyphs in the tombs of Egypt showing doctors healing patients with herbs, spices, honey and other food. Back then, their food wasn't tainted with pesticides and chemicals like ours is today.

Food affects EVERYTHING in your body and therefore must impact your arthritis symptoms. Think about it. Was there a time when you were trying to get healthy or lose weight and you were following a strict eating plan? Lots of fruits and vegetables, lean meats, not a lot of fat? And didn't you feel really good during that time? Your energy probably soared, your GI tract worked well, and you probably noticed things like your skin and hair looked a little better. Low glycemic eating is the ultimate meal plan to naturally decrease inflammation and increase your overall health. Let's look at it as the ultimate arthritis diet.

Low Glycemic just means that these foods won't cause blood sugar levels to soar after you eat (which, if you also have type II diabetes will make your doctor very happy). The reason I recommend low glycemic eating as the ideal arthritis diet is because all food eventually gets turned into blood sugar. High blood sugar levels cause inflammation. Since arthritis is inflammation of the joints, we want to help your body naturally decrease inflammation so you get relief.

When you eat bread (or pasta, or rice, or a donut, or a potato) your blood sugar spikes quickly. Your body releases insulin. Insulin's job is to take that sugar OUT of your blood and get it INTO your cells.

Here's where it gets a little technical... have you ever seen a car rust because it's exposed to sea air or snow? That's called "oxidation." It's a natural process caused by oxygen reacting with a metal. When we eat, breathe, sleep, whatever - just by living - we constantly have "oxidation" going on inside us. It's almost like rusting on the inside. That blood sugar spike from that potato and the insulin release after speeds up that oxidation and creates "free radicals". (You've heard of those before, right?) Those free radicals cause chaos in your body; they damage cells, they harden arteries, and they cause inflammation (and arthritis symptoms are caused by inflammation).

But if you can slow down the blood sugar spike and the insulin release, you can slow down the oxidation (rusting on the inside) and the inflammation.

The glycemic index is a system that rates how fast a food causes blood sugar levels (and insulin secretion) to rise. The higher the number, the faster it causes blood sugar spikes. A glycemic index (GI) of 70 or more is considered high, 56-69 is considered medium, and 55 or below is low.
Some foods like carrots have a high GI rating because they have natural sugars. In cases like this, where the food is inherently healthy (natural, raw, unprocessed, etc.) the trick is to eat smaller portion sizes to keep them from affecting blood sugar. (In the case of carrots, have one big carrot or 10 baby carrots at a sitting - not 4 big carrots or 40 baby carrots!)

I recommend you eat only low glycemic foods for the first month of your arthritis diet. This is your life and if arthritis is keeping you from being active and doing the things you love, then one month's time is a small price to pay. At the end of that month, you'll have gotten rid of many of your cravings anyway, and you might find the arthritis diet is easy and you like it.

I have provided lists of low, medium, and high glycemic foods on my website, and there are lists available all over the internet. Pasta, 100% whole wheat bread and brown rice are included in the low glycemic list. THEY ARE ONLY LOW GLYCEMIC IN THE PORTIONS INDICATED. You don't have to worry about counting calories with this eating plan, but you DO need to watch your portions when it comes to the grains.

Here are some definitions for you:

Carbohydrates - anything that originally grew in the ground. All your grains, fruits, beans, and vegetables fall in this category. So do most nuts, but because of their fat content, nuts are considered fats (but HEALTHY fats!)

Proteins - mostly animal products. Beef, chicken, pork, turkey, duck, shellfish, fish, eggs, and dairy products (which also count as carbohydrates, but dairy products tend to have low glycemic ratings).

Fats - Butter, oils, nuts, avocados (also a carbohydrate but it counts as a fat). Fats break down to saturated (are solid at room temperature) and unsaturated (liquid at room temperature). The unsaturated fats are ideal in an arthritis diet. I use Extra Virgin Olive Oil almost exclusively in my cooking, and the natural fats found in certain fish are excellent for joint health. Try to eat fish two times a week as it's also an excellent protein source.

Here's how a day eating low glycemic might look:

Breakfast:

2 eggs scrambled with 1 teaspoon of olive oil and eaten with salsa and 1/4 avocado
1 cup of strawberries or melon
5 baby carrots

Lunch:

Chicken salad on 1 slice whole grain bread with tomato and lettuce
Salad with balsamic and olive oil vinagrette
An apple with a tablespoon of peanut butter

Snack:

1/2 cup cottage cheese with a peach or plum
or
1 piece of string cheese with an orange and a handful of almonds or cashews

Dinner:

Lean steak or chicken marinated and grilled
Roasted asparagus
Black beans sauteed in olive oil, garlic and cumin

You can mix and match any food with a glycemic index of 55 or less. The options are truly limitless.

5 Tips to Reduce Arthritis Swelling and Pain

Arthritis swelling is just one of the symptoms of this chronic disease. It's also one of the ways to find out if you really have arthritis or a related disease. Pain and swelling also result in less range of motion for the limbs affected.

There are several ways to combat this condition:

1. Exercise:
Although exercise can often mean more pain at the beginning, it's really important because only through exercise can you increase the range of motion of the limbs and joints affected. Otherwise, you will find that you are becoming less and less flexible. If you're concerned that regular exercise is too painful, then try yoga for starters. This gentle exercise routine is excellent in improving flexibility. Afterwards you can move onto include regular exercise.

2. Warmth (possibly cold too):
Arthritis is a disease that affects people differently. Usually applying a warm pack to the affected area brings relief. However, if this doesn't work, try an ice pack and see what effect that has. If you have any problems with your circulation, then an ice pack isn't for you. It's trial and error but either warm or cold, this could definitely help reduce swelling and pain.

3. Ultrasound:
This produces gentle waves that penetrate deeply into your sore tissues and gives them warmth. It has been known to reduce pain and swelling as it increases blood flow, thus giving your body more oxygen.

4. Diet:
If you are overweight, make an effort to reduce those extra pounds. The more you weigh, the more pressure is put on your joints, so it makes perfect sense to relieve that pressure by reducing your weight. Also have a good look at the foods you eat in relation to your arthritis swelling and pain. Often zucchini, tomatoes, eggplant and even coffee produce more symptoms and pain. Just be more aware of what you eat and drink and how it affects your body and then reduce or eliminate the intake of that particular food or drink item.

5. Get Another Treatment Option - Drugs Or Natural Remedies
Visiting your doctor is always a good idea. He may prescribe a different medication for you to try. You can also visit your health food store and ask them if they can advise any supplements you can take to help with your pain and inflammation.

As you can see, you don't just have to put up with arthritis swelling and pain, there are often simple ways you can help yourself.

Arthritis - Types Of Arthritis

Arthritis is, sadly, a very common and very painful condition. It can make working and even basic living extremely difficult. In order for treatment to prove effective in combating the symptoms and to allow the sufferer to live as normal a life as possible, it is essential to correctly diagnose which type of arthritis the patient has. The two most common types of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, are very different in character and require completely different methods of diagnosis, as well as very different methods of treatment.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition that affects as many as one in every hundred people. It is caused by a malfunction in the body's defence systems and nobody has yet been able to discover why this happens. The genes that are responsible for the problem, have been identified - but the exact means by which the trouble occurs remains unknown. The disease is not hereditary, no increased risk has been found if you have a sufferer in your immediate family. In rheumatoid arthritis extra blood flow causes joints to become swollen and painful and in extreme cases can even permanently damage the joint. It is essential to seek medical help to reduce inflammation, as the damage to joints is permanent and irreversible.

