Rheumatoid Arthritis - Persistent Painful Life

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a disease which causes tremendous pain to the person affected by it. Any person in the age group 25 to 55 may develop this condition. Starting as a little pain in one or two joints it may soon develop into an extremely painful affair, almost all the joints of the body and associated muscles, causing the pain. It is a slow destructive swelling of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis affects the finger joints and joints of the feet initially. Soon it develops and covers the entire body, to affect all joints, like the wrists, knees, shoulders, ankles, elbows etc. It is a very painful experience to be affected with this illness. Sometimes, the pain is a little eased but there are repeated and progressive attacks which make the person suffering from Rheumatoid arthritis suffer a lot. It has been found that the percentage of women suffering from this type of arthritis is nearly double than that of men. It also affects people of any age group.

This problem has many symptoms, all of them painful. Swollen joints have stiffness and pain. The pain and swelling increase in the mornings usually. Rheumatoid arthritis also causes the skin over the affected joints to get a shiny appearance. Movement of the person becomes very restricted because of general stiffness in the joints and muscles. Though not very common, in a very few cases mobility loss may also occur. It causes a general feeling of illness in the affected person, who may also suffer from loss of appetite. Because of the destructive effect, over a period of time, especially the joints of the hands, they may become deformed and completely lose their function. Rheumatoid arthritis is a persistent disease, sometimes causing anaemia and also affecting the eyes, lungs etc.

As with many diseases, the exact cause of this problem is not known. Known treatment is to take painkillers to get relief from the pain. It is always advisable to contact the doctor as soon as symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis appear. The doctor gets the affected joints x-rayed so that he can know the extent of damage and severity of the attack. The doctor also usually prescribes anti inflammatory drugs which give good relief from the pain. Very extreme cases, when he suspects that there will be further damage to the joints he may put into splints. It is not unknown that operation is also done in some cases. Arranging for physiotherapy, and help related to easing of strain due to work also may be arranged by the doctor.

Rheumatoid arthritis cannot be prevented. Apart from the pain it causes, and the possible deformities at the joints, Rheumatoid arthritis has psychological effects on the affected person also. Any deformity on any part of the body is cause for anyone to be going into a state of depression. Another troublesome feature of Rheumatoid arthritis is alternating its attacks and remissions.

Operation of the affected parts and their replacement has been developed and it will give a person much relief and mobility.

Some Natural Ways to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a serious form of arthritis where the immune system which is supposed to defend the body, actually starts to attack it. It is more serious than say osteoarthritis simply because in addition to the standard joint pain and swelling, rheumatoid arthritis can also cause anemia, poor circulation and debilitating fatigue.

The best natural treatments for rheumatoid arthritis are the same as osteoarthritis, however with more emphasis being placed on diet. Here is a look at a few that have proven to be particularly helpful.

Heat Application

Whether it be electric blankets, heating pads or hot packs, applying heat to painful joints can offer substantial relief. One method of heat application that has shown to be particularly helpful is hot baths, especially when infused with essential oils such as rosemary and eucalyptus.

Cold Application

At the other end of the spectrum is the application of cold. This is most effective and appropriate when your joints are really inflamed. A cold pack or bag of peas compressed against the area can bring much needed relief in a short period of time. This is due to the fact that the cold reduces the swelling fast and also stimulates the nerve endings which acts as a distraction against deeper joint aches and pains.

Vegetarian Diet

Recent studies have shown that people with rheumatoid arthritis showed significant improvement after just 30 days of switching to a vegetarian diet. This diet also excluded eggs, dairy, gluten, caffeine, alcohol, salt and refined sugar.

Going vegetarian may seem like a daunting prospect if you are a heavy meat eater however being vegetarian is not about just eating vegetables / salads. There are lots of beautiful tasting, hearty dishes that can be prepared. If you are interested in this just do a search online for vegetarian recipes. You will find plenty.

However, if vegetarianism is not an option for you, the next best thing is to really tune into your body after you eat. This will give you some insight into which particular foods seem to flare up your symptoms. You can then decide whether or not to reduce or exclude these foods from your diet.

These are just a few things you can do to treat your rheumatoid arthritis naturally. I know this is an awful condition to have to deal with (my Mother has it) and my heart goes out to you. Just keep an open mind and keep trying new things until you have got enough 'things that help' in your back pocket that you can draw on as needed.

Gout And Celiac Disease: What Is The Connection?

Gout and Celiac Disease; Is There A Connection?