Osteoarthritis is a completely different condition, which affects the bones. Unlike rheumatoid arthritis, there appears to be no genetic factor involved with osteoarthritis, although there are several factors that increase the risk of the condition developing. Osteoarthritis is rare in young people, suggesting that in certain cases it is wear on the bones that causes the disease to develop. Overweight people are far more susceptible to the condition, especially with the knee joints, which suggests that excess strain put on a moving joint area will be a major factor in bringing on the condition. Stiff joints are the main symptom of osteoarthritis.

Although these two forms of arthritis account for the vast majority of sufferers, there are in fact over two hundred distinct types, These types affect all sections of the population, young and old alike. Some forms of the condition, such as ankylosing spondylitis, affect more men than women - which is in direct contrast to the two major types, where far more women are affected. Systemic lupus erythematosus, another very uncommon form of arthritis, is found in nine times the number of women than it is in men. One of the most common forms of arthritis, which is usually thought of as a completely different condition, is gout. This extremely painful problem is caused by uric acid and is at least controllable with correct treatment. Sometimes arthritis can be a purely reactive condition brought on by another kind of medical condition. In this case, the symptoms will usually disappear of their own accord, always provided that no permanent damage has occurred.

As arthritis comes in so many diverse forms, it is essential to get a correct diagnosis before attempting to treat the condition. The first port of call is usually the general practitioner, who will often be able to do some basic tests immediately. Usually, however, the patient will need to be sent to a local hospital for blood testing and X rays. In larger medical centres more advanced tests may be available and specialists in the condition may be on hand to advise. Once a correct diagnosis has been completed, there is much that modern medicine can do to relieve the pain of the condition and allow the sufferer to live a normal life, even if the arthritis cannot actually be cured permanently.

A Strategy For Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis

Managing rheumatoid arthritis is ultimately left up to the individual who suffers from the condition. While doctors and other practitioners can make recommendations concerning the management of rheumatoid arthritis pain and other aspects of the disease, treatment plans that work for some do not work for everyone.

Some courses of action are not appropriate for everyone. Surgery, for example, will only be considered if symptoms are severe or the disease has progressed to a point where joints are severely damaged. One type of surgery removes the damaged synovial membrane, but in many cases the membrane grows back, requiring additional surgeries or other courses of action.

There are several types of prescription drugs for managing rheumatoid arthritis. Each type is associated with an increase in specific health risks. The ones that are simply pain relievers (NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors) do nothing to prevent the progression of the disease and we have learned that the side effects of some (Vioxx) can be deadly.

Even the safest pain relievers can eventually damage the kidneys when used at higher dosages for extended periods of time. For occasional use, these drugs are very effective, but for long term management of rheumatoid arthritis, the health risks must be considered.

Corticosteroids may be used orally or by injection on an occasional basis to control or relieve flare-ups, but they cannot be used safely for long term management of rheumatoid arthritis pain. The detrimental side effects of corticosteroids include increased risk of infection, increased risk of diabetes and increased risk of osteoporosis.

Disease Modifying Anti-rheumatic Drugs or DMARD for short are sometimes prescribed in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. In most cases, doctors do not understand how or why these drugs work. Some of the drugs are known to have anti-inflammatory effects, while others are known to suppress immune system activity. Sometimes, these drugs cause the disease to go into remission and people may experience extended periods of time without symptoms. In other cases, they are not helpful in managing rheumatoid arthritis pain. If damage to the joints has already occurred, there may always be some level of chronic pain.

New drugs for the management of rheumatoid arthritis called "biologics", sold under the brand names Humira, Enbril, Remicade and others, work by blocking a specific component of the immune system called "tumor necrosis factor" or TNF. It is also believed that these drugs may protect the joints from further damage. Because they are relatively new, the long term safety of these drugs cannot be guaranteed. The known side effects are increased vulnerability to infection and other diseases. Serious infections have been seen in clinical trials.

For many years, we have known that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation is helpful in managing rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, but only recently have scientists begun to understand why this dietary component effectively reduces pain, swollen joints and morning stiffness. Interestingly, scientists in Australia have shown that omega-3 fatty acids block the same immune system component (TNF) that the more risky and much more expensive biologics target.

The University of Maryland Medical Center's website states:

"Most clinical studies investigating the use of omega-3 fatty acid supplements for inflammatory joint conditions have focused almost entirely on rheumatoid arthritis. Several articles reviewing the research in this area conclude that omega-3 fatty acid supplements reduce tenderness in joints, decrease morning stiffness, and allow for a reduction in the amount of medication needed for people with rheumatoid arthritis."

Fatty acids are used by the immune system to create numerous compounds. Some increase inflammation, while others stop the inflammatory process. Compounds derived from omega 6 fatty acids are mostly inflammatory; while those derived from omega 3 fatty acids are mostly anti-inflammatory. They typical American diet is rich in omega 6, but poor in omega 3, which is found mostly in fatty fish and fish oils.

Most people realize that diet plays a role in managing rheumatoid arthritis or any disease. Being overweight or inactive and even having a negative attitude can increase the pain and fatigue associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Drugs only provide short-term relief and have dangerous side effects. Simply taking a fish oil supplement can relieve pain and may protect the joints from further damage, but does not increase the risk of serious infections, because omega 3 fatty acids help the immune system to function normally, in a balanced manner.

The bottom line is that increasing consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, by eating more fish and taking fish oil supplements, while decreasing the consumption of more inflammatory fats through proper diet, is one important component in the long-term management of rheumatoid arthritis.

A Proven Arthritis Diet Will Help Reverse Arthritis

Following a specific arthritis diet and eliminating some foods from your daily meals, a patient can effectively reverse arthritis in the body. An arthritis diet, which is basically a diet that includes specific foods that undo the symptoms of arthritis as well as lacking foods that have been associated with the disease, can be used to elevate the pain that is caused by the disease and in some rare cases, the arthritis diet has cured patients from arthritis. However, these have been mainly speculations with no solid scientific backing.

What is an Arthritis Diet?

So what exactly does an arthritis diet constitute? Rheumatologists who are associated with the Arthritis Foundation have stated that people who are overweight provoke osteoarthritis due to the presence of fats in their bodies. The experts have linked fish oils as the primary causes of this arthritis but on the other hand, the Arthritis Foundation goes ahead to state that there is no direct link to diet plans and arthritis. Over the years that the foundation has existed, they have yet to find any definite causes of the disease and as such one cannot help but question this fact. Is there anything to this diet?

After years of research into the disease, doctors and scientists have slowly given in to the convention that various foods can be contributing to the cause of the disease. Clinical proof from other branches of medicine has greatly contributed to this realization. Now if there is an alternative treatment to this disease, then it is only natural that this avenue is pursued. The rising costs of the drugs used to treat the disease and also the fact that the only organization that is in charge of researching into the disease is stating blatantly that there is no cure for the disease, also fuels this urge to try out alternative cures for arthritis.

An Arthritis Diet and a Well-Balanced Diet

To this end, medical science has shown and proven that healthy joints are dependent on gastrointestinal health as well as a healthy well-being. This is probably why a healthy person who exercises regularly and assumes a balanced diet is not likely to suffer from arthritis. Therefore this draws the conclusion that there is indeed such a thing as an arthritis diet. The specific diet is not yet conclusive according to the major studies that have been conducted over the years.