There has always been a considerably amount of speculation about whether or not Celiac and Gout share a common thread. There are several well-known symptoms and/or shared health problems of both of them. Among them are indications of Autoimmune Disorders, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Bone and Joint Pain, which lead to a reasonable assumption that Gout does fit into the realm of Celiac Disease.

What is Celiac Disease?

Celiac Disease damages the small intestine and interrupts the absorption of nutrients from food. People who have Celiac have an intolerance to gluten; a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten is usually found in foods but many other common products like medicines, vitamins, and lip balms can also contain gluten.

In extreme cases, the presence of gluten on a molecular level is enough to cause severe reactions for those with advanced sensitivities.

When someone with Celiac Disease eats certain foods or uses different products containing gluten, their immune system will damage or destroy the "villi" - the microscopic, finger-like lining of the small intestine. The villi function to allow nutrients from food to be absorbed through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream. Without the villi functioning properly, signs of malnutrition may start to appear.

Celiac is not only an abnormal immune reaction to gluten, but also a condition where nutrients are not absorbed adequately and studies have shown proof that it is genetic in nature.

There have been reports of Gout Sufferers who also have Celiac Disease that have found relief from both of the diseases with prolonged and intensive use of highly concentrated Antioxidants.

The symptoms of Celiac can also vary with such factors as; a person's age and/or the degree of damage that has been done to the small intestine. Some people have the symptoms and condition for 10 years or more before they are diagnosed. If left undiagnosed and untreated, the greater the risk of sustaining long-term complications.

How does Gout fit in?

Rheumatoid arthritis is typically labeled as an autoimmune disease. No condition is completely and exclusively manifested from internal sources and it is logical that there is always some form of external influences. Fairly often, Arthritis is associated with inflammatory bowel disease. Food allergies, poor gastrointestinal tract function, and immune attacks on connective tissues, are closely associated. In the case of all arthritic instances, close attention should be paid to dietary intake and monitored carefully.

Arthritis that appears to stem from an allergic reaction is not usually recognized as a food allergy, even when pain and swelling starts to develop in one of more of the joints. It doesn't matter if the food is something that is commonly eaten by an individual, or something completely new; joint inflammation can occur due to an accumulation of causes or from a combination metabolic substances. Such is the case with Gout.

Presently, Celiac Disease and "Gluten Intolerance" are often used interchangeably although this is a misconception. To diagnose Celiac, blood tests are drawn to measure for high levels of anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies or anti-endomysium antibodies.

However this is not to discount that more reports are now showing low-level irritation and gluten sensitivities in the small intestine in more people. Due to the number of gout sufferers that are also showing signs of Celiac Disease, as well as the growing number of people expressing inflammatory bowel-like symptoms, there is evidence that low-grade gluten intolerance is affecting a much broader range of the population than previously thought.

The speculation still remains that either Celiac Disease or Gluten Intolerance is the culprit or at least an accomplice to the condition of Gout.

The Top Rated 10 Natural Arthritis Remedies

Organic and natural arthritis treatment plans are increasingly being used to minimize, and sometimes actually wipe out, arthritis signs and symptoms. If you are tired of taking arthritis pain prescription drugs and worry about their detrimental effects on the body, start thinking about adding effective natural treatment options to your arthritis treatment program. The following are the most effective arthritis super stars of holistic painfulness and inflammation assistance.

Glucosamine is one of the nation's best selling dietary supplements and is a widely accepted natural supplement for arthritis. Glucosamine is a naturally developing amino sugar generated by the body and is a necessary building block of cartilage, joint fluid and other connective tissue. The quantity of glucosamine formulated by the body lessens with age. To avoid cartilage deterioration, it is preferred to supplement with glucosamine at the very first signs of arthritis.

Yucca is reputed to lessen harmful toxins around and within joints, thus reducing inflammation. One review revealed that yucca decreased joint problems and rigidity in fifty percent of the arthritic people. Other studies demonstrate that yucca can diminish head aches, improves blood flow and lowers blood pressure.

White willow holds the moniker "nature's aspirin." The pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory results of white willow remain for a longer period compared to aspirin and unlike over-the-counter aspirin, white willow does not cause stomach bleeding. One review established that, when compared to placebo, white willow effectively minimized arthritis pain.

Chondroitin, the second most commonly established arthritis supplementation, lowers inflammation and aids glucosamine in protecting cartilage material. Chondroitin, precursors of the material foundations of cartilage, prohibit enzymes which might hurt cartilage cells. Chondroitin is also thought to promote elasticity in joint cartilage.

Capsaicin is what adds spice to the cayenne pepper. The hot energy of this healthy ingredient is what knocks out pain. Capsaicin is regarded for its pain-reducing results and in the alternative medicine world, capsaicin is a top arthritis treatment.