The first study conducted by Dr. Anthony Conte in 1970 and his Pittsburg nutritionist partner sort to prove that the disease is associated with allergies. It was their conclusion that the disease could be well avoided by staying away from certain foods that were likely to cause allergies in the body. There was another study by Dr. Robert Stroud who concluded that patients who were suffering from arthritis responded well to the omission of certain types of food in their diet. In his findings, the doctor noted that during a period of fasting, it was possible to elevate all symptoms of arthritis. During this period, all symptoms would clear up and disappear. According to him, this was concrete proof that arthritis is food related, but the unfortunate implication here comes when you realize that you cannot fast forever.

However, this also led to scientists expanding on these two theories and after several experiments spanning more than 7 years, doctors have now come up with an arthritis diet that they believe will get rid of the disease once and for all. According to this study, there are foods that you eat which can influence your digestive system, leading to growth of bacteria in the system that will ultimately affect arthritis. Eating healthy foods will undoubtedly keep the symptoms of the disease away, confirming what many folk healers have been saying for ages; keep healthy and arthritis will not be a problem. The perfect arthritis diet is one that is well-balanced.

Green Lipped Mussel Extract Treatment For Arthritis

If your pet has been diagnosed with arthritis you might find Green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) is included in some glucosamine based treatments. Green lipped mussel has been found to inhibit inflammation in the joints and is useful in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis

How does it work?

Any animal or human will experience a certain amount of inflammation in the joints and increasingly so with age. Your pet makes several types of chemical mediators for inflammation levels of these are higher in an animal experiencing symptoms of arthritis. The green lipped mussel extract helps control the inflammatory mediators in your pets body, it improves conditions which involve inflammation such as arthritis, psoriasis and asthma among others.

Where is it found?

Green-lipped mussels are found in the oceans off New Zealand. In supplement form, green-lipped mussel is available as a lipid extract or a freeze-dried powder. Green lipped mussel extract is also combined with other arthritis treatments. When you buy a product containing green lipped mussel, it comes in two forms one which is stabilized with a preservative and the other is not. Recent animal studies have compared the two forms and found a stabilized lipid extract to be significantly more effective than a non-stabilized extract at decreasing inflammation. Because both forms are currently available on the market, we would recommend you read the label carefully to choose the stabilized form.

Other products you might have been recommended for your pets arthritis inflammation are the non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs which include ibruprofen. The downside of using these drugs are the side effects which can cause stomach problems including ulcers if administered too frequently. Using a green lipped mussel extract also reduces the need for anti inflammatory drugs.

How much does your pet need?

These will depend on the individual pets weight and also the potency of the extract. Feed this to your pet in the doses recommended by the manufacturer.

Will my pet experience any side effects?

Studies in humans have produced varying data, with some mussel extracts producing nausea as a side effect while other studies show no side effects. In this case be observant of your pets eating habits and report it to your vet if you have been giving your pet green mussel extract.

Allergy Information

It is possible for your pet to have an allergic reaction to shellfish. Again be observant of any changes in your pet, itching , sneezing etc. and report it to your vet if you suspect an allergic reaction. However compared to lipid preparations, freeze-dried preparations contain substantially more of the protein fraction responsible for allergic reactions.

Copyright 2006 Paul Nelson

Foods May Contribute to Rheumatoid Arthritis Through a Leaky Gut - The Gut-Joint Axis

Foods frequently blamed for food allergies and sensitivity reactions are also believed to cause or contribute to inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. These common foods are likely doing so through a process of gut inflammation resulting in leaky gut. This injury, especially occurring in genetically predisposed people, and in the setting of altered gut bacteria (dysbiosis), and immune stress likely predisposes to further inflammation and leaky gut. This vicious cycle is thought to allow toxic food protein-bacteria complexes to enter the body resulting in a variety of inflammatory and/or autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. A new study sheds some additional light on link of food intolerance to rheumatoid arthritis is reviewed in this context.

Researchers from Norway in 2006 published in the British journal Gut additional new evidence of the link between foods and rheumatoid arthritis. Professor Bradtzaeg and his colleagues at the Institute of Pathology in Oslo measured IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies to foods. The measured these antibodies in blood and intestinal fluid in people with rheumatoid arthritis compared with healthy people.

The researchers performed blood and intestinal fluid antibody tests to the following food antigens: gliadin, oats, cow's milk proteins (casein, lactalbumin, lactoglobulin), soy, pork, cod fish, and egg (ovalbumin). These foods are in the top 10 of common food allergens as well as food protein intolerances.

What they found was a "particularly striking (incidence) of cross reactive food antibodies in proximal gut secretions" as well as increased IgM antibodies to some of these foods in the blood. The findings in the blood were less striking than in the intestinal secretions. This is consistent with difficulties finding elevated blood antibodies to foods in people with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune/inflammatory conditions despite a lot of anecdotal and elimination diet experience supporting the role of foods in these conditions. Interestingly, Dr. Ken Fine's stool antibodies tests may be on to something.

The results, in their opinion, indicate that measuring blood antibodies to foods in rheumatoid arthritis provides little information about the role of foods in rheumatoid arthritis. However, intestinal antibodies not only show a "striking" pattern of elevation consistent with adverse food immune reactions but also that there appears to be a potential cumulative effect of multiple foods. That is, not only may some foods trigger an abnormal immune response resulting in joint inflammation but the combination of multiple problem foods may be a key component to this link. Their results support the connection of mucosal (gut) immune activation from cross reaction of foods to rheumatoid arthritis in at least some people.

What might this mean? This data supports the concept and the experience of many people that elimination of certain problem food combinations may be beneficial in preventing or reducing joint inflammation. This is both exciting and intriguing.

Multiple commonly eaten foods frequently linked to food allergies and sensitivities may be contributing to inflammatory and/or autoimmune conditions. These common problem foods or their lectins are likely contributing to the process of gut inflammation. This is likely causing gut injury resulting in leaky gut. This injury and leaky gut, especially in genetically predisposed people, may, in the setting of altered gut bacteria (dysbiosis), predispose to further injury. This then allows the entry of toxic food protein (lectin)-bacteria complexes into the body, especially the blood stream. The result is inflammatory and/or autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.

This gut-joint axis is likely the same mechanism as the gut-brain axis and gut-skin axis that produce the myriad of symptoms and diseases we are now seeing. The associated food protein (lectin)-bacteria immune reactions in the gut are increasingly being blamed for the development of a myriad of diseases.

Much more needs to learned, but it is interesting that certain foods keep showing up as the usual suspects. These problem foods or lectins include the grains (especially wheat, barley, rye, oats, corn), dairy (casein), nightshades (potato, tomato, peppers) and peanuts, soy and other legumes. Diets eliminating or restricting these foods have been reported as being beneficial for many symptoms and diseases. However, definitive links are difficult to establish because of limitations of scientific research.

The foods implicated are usually limited in some manner in a variety of elimination diets such as the gluten-free/casein free diet, naked diet, paleolithic/hunter-gatherer or caveman diets, arthritis diet, low carbohydrate diet, anti-inflammatory diet, and six food elimination diet.

The Paleolithic or Hunter-Gatherer diet specifically recommends restricting grains, dairy and legumes. Various anti-inflammatory or arthritis diets usually recommend eliminating either wheat or gluten, dairy and the nightshades. The dietary approach to autism commonly advocated is a casein-free, gluten-free diet.

Despite lay public reports of great successes with such elimination diets, mainstream medicine continues to be slow to study the dietary treatment of disease. However, especially in the past two to three years more studies are appearing showing links supporting a significant role of food and bacteria in the gut and various autoimmune diseases.

Doctor...What Are The Effects Of Alcohol On Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Could a glass of wine at dinner time be the next major arthritis breakthrough?

Possibly... according to a recent Swedish study. A diet of 10% ethanol had a protective effect on mice that would otherwise have developed collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), Swedish researchers report in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. CIA is often used as an animal model of human rheumatoid arthritis (RA.)

Andrej Tarkowski, MD, the senior author and a faculty member in the department of rheumatology and inflammation research, Goteborg University, in Sweden, stated that the primary finding was that, in male mice, long term consumption of 10% ethanol delayed the onset and progression of CIA.

The underlying mechanism appears to be a reduction in inflammation due to decreased NF-kB activation (a primary inflammatory pathway) caused by upregulation- or increased production -of testosterone secretion.

The research team fused a CIA model in mice by immunizing male DBA/1 mice with collagen type II (CII). To determine whether drinking ethanol has any impact on the development of CIA, the mice were provided with either 10% ethanol or water alone to drink. Mice were sacrificed after 5 to 6 weeks. All four paws from DBA/1 mice were sectioned, stained, and examined for inflammation of the joint including damage to the joint lining and erosion of bone and cartilage.

The investigators report that development of arthritis due to inflammation was markedly reduced in the ethanol-drinking mice. Ethanol had no such effect on mice with arthritis induced by injection with a mixture of four monoclonal anti-CII antibodies. "These data suggest that ethanol affects the start or initiation rather than the perpetuation of immune responsiveness during CIA," mentioned the researchers.

Joints from the water-drinking mice developed frequent bone and cartilage erosions. Those from the ethanol-drinking mice were "histologically ...intact," meaning no significant damage occurred. In addition, ethanol prevented the arthritis-induced loss of bone mineral density associated with CIA.
"The major surprise in this study was the outstanding effect of ethanol on saving cartilage and bone, suggesting that apart from regulation of inflammatory mediators, matrix metalloproteinases (i.e., tissue destroying enzymes) might be a direct target for ethanol," commented Dr. Tarkowski.

Dr. Tarkowski cautions, "This dose of ethanol was chosen for mice with an exact knowledge regarding the toxicity. This was further confirmed by intact liver function at the end of experiments. In contrast, exchanging water for 10% ethanol in humans eventually will lead to liver disease (cirrhosis). Thus, the optimal dose of ethanol in the human setting to prevent/delay RA is presently unknown. For practical purposes, one could speculate on the use of doses of ethanol similar to those sometimes suggested for prevention of cardiovascular diseases--i.e., something in the range of 1 to 2 glasses of wine per day," he suggested.

"We are presently analyzing whether female mice with arthritis have the same effect from ethanol.
The investigators also compared castrated to intact male mice and found that mice drinking 10% ethanol had significantly elevated levels of testosterone and decreased levels of IGF1 and cortisol. "These observations, considered together with the cellular anti-inflammatory properties of testosterone that lead to a decrease of NF-kB activation, point to testosterone as a potential link mediating the anti-inflammatory effects of ethanol."

So... what are the implications for patients with RA?

The first is that perhaps, a prescription of a glass or two of wine a day is not necessarily bad.

However, there are cautions. The first is that patients who are taking methotrexate need to absolutely limit their consumption of alcoholic beverages because of the danger of developing cirrhosis. Second, patients taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are at increased risk for developing stomach ulcers and alcohol increases that risk.

(Jonsson I-M, Verdrengh M, Brissiert M, et al. Ethanol prevents development of destructive arthritis. PNAS. 2007;104:258-263)

7 Natural Herbs to Help in Arthritis Treatment

Arthritis treatment is dependent on the cause of which there are several possibilities. Sexual infections such as syphilis and gonorrhoea, rheumatic fever and even the lung disease tuberculosis can all cause arthritis. Physical injuries such as sports injuries or even the simplest problem of how comfortably you place your hand at your computer's keyboard (for those who type for long hours). Other problems such as uric acid and the loss of calcium can also contribute to arthritis.

What is arthritis? Simply put, it is an inflammation of the joints. It is characterised by pain in the joint that is accompanied by the inflammation and sometimes reddening. In more severe cases it can affect mobility to the point that it may become extremely difficult to move the affected limb due to the arthritis.

The term arthritis is limited to inflammation of the joints, but there is also rheumatoid arthritis that affects the joints plus the muscles, cartilage and tendons in close proximity to the affected joint.

Nature has brought us natural remedies for almost every affliction and I honestly believe nature has a cure for every disease, it is just a matter of finding it. Over time man has found herbs that can cure their ailments. For some sicknesses, there are many different natural herbs that help to either prevent, treat, stabilise or cure them. Most herbs have several uses and chances are you will hear the names of some common herbs and not be aware of all their medicinal and curative properties. Some may be common seasonings or vegetables that we use everyday. We will however only state the benefits for arthritis sufferers and largely ignore the numerous other health benefits from the use of these herbs.

Please consult your doctor before taking any of these herbs.

The following herbs can help in arthritia treatment and relieve some of the discomfort from arthritis:

Alfalfa - in addition to being a good tonic that stimulates the appetite, alfalfa helps to relieve arthritis when a decoration of the ground seeds is used in combination with alfalfa sprouts.

Angelica - has anti-inflammatory effects that makes it effective in combating arthritis. This is obtained from an extract from the root diluted with water, taken orally. Care must be taken when using Angelica as the fresh roots are toxic and have to be dried properly before being taken orally. In addition people who take angelica and spend time in the sun have been known to develop a rash.

Comfrey - has more protein in its leaf structure than any other known member of the vegetable kingdom, the most notable protein of which is alantoin, which helps in cell division. It is found in the roots as well as the leaves. Alantoin stimulates the healing of both internal and external injuries as a result of it being a catalyst for cell division.

Flax - the seeds of this plant is best known for being high in natural omega 3 oils. In addition, when the seeds are prepared as a poultice, it helps alleviate rheumatoid arthritis and serves as an emollient.

Laurel (Bay) - ever since we were kids, my grandmother used to rub on bay rum whenever we had a fever. It turns out it also has anti-inflammatory properties. The oil extracted from the fruit as well as the leaves can be used as an ointment to help relieve rheumatoid arthritis.

Parsley - famous for its culinary uses in salads, soups, fish dishes to name a few. Parsley can also help in relieving arthritis through an infusion of the entire plant, taken orally. It is not recommended for pregnant women, but pregnant women need to consult their doctors before taking anything beyond normal meals.

Red Clover - an annual plant that is also used to relieve arthritis. This is achieved through an infusion of the entire plant.

All these herbs have many other uses, so using each brings several other benefits. I prefer natural remedies simply because the prescription drugs may have long term side effects or lead to dependence after a period of use. Natural remedies from herbs can even end up being a cure for your illness or disease. They contain so many chemicals, one may just be the one to end your problems.

Using the herbs listed as arthritis treatment may give you the relief you need; you may already have them in your home or garden so now you have found another use for them. Just remember not to consider them a substitute for your doctor.