Boswellia has been used for 100's of years by conventional Indian healers of Ayurvedic for arthritis and rheumatism. This unique herb's anti-inflammatory attributes help lower aching, rigidity and inflammation. Boswellia, additionally known as "Indian frankincense," is thought to be as potent as OTC NSAIDs like ibuprofen and aspirin but does not trigger stomach discomfort.

Omega-3 essential fatty acids have been clinically proven in a number of scientific tests to act as anti-inflammatory materials. Research shows that Omega-3 essential fatty acids lessen inflammatory symptoms of arthritis and also hinders enzymes that break down joint cartilage. These extremely advantageous nutritional elements might additionally help reduce the associated risk of long-term diseases such as heart disease and cancer, and can boost mood and help with depression.

Feverfew escaped awareness for several years but because of new scientific curiosity is now getting a solid name as an anti-inflammatory. Feverfew got its name from its old fashioned use as a fever reducer. Modern herbalists work with this herb to treat intense head aches and migraine headaches, as well as joint pain and discomfort. Feverfew helps regulate the body's inflammatory response and is found to imitate the anti-inflammatory effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroid cortisone.

Shark cartilage is increasingly becoming a commonly recognized means for managing osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. A number of scientific tests demonstrate the helpfulness of shark cartilage for arthritis. One shark cartilage review revealed noticeable improvements in comfort in 75 % of arthritis patients researched over a 3 to 8 week time frame. A small-scale review involving bedridden individuals demonstrated that after merely 3 weeks of using shark cartilage, 8 of the ten people were able to get out of their beds and move about. Then in a much bigger review of 147 arthritis sufferers, the people using shark cartilage enjoyed an 85 % drop in discomfort scores, compared to the five % drop in discomfort scores described by the placebo group.

Devil's Claw is an herb put to use worldwide for its analgesic, sedative, anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties. Devil's claw has been used in Europe and Africa for more than 3 centuries and is said to lower joint painfulness while improving the physical condition of joints. A German review noted that devil's claw demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects when comparable to the anti-arthritic drug phenylbutazone. Researchers additionally observed analgesic outcomes coupled with reductions in uric acid blood levels.

These herbs and nutrients have all been proven to aid in reducing the pains of arthritis. Will these products work for you? There is simply one way to find out. All of these arthritis possibilities are commonly regarded as low risk. All the same, you will want to double check with your healthcare professional or pharmacist for possible interactions if you are taking any other drugs.

Rheumatoid Arthritis, Diet As an Alternative Treatment

When you are diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis you start of with medicine and treatments your doctor prescribes for you, some of these remedies will work for you while others have so many side effects that it is worse then the illness itself. usually it takes people one ore two years in the regular health care before they start looking for other remedies. A rheumatoid arthritis diet is one of these alternative remedies we want to inform you about.

Of course the symptoms vary, rheumatoid arthritis is a disease where people react totally different to the disease itself but also to the medicine. Some people have severe pains every day and others have mild pain but do have very inflamed joints. Also the way they react to medication can be completely different. Some really have very good results with the prescription drug their doctor gave them while others have severe side effects. All of this is because rheumatoid arthritis is an illness of the immune system and people have a tendency to react different to it.

Is rheumatoid arthritis diet an alternative to regular treatment?

People usually only start looking at alternatives when the regular treatment is not working or the side effects are to severe. A rheumatoid arthritis diet is such an alternative. There has always been much discussion about rheumatoid arthritis diets although you should not see it as a diet in the traditional sense. In fact it is just a list of foods that you should avoid and a list that most people have good results with. But just as with the regular treatments, rheumatoid arthritis diet is something you should experiment with a little. Regular doctors usually do not recommend a rheumatoid arthritis diet because they say it is never proved to be effective and everybody reacts different on it, they are right people do react different on it but they also react different on the regular prescription drugs. So that is a lousy argument especially when you know how many people are suffering from this disease.

It is a diet that you should discus with your doctor because the diet increases the intake of omega-3 fatty acids and as the name already said this can be an increasing of the total amount of fat. We say it can be, because if you look at the other recommendations fresh vegetables and fruits and the things you should avoid the total amount of fat can be much less than your regular diet depending on what you are eating right now. Fatty acids, omega-3, can be found in soybean oil, fish oil, walnuts, avocado oil, walnuts and canola oil.

This might seem like a large amount of fats but these fats are in the food you eat, fish oil can be eaten in many fatty fish like salmon and many other fish. And because you avoid fats from fried and processed foods you will probably eat less fat in total. you should also avoid alcohol and coffee.