Rheumatoid Arthritis - 6 Tips To Fight The Pain

Living with rheumatoid arthritis can be a very painful affair. It might mean living with and enduring chronic pain, fatigue and joint stiffness for years. It can even make you miserable for the rest of your life!

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease where the white blood cells attack healthy tissues, specifically the joints and cartilages, for no apparent reason. If you happen to be afflicted with this disease, you might be in for a very difficult time. But as with all other diseases, you can adopt several measures to help ease the pain brought by the symptoms of this crippling disease. Here are a few suggestions that may help you in handling the pain when a rheumatoid arthritis attack is in the offing:

Live a healthier lifestyle. It is never too late to start living healthy. Losing weight can be good for your joints - the less you weigh, the lesser the pressure on the joints and hence, you will feel less pain. So, start eating a healthy diet and get enough sleep to keep your weight at a healthier range.

Pop in a pill to reduce the pain - No matter at what stage your rheumatoid arthritis might be in, taking anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen may help keep the pain and the inflammation under control. However, keep in mind that all drugs have a tendency to cause certain side effects. So, take caution in taking these drugs for they might just increase your risks of developing certain heart problems and may lead to gastrointestinal bleeding. Your best bet? Take acetaminophen. It can effectively do the job without the risks!

Stretch those joints! Stretching is an important part of any exercise routine because it greatly enhances your flexibility. When doing your stretches, stop whenever you feel a mild discomfort and hold the position for 10 to 30 seconds before proceeding.

Try weight lifting - Making exercise a regular part of your routine may bring you tons of benefits. Performing moderate exercises such as weight lifting and aerobics can help ease mild to moderate rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. In this case, weight lifting is an ideal exercise since it improves your flexibility, strength and balance thereby allowing you an increased capability in handling the symptoms of the disease.

Before doing your lifts, don't forget to do some stretching exercises. Start with 3 sets of 8 to 10 repetitions. You can even begin your training without using any weights at all! Weights may be gradually added as your routine progresses. Lift the weights slowly and evenly to prevent doing any more damage to the joints and cartilages. Take things easy. Take a rest when your joints flare up to avoid adding any more strain to your already aching joints.

Try alternative therapy - Some people swear by the positive results of aqua therapy and Tai Chi in relieving the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Just remember to find a qualified practitioner before embarking on these routines. And as always, consult with your doctor first before doing any exercises.

Strive to learn more about the disease - Knowledge is power. To increase your fighting chances against rheumatoid arthritis, try to learn as much as you can about this disease. A large number of online as well as offline sources can give you all the information that you might need. When in doubt, ask your doctor to provide you with some reference on where to look for additional help.

How Arthritis Can Be Helped With a Vibration Exercise Machine

So how can vibration exercise machines help in alleviating the suffering caused by arthritis?

The treatment of arthritis is quite difficult in that if not performed carefully, and in line with the patient's needs and wants, the illness can become chronic. It can hit anyone at any age, although presents itself most frequently in middle-aged women.

It is caused by the body reacting to numerous diseases or injury, and shows up as swelling and pain in a joint or joints. Indeed the very word itself, i.e. arthritis, actually means joint inflammation. Damage to tissue can be caused if the inflammation appears often or is not totally cured. Not only do the affected joints get swollen, but they are also warm, hot even, to the touch. The skin underneath the joints redden, and over time the joints can actually change shape.

Apart from the numerous reasons already touched on, the causes of arthritis can have many other roots, one of which being heredity, and another being a negative impact of one's environment.

People who have been active in sports of all types, and who have had several injuries, suffer arthritis quite frequently as they have subjected their joints to increased loads, and this can apply to both large and small joints. In addition, it has been shown that being overweight, and the overuse of both caffeine and smoking can also cause it.

Possible disability and the avoidance of continual pain can only be prevented if the disease is diagnosed and treated at an early stage. You can minimise the onset of it, even prevent against it, through the use of a healthy diet and consequential weight control, properly carried out physical exercises and using a vibration exercise machine.

These vibration exercise machines are incredibly simple to use and can replace standard physical exercises if a person is unable to carry them out for reasons such as muscle weakness, pain in the joints, and lack or loss of balance or muscle coordination.

In the event any classical exercise training regime utilising running, walking, cycling or weight training does not fit into your daily schedule for reasons of time, one of these vibration exercise machines can become invaluable to you in helping keep your body fit and your muscles toned. It has been shown that vibration exercise machines can help you achieve just the same benefits as standard exercising, but in a lot less time. In addition, vibration training stimulates blood circulation with all the benefits that can bring to an arthritis sufferer.

The vibration machines alleviate and even remove stress, fatigue, and pain in the back and the body core, and their use strengthens both bones and muscles. To put it into a somewhat technical explanation, low-frequency vibration waves spread over the muscle fibre and make the muscle contract with more dense amplitude, which is of course not the case with conventional exercising. These vibration waves also speed up metabolic processes in our body which cause the muscle fibres to become active, as opposed to classical exercise workouts during which they are inactive.

So, in the event you do think you may have arthritis, get it properly diagnosed for what it is. And so as to prevent the occurrence of this ailment, make sure you take note of what has been said in this article, but in general look after your health and make vibration exercise therapy a major part of your training regime.

Food Intolerance and Rheumatoid Arthritis

If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis you may be interested to know that there is a connection between this and food intolerances, in particular, allergy to wheat or dairy foodstuffs.

In a report from the UK Medical Research Council in 2001, it was stated that there is evidence from both case reports and controlled studies that an individualised diet, where offending foods are identified and removed, can cause an improvement in rheumatoid arthritis.

What we are talking about here is an elimination diet: removing virtually all the foods which might be causing symptoms, to determine whether symptoms improve, and then re-introducing food one at a time to identify which are causing the symptoms.

An example of this is described by consultant rheumatologist Dr Gail Darlington in a study published in 1986. She undertook a controlled study of 6 weeks of dietary manipulation therapy in 53 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. During the first week the patients were only allowed to eat foods they were unlikely to be intolerant to. Other food items were then introduced one at a time to see whether any symptoms were elicited by the dietary challenge. Foods producing symptoms were then excluded from the diet. There were significant improvements in the exclusion diet group in comparison to the placebo diet group.

Darlington went on to complete further clinical trials and in 1993 published a table of foods most likely to cause intolerance in patients with RA. The top five were corn, wheat, bacon/pork, oranges and milk.

None of this would have been surprising to Charles de Coti-Marsh, who undertook pioneering research into the causes and treatment of arthritis in the 1940s and 1950s. His findings convinced him that 'disease begins in the bowel', in other words, what we eat plays a major part in the development of many chronic conditions, including arthritis.

De Coti-Marsh treated patients by using what he called the 'Sanocell System.'' Judging the amount of toxic compounds (or food antigen) he believed to be present within that food, based on observation and case histories, he gave each food a value of 1-200, 200 being the most toxic to the body. His patients were given a Home Treatment Programme to follow, and at each stage of progress they were allowed to include in the diet all the foods below a certain number. Foods categorised by a higher number were not allowed. This was the elimination phase. As patients progressed, the Sanocell System allowed for the re-introduction of certain foods. It was an individualised diet, supervised by de Coti-Marsh himself.

Since the death of Charles de Coti-Marsh his Home Treatment for arthritis continues to be promoted by The Arthritic Association.