A healthy weight is also important

There is one aspect on a rheumatoid arthritis diet that your doctor would agree with, you have to become and stay on a healthy weight. So its is not the list of foods where there is an agreement about but the fact that with a good healthy weight your rheumatoid arthritis symptoms will be much less and that is a good thing to remember in a world with people who are getting more and more obese.

Canine Rheumatoid Arthritis - Valuable Tips For Protecting Your Dog

Canine rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects dogs of all ages, unlike osteoarthritis that usually affects older dogs. Since it is an autoimmune disease, this type of canine arthritis comprises the body's initial reaction to fight off canine distemper virus affecting other tissues as well, such as joints and cartilages.

Although it is just one way of the dog's body to fight off viruses, in some cases the tendency of the immune system is that even the healthy joints are affected. This process eventually causes inflammation which eventually leads to joint damage.

Preventing canine rheumatoid arthritis is not an exact science, but veterinarians have discovered a few methods to lower your pet's risk. Here's how:

Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Vitamin C

Just like humans, dogs also need the right nutrients to maintain the normal processes of their bodies. Vets say that providing dogs with Omega 3-enriched foods will help lower the risk of developing canine rheumatoid arthritis.

Experts suggest that if Omega 3 fatty acids has great impact in humans particularly in lowering their risks in developing rheumatoid arthritis, dogs can exhibit the same effect. Hence, it is best to include foods rich in Omega 3 fatty acids in your dog's diet, such as fish. You can also use fish oils and add them into your dog's meals.

Also, try to find dog foods that are rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C may not be able to cure canine rheumatoid arthritis but it can help prevent the rapid deterioration or destruction of the joints as caused by the body's autoimmune response against certain viruses.

Stop Weight Gain

Some dog owners are fond of seeing their dogs fat or overweight. As much as you would want them to stay adorable, obesity in dogs can trigger the progression of canine rheumatoid arthritis.

The idea is that even if this particular type of canine arthritis is commonly caused by the over-reaction of the immune system, destruction of the joints are still evident. Hence, excess weight can cause the pain and discomfort brought about by the disease.

Extra weight will always put added stress on your dog's joints. Such pressure can wear down the joints in your dog's knees leading to arthritis.

Regular walking and playing with your dog will provide him the best exercise he needs.

Use Dietary Supplements

Just like in humans, supplements can promote better health in dogs, especially when it comes to their bones' health. Try to enhance your dog's diet with Chondroitin Sulphate and Glucosamine Sulphate. These supplements help in inhibiting the weakening and destruction of joints and cartilages in a dog's skeletal system. These supplements increase the lubrication at the cartilages through liquid extraction to the joint.

Also, try to improve your dog's diet by adding up some nutrients to their usual food. Cut up some vegetables or blend in some fruits in your dog's meal for added supplements. Just keep in mind not to add up onions or mushrooms as these can be very deadly for dogs.

Treat the Pain

It is a well-known fact that canine rheumatoid arthritis can not totally be prevented. However, if the disease is already present, the main treatment you should administer is to control the pain or relieve your dog from such discomfort.

Pain relievers are the most common types of medications administered in dogs with rheumatoid arthritis. However, dog owners should be wary of using such medications because of the possible adverse effects on their pets. Just like in humans, medicines can also aggravate or trigger some effects, such as stomach irritation, nausea, vomiting, or may even cause liver and kidney problems.

Cooperating with your veterinarian to come up with the appropriate medication or treatment for your dog can ease the pain that your pet is going through. Keep in mind as well that the extra little thing that you can do for your dog, such as providing him nice, comfy quarters can help the discomfort he is experiencing with canine rheumatoid arthritis.

How Do I Know I Have Arthritis?

There are pain syndromes like fibromyalgia and arthritis-related disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, that involve every part of the body. There are relatively mild forms of tendinitis (as in 'tennis elbow') and bursitis to crippling systemic forms, such as rheumatoid arthritis. There are forms of the disease, such as gout, which almost nobody connects with this condition, and there are other conditions - like osteoarthritis, the misnamed 'wear and tear' arthritis - that a good many people think is the only form of the disease.

How do you know if you have arthritis? While symptoms and severity vary from person to person, the most common symptoms are: pain, swelling, stiffness, tenderness, redness and warmth. Osteoarthritis is characterized by progressive stiffness without swelling, chills or fever.

Rheumatoid arthritis is the painful swelling, inflammation and stiffness in the fingers, arms, legs and wrists, which are prevalent on both sides of the body and are usually worse in the morning. Children with on-off fever, loss of appetite, weight loss and a blotchy rash on the arms and legs might have juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. You should call the doctor if symptoms appear suddenly, or if they are accompanied by a fever or rash.