As scientific knowledge has progressed, so The Arthritic Association has presented its Home Treatment Programme for Arthritis in the context of scientific literature; investigated and ratified by the medical profession. As such, the charity's health programme has now been acknowledged to be a largely self-administered intervention based on the three areas of diet, supplementation and physical therapy.

If you would like to know how the Home Treatment programme can help you, please visit our website or call our Freephone number 0800 652 3188.

Elizabeth Hartland,
Nutritional Therapist,
The Arthritic Association

Superfoods - Are They Nature's Miracles Or Simply A Con?

Unless you've been in solitary confinement or exploring the more remote regions of the world, you'll have heard of so-called superfoods. Everyone assumes that eating them is a good thing, but is it? And which foods qualify for the "super" tag?

There is no scientific definition of a superfood according to the British Nutrition Foundation. However, there have been many superfood studies in America and in the UK, and numerous articles and books have been published on the subject. The most-used description of a superfood is: something which has high levels of certain nutrients that have been shown to help tackle disease.

One thing there does seem to be agreement about is that superfoods are of plant origin, in other words they are fruits, nuts, vegetables, leaves, roots or juices.

Every expert has their own particular set of favourite superfoods, but most agree that there are around 25 that deserve the label. Nutritionists at the Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas have compiled a list of wonder foods that includes barley, blueberries, broccoli, Brazil nuts, kefir and Kiwi fruit. Trawling through various reports gave me a long list of foods from acai fruit through algae (ugh!) to wheatgrass, although the ones that were mentioned again and again were fortunately much more ordinary!

Did you know that the top superfood is actually none other than broccoli?

All types of broccoli are packed with dietary fibre, complex carbohydrates, Vitamin C, carotenoids, calcium, folate, potassium and not one but two effective cancer-fighting compounds. To benefit from all this, all you do is eat broccoli three times a week!

Close to all British hearts is a nice cup of tea, and we must know something good because tea is also a superfood - or maybe a superdrink. All teas contain flavinoids and antioxidants, which protect our cells against free radical damage. Tea may also prevent some cancers and osteoporosis, and green tea - which contains polyphenols - could reduce the severity of rheumatoid arthritis.

Other food groups that have been hailed as super include: alliums, berries, brassicas, nuts and wholegrains.

There are some non-plant foods that could qualify for the super sobriquet too: such as eggs, honey, turkey and yogurt.

Of course, eating too much of any one food (whether super or not) isn't a good idea. You can have too much of a good thing; you get a huge dose of some nutrients and nothing of other (equally beneficial) ones. As with so many things in life, variety is the spice! So choose a wide range of fresh produce rather than processed foods. A good tip is to go for a range of colours, that way you know you'll be getting a mixture of different nutrients.

And go for little and often. In other words, at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Sadly, bingeing on broccoli and blueberries once a week won't really make up for curries, crisps and chocolate at all other times! And the best way to retain all those lovely nutrients is to eat your superfoods raw, or lightly cooked - nobody wants to eat raw Brussels sprouts, do they?

But a bowl of mixed berries with yogurt would be a breakfast from heaven, and it could help to minimise your wrinkles (not that you have any). Lunch could be a lovely garden salad scattered with nuts or seeds and drizzled with olive oil. For supper how about a spicy grilled turkey steak with a mixed vegetable stir-fry? And don't forget to include some broccoli...

Herbal Medicines For Arthritis and Rheumatism

There are many different types of arthritis, each of which involves some disorder or inflammation of one or more joints. The two most common forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA)

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, affecting the middle-aged. It is a degenerative joint disease and is characterized by pain, stiffness, and swelling in spinal joints, hips, knees, and joints of the hand, with progressive loss of function. The cartilage that lines the bones degenerates, becoming inflamed, rough, and hardened, and eventually wears away. Tendons, ligaments, and muscles that are holding the joint together become weaker, causing deformity, pain, and reduced movement.

Osteoarthritis is the result of natural wear arid tear, but other causes can include

repeated strain to joints, ligaments, and muscles

joint deformation from birth or previous injury

rheumatoid arthritis

gout

nutritional and hormonal influences.

Treatment

Diet and Nutrition Correct body weight should be maintained to prevent strain from causing osteoarthritis. Tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, peppers, and simple carbohydrates, such as white flour and refined sugar, should be eaten in moderation. Avoid coffee, red meat, artificial additives, and processed foods. Increase your intake of vegetables, fruits, complex carbohydrates, wheat germ, and oily fish. A nutritionist might suggest daily supplementation with vitamins A (10,000iu), C (2g), E (600iu), and B6 (50mg).

Massage Joints can be massaged effectively with tiger balm, lavender and camomile oils, and with Ruta grav. cream.

Yoga This will help to encourage joint mobility and improved posture.

Consult a qualified practitioner/therapist for:

Acupuncture With or without using moxibustion, this will act to balance energies and reduce both inflammation and pain.

The hand is a complex arrangement of bones, joints, and tendons, which make it vulnerable to wear and tear

Ayurveda Treatment is aimed at balancing the elements of air, fire, water, and mindbody connections.

Herbal Medicine Some herbalists might recommend celery seed, yucca leava bogbean, and devil's clal taken daily. Infusions alfalfa and nettle may be suggested as nutrition supplements. Wild yam root and glucose amine (1500mg per day) are also useful.

Homeopathy Rhus tox.6c is suitable when the condition is worse with rest anij dampness, and Ruta grav. is appropriate when symptoms are relieved by warmth.

Osteopathy and Chiropractic These are useful for maintenance of efficient body mechanics and pain relief.

Rolfing Treatment will address postural integration.

Does Omega-3 Benefit Arthritis Aches?

More and more people are taking omega-3 supplements for their arthritis. Studies are now showing that omega-3 and arthritis alleviation go hand in hand.

But why? How exactly does omega-3 improve the symptoms of arthritis? Well, it depends what kind of arthritis you have. Omega-3's are not going to help with all types.

However, it will help with some of the common types of arthritis. This is because in many cases of arthritis, inflammation is the culprit. Inflammed joints create pain and stiffness, which is the end result of arthritis.

This pain and stiffness and lack of range of motion robs people of their enjoyment in life. Who can live joyfully when they are in constant pain?

Omega-3's, especially high quality fish oil supplements loaded in omega-3's, are natural anti-inflammatories. Simply put, they help counter the inflammation of joints that creates much of the pain associated with arthritis.

Now, omega-3's can't work miracles. If you have a very severe case of arthritis, you will probably experience some relief using a high quality omega-3 fish oil supplement, but it's not going to get rid of all your pain.

However, if you suffer from a modest case of arthritis, you will probably experience a much greater sense of relief since your inflammation isn't that acute yet.

In addition to omega-3 supplements, you should try to eliminate foods from your diet that help create inflammation. Some of the most common culprits include: processed foods, fried foods, fast foods, grains, such as white rice, white bread, and pasta. This of course includes foods like donuts, bagels, and many other things many Westerners consider staples.

It's not going to be easy changing your diet, but if your arthritis pains are bothering you enough, you will make the change.

With a change in diet to more healthy choices: a lot more leafy greens, eggs, grass fed meats, nuts and seeds, etc., and a quality fish oil supplement, you will most likely experience the omega-3 and arthritis pain alleviation that improves your quality of life markedly.

The Budwig Diet - Fighting Cancer Naturally

When people become ill with cancer, there are usually a set number of recommended treatments for them to go through. Doctors will offer these treatments as the best course of action for them, but each of these treatments has its drawbacks. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are two common treatments that can have a number of unpleasant side effects, and in many cases invasive surgery is used as a last resort. However, there is another option. The Budwig Diet is an entirely natural method of combating cancer in order to fight the disease and carry on living a normal, healthy life. There are no drugs, no surgical procedures, just a simple and healthy diet that has been proven time and again to be a powerful antidote to the nightmare of cancer. Here we will explain a bit about the diet to help you make the right choice of treatment for you, should you be affected by cancer.

History Of The Budwig Diet

The origins of the Budwig Diet go back to 1908, with the birth of its creator, Dr Johanna Budwig. Throughout her long life - she died in 2003 at the age of 95 - the German doctor became one of the top cancer researchers in Europe. She carried out a significant amount of research into cancer and its causes, and her vast body of work led her to being nominated for the Nobel Prize seven times, although she never won it. Throughout her lengthy research, she came to a startling conclusion. It was her expert opinion that all forms of cancer in the body are caused by our diets, and that rising cancer levels could be put down to the processed foods and the hydrogenated fats that are so prevalent in our modern diets. As a result of this, she devised her famous diet, and began to test it out on cancer patients. The results would change the medical community forever.

Amazing Findings

It was clear to Dr Budwig that the diet was the fundamental cause of cancer. She discovered throughout her research that trans fats found in our diets had a negative effect on our cell membranes by targeting the electrical charge found within them, and that this was the main factor in the development of cancer. She also did research into a large number of cancer patients, and found that their blood revealed some surprising signs. One of these was that they had far lower levels of Omega 3 in their blood than healthy people. Another was that they had much lower levels of phosphatides and lipoproteins than healthy people. And she even discovered a strange substance that was green and yellow in color found only in the blood of cancer patients.

The Idea Behind The Budwig Diet

The idea behind the Budwig Diet was actually quite simple: to reverse the harm caused by the bad elements of the modern diet by cutting them out completely. Dr Budwig decided that if she could create a diet that would counter the effects of the modern diet, it could help people to live a healthy life and could actually reverse the problems caused by that diet. By providing a diet that was high in nutrients this could help to combat the cancerous cells and increase the level of red blood cells in the patients.

Main Foundation Of The Budwig Diet

Dr Budwig set about creating her famous diet, and came up with two main ingredients that would be the foundation of the diet: flaxseed oil and quark (similar to cottage cheese and common in Germany). She believed that these two ingredients were key in reversing the damage caused by the previous diet and preventing the development of cancer. She decided on flaxseed oil due to its high levels of Omega 3, which was lacking in the blood of cancer patients, as well as being tolerated by most people. Quark added the high levels of protein, and she found that the two ingredients complemented each other perfectly.

Other Elements Of The Diet

Because no one could be expected to stick to a diet of just two ingredients, Dr Budwig included a long list of other ingredients to make up the diet that would not only counter the effects of the cancer, but would also provide enough variation for a tasty diet that would be easy to stick to. There are numerous ingredients allowed on the diet, and many recipes can be made from them, including: lentils, brown rice, raw vegetables, porridge and many others besides.

Results

Dr Budwig trialled her diet on numerous cancer patients, and it soon became clear that she had found a solution to the rising number of cancer cases across the world. She began to witness improvements after just a few months of the trials beginning, with the blood of the cancer patients returning to normal. It is for this reason that people all over the world are now benefiting from the Budwig Diet and the lifetime of research that went into its creation to cure cases of cancer by a natural method.

How Can Fresh Pineapple Help Arthritis?

All fresh fruits including pineapple are packed with enzymes however pineapple is well known for being packed with an enzyme called bromelain. This gives the fruit some amazing natural anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Of course like most fruits it's bursting with vitamin C. They are second only to bananas as America's favorite tropical fruit.

It is this the enzyme bromelain that makes pineapple useful in treating bruises, sprains and strains by reducing swelling, tenderness and pain. This anti-inflammatory property will help in relieving osteo-arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms as well as reducing post-operative swelling. Bromelain also acts as a digestive enzymes aiding in protein digestion. Most of the bromelain is concentrated in the core of the pineapple and for this reason I always add the stem to my smoothies. Pineapple is also known to help with fluid retention.

To gain the benefit of bromelain as an anti-inflammatory or as a digestive enzyme, it is important to know that enzymes are very sensitive to light and temperatures especially heat. So any commercially bought pineapple products will be dead so to speak, the enzymes will have been destroyed. This goes for bought juices, canned, frozen, and dried pineapple.

When choosing a fresh pineapple color isn't necessarily a good indicator of ripeness, some are in their prime when still green, it depends on the variety, ranging from green to yellow. The most important factor in determining ripeness is aroma let your nose help you decide. Ripe pineapples give off a sweet, fresh tropical smell. Avoid pineapples that give off a slightly alcoholic smell, they are too ripe and are fermenting. Avoid pineapples with soft spots or areas of dark discoloration. Eat pineapple at room temperature to appreciate their full flavor.

Pineapple "Rum Pud"
One or two pineapples
Add fresh mango (or frozen - you prepared when they were in season)
Fresh Ginger
Thick coconut milk
A dash or two of rum
A banana or two
Leave the leaves on the pineapple and cut a pineapple in half length ways. Scoop or cut out the flesh leaving the pineapple halves in tack to use as containers. Cut up the flesh into cubes removing the stem. Put the pineapple into a bowl, add freshly grated ginger to taste, thick coconut milk and a little rum, slice or chop up bananas and mix all ingredients together. Place the ingredients back into the pineapple halves and serve immediately.

Pineapple makes a very good addition to smoothies, with papaya, some pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds, and a banana. Besides being high in bromelain and vitamin C, pineapples are also a rich source of beta carotene, potassium, vitamin B-1 (cofactor in enzymatic reactions vital to energy production, vitamin B-2, iron, fiber, manganese (co-factor in a number of enzymes needed for energy production and anti-oxidant defense), omega-3 fatty acids, calcium and some friendly bacteria.

Do you know? The part of the fruit closest to the base of the fruit has more sugar content and therefore a sweeter taste and more tender texture than the upper part of the fruit.

Difference Between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis - 5 Easy Tips That You Can Use Today!

What is the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis? What are their special precautions and natural treatments? Find out the expert answers in this article.

Both these forms of arthritis have got some similarities as well as differences. Their exact causes are not known. While osteoarthritis often accompanies aging, rheumatoid arthritis can occur in any age group and is also found in children and adults.

Osteoarthritis can be commonly found in people around the age group of 60. The intensity of pain and degree of the problem varies according to their lifestyle. Rheumatoid arthritis might develop at any age, although during remission period, there might be a complete lack of symptoms of pain.

Broadly speaking, these are the major signs of difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis -

1) Pain is a common characteristic in both forms of arthritis. It is also one of the major distinguishing factors which doctors use for diagnosis and to identify the difference them.

In osteoarthritis, the pain might occur in only one joint, for example in the right knee. On the other hand, in rheumatoid arthritis the pain is generally found occurring on the joints on both sides of the body. For example, there might be pain in both knees.

2) "Wear and tear" of the cartilage cushions is the primary reason for osteoarthritis. The cartilage cushions act as shock absorbers that prevent the bones of the joint from rubbing together. When this cartilage is damaged due to overuse or injury, it causes osteoarthritis and leads to inflammation and swelling in the joints.