There are several common misconceptions about arthritis. Myth # 1 is that every day is the same for patients. In reality, this form of chronic pain comes and goes, which makes it difficult for diagnosis. Myth # 2 is that only older people have arthritis. However, in some cases, even children have this type of pain. Myth # 3 is that arthritis is caused by cold, wet weather or a poor diet.

In reality, there are no easy cause-and-effect connections, but contributing factors include: age, weight, anatomy, infection of the joint and trauma. Lastly, some believe that joint replacement surgery (arthroplasty) should be avoided for as long as possible. Yet the surgery has helped millions of Americans and is seen as a viable option when exercise, physical therapy and medication fail.

For treatment, Methotrexate slows the progression of rheumatoid arthritis and restores some function. For osteoarthritis sufferers, NSAIDs like ibuprofen are good at relieving short term pain and stiffness. Disease modifiers like Methotrexate, Leflunomide, Adalimumab, Etanercept or Infliximab can help long term effects and reduce joint damage.

For people with gout, NSAIDs, Corticosteroids, Allopurinol and Probenecid are effective drugs. Be sure to see your doctor if you have been suffering with any symptom of chronic pain.

Control Arthritis through Diet

It is a universally accepted fact that arthritis does not have a medical cure. However, it can be controlled with alternative medicine methods such as yoga, herbal treatment and a close watch on the diet. Yes, your diet can make a great impact on the way arthritis is manifested in your body.

The diet control is aimed at checking the build-up of toxins and acid waste that usually accumulates in the body when a person has a high-calorie diet. Ideally, the diet of an arthritis patient should not exceed 2000 calories. The best would be to consume a fair amount of fruits, vegetables and proteins minimizing the intake of carbohydrates to the maximum extent possible.

Foods You Should Include In The Diet

Reports show that people suffering from arthritis benefit greatly from drinking the juice extracted from green leafy vegetables. For an extra edge, a little beetroot and/or carrot juice might also be added here. Several studies show that an alkaline reaction is triggered in the body owing to the intake of such raw juices, which eliminates the negative deposits around the joints.

Fruit juice is yet another highly recommended food input for arthritis patients, with special emphasis on pineapple. This is because pineapple consists of a unique ingredient by the name of bromelain, which directly impacts the inflammation caused by arthritis. Other fruits that control arthritis are melons, bananas, citrus fruits, apples and apricots.

Garlic, which is also a very effective anti-inflammatory agent, may be incorporated into the day-to-day diet either in raw form or as capsules of the arthritis patients to control both infection and inflammation. A little known fact is that garlic has some great analgesic properties as well and hence, it is as an added benefit against this crippling disease.

Finding Alternatives

Indigenous medicine advises arthritis patients to consume regular doses of juice extracted from potatoes diluted with water in a fifty-fifty ratio. In order for this remedy to be effective, it is important that the potatoes be organically grown and unpeeled when used for this purpose. The juice should be drunk in small measures (say one cup) every morning on an empty stomach.

Since alkaline foods are highly beneficial in the effort to combat the worst symptoms and manifestations of this disease, the arthritis patient would also profit from consuming alfalfa seeds tea. The recommended dosage would be approximately six to seven cups spread over 24 hours, for best results. In a very short while, this diet would show visible results, much to the delight of the afflicted person and their dear ones.

It is important to lean here that Vitamins A & D are vital for the body to cleanse it from infection. In this context, the arthritis patients would do well if they concentrate on the fact that their body might be starved of these two vitamins. Vitamin D can be obtained through exposure to the sun, since a chemical reaction would release Vitamin D when the skin is exposed to direct sun.

Several studies have pointed to the fact that certain foods aggravate the condition of the arthritis patient. Hence, it is important to avoid consuming all preserved meats, all kinds of cheese, meat stock, coffee, salad dressing, chocolate and candy among many others.

With a little care and the right diet, the arthritis patient would be able to keep a tight check on this disease and in the process live a normal life like any other non-afflicted person.

Arthritis Pain Medication - Dosage Help for The Elderly

Some older people with osteoarthritis discount their pain and are reluctant to take pain relievers. A study of the use of pain medications and seniors indicates that they often have a negative attitude toward the drugs. They frequently don't follow the instructions for use, choosing instead to downplay their pain. As a result, many suffer needlessly. I know I observed my elderly mother behaving this way, and I became curious about other elderly people.

Researchers conducted in-depth interviews with men and women ages 67 to 92, who had severe hip or knee osteoarthritis