In rheumatoid arthritis, the pain and inflammation in the joints take place well before any damage occurs in the cartilage cushions. In fact, frequent occurrence of chronic inflammation causes damage to the cartilage and intense pain.

3) Factors that might lead to the occurrence of osteoarthritis are - obesity, joint injury, overuse of joints and heredity. On the other hand, obesity might aggravate the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, but it does not play any role in developing of that condition in the first place.

4) One of the major difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis is that osteoarthritis affects only the joints, while rheumatoid arthritis can also affect many other parts in the body.

5) What is the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in terms of treatment? In rheumatoid arthritis, drugs that suppress immune system activity are often prescribed; whereas they are not required in osteoarthritis. However, anti-inflammatory drugs are common mode of treatment in both forms of arthritis.

Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in the diet by using fish oil supplements is one of the best, most effective and natural ways of treating the symptoms of both forms of arthritis.

They are also free of the potential side effects that most of the description based anti-inflammatory drugs suffer from. On the contrary, they provide a lot of health benefits such as improvement in brain health, cardiovascular health, digestive system, memory and concentration, skin health, joints and much more.

Green lipped mussel found in New Zealand is also another excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. It plays an effective role in reducing pain and joint stiffness, increasing grip strength and enhancing mobility in people suffering from osteoarthritis. It has excellent anti-inflammatory properties and is used in combination with fish oil supplements to provide effective long-term relief in arthritis symptoms.

However, if you are using blood thinner medications such as aspirin on medical prescription, then you should consult your doctor before including omega-3 supplements or fish oil supplements for arthritis relief as they are natural blood thinners. This is to ensure that you do not take too many blood thinners as it could lead to potential side effects.

Food Restrictions For Gout - What Can I Eat?

As you know, if you have been diagnosed with gout there are some foods that you need to stay away from to avoid having an attack of painful gout. More than likely after you left your doctor's office and began to look at the list of foods restrictions for gout you began to wonder what you actually could eat. It is important that you are really careful with what you eat to avoid having a gout attack.

Here is a Brief list of some of the foods that are high in purines and should be avoided. The list is broken down into two categories. The first are foods that are extremely high in purines and the second is a list where the foods are only moderately high in purines.

Extremely high in purines:

o sweetbreads

o hearts

o sardines

o herring

o smelt

o yeast

o mussels

Moderately elevated in purines include:

o scallops

o anchovies

o pheasant

o grouse

o haddock

o mutton

o goose

o veal

o partridge

o bacon

o trout

o liver

o kidneys

o turkey

o salmon

Now that you have a basic idea of the foods you should avoid after you have been diagnosed with gout you probably would like a list of the foods you can eat. So, here it is:

o whole grains high in fiber

o fruits

• strawberries


• cherries


• tangerines


• blueberries


• Bananas


• mandarins


• pineapple

o vegetables

• green-leafy vegetables


• kale


• red cabbage


• parsley


• potatoes


• tomatoes


• red bell peppers


• Celery

o lean meats

o soy

o poultry

o Low-fat dairy

o Carbs (complex)

• pasta


• breads


• rice


• cereals

Although the list of food you can eat might not seem to have as many options on it as you would like you can find many healthy recipes online for meals that will not aggravate gout. All you have to do is look a little and you should be able to find something that will work for your taste buds.

It is true, you will have many restrictions on your diet however it does not mean you are going to be restricted on flavor. With a little imagination and creativity you can still have food with plenty of flavor to tickle your taste buds.

Following your food restrictions for gout is very important for your health and elimination of pain. These restrictions need to always be taken seriously and followed closely if you want to be in control of your gout. Diet, exercise and medication are all key factors in successfully managing gout and avoid as many attacks as possible.

Miracle Foods Against Arthritis

If you suffer from this debilitating condition, whether inflammatory or degenerative, it's a good idea to eat healthy, of course, avoiding toxins and pesticides. In addition to what's a sensible nutritional plan, you may not be aware of the fact that focusing on an alkalizing eating plan (as opposed to an acidifying one) will be highly beneficial against this condition.

I always wondered, as a teenager and then as an adult, why I would have specific cravings towards certain foods, such as onions, leeks, green peas, green beans, lemon and so on. I would devour huge quantities of it. At the same time, there were foods that, after consuming them, would make me feel unwell even if they are not necessarily, objectively 'bad'. Today I know it's because my body was 'telling' me I had to 'alkalize' my system in order to somehow 'fight' my Rheumatoid Arthritis. Those foods always helped and I never really connected the dots, so to speak!

So, amongst the best and most alkalizing nutrients you ought to consume are fresh lemons and limes (squeezed in mineral spring water, which is also alkalizing and much better than any tap water for this purpose), watermelons, all green vegetables, sea salt (no other salt is as good), onions and leeks. Amongst foods to absolutely avoid (because they are acidifying) are artificial sweeteners and sugar (so the best options is to use Stevia, which is a natural vegetable sweetener and alkalizing!), white breads, white pasta, white rice, cookies and similar, white noodles, all pop drinks, alcoholic drinks (especially hard liquors and beer), fatty meats and indeed most meats.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment - What Are Your Options?

Deciphering the Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment Puzzle

There are a variety of different rheumatoid arthritis treatment options available to people who have been diagnosed with this illness. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition that does not go away by itself. Medical studies indicate that women are more likely to get this disease than men. However, this illness is something that can strike anybody regardless of age or gender. That said, there are a variety of treatment options available should you be diagnosed with this illness.

The very first thing you need to understand is what a rheumatoid arthritis treatment option offers you; it is a way to manage your symptoms, not a cure. Rheumatoid arthritis is a lifelong chronic illness, so once you are diagnosed it is likely something you will have to live with for the rest of your life.

A Few Quick Facts About RA

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the synovial lining of the joints. This in turn causes the joints to become inflamed, tender, and painful. These joints often fill up with fluid, which causes diminished range of motion and makes even normal movements difficult.

In addition, there are a variety of other serious symptoms associated with RA. For example, other symptoms may include muscle weakness, generalized fatigue, and heat, pain and swelling in the vicinity of the affected joints. And if the joint inflammation is not managed through early intervention, permanent joint damage and disfigurement may eventually result.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment Options

Keep in mind that treatment mainly involves the management of symptoms for those who are diagnosed with RA. Given the fact that this particular illness has the potential to destroy one's joints, it is critically important that treatment begin as soon as the illness is confirmed. The most popular treatment options revolve around the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-malarial medications that are known to provide some relief of RA symptoms, and prescribing other disease modifying anti-rheumatic medications (DMARDS). You and your doctor will likely spend considerable time finding the exact drug regimen that provides the most relief for your symptoms.

In addition to prescription drugs, it is very important that you speak to your doctor about the different exercise programs that are available to help people who have RA. The reason why this type of physical therapy is so important is because it can help enhance your range of motion as well as help your body cope with many aspects of the illness. Proper regular exercise will help you retain range of motion in your joints, which in turn helps manage some of the symptoms you may experience. In addition, you may find some relief from adhering to a special rheumatoid arthritis diet; many RA sufferers report modest to marked improvement of their symptoms after implementing dietary changes.

In summary, the treatment that is best for you will ultimately be determined between you and your doctor. The best rheumatoid arthritis treatment approach typically involves some use of medication while at the same time making sure to get rest, proper nutrition, and the necessary physical therapy and exercise that your body needs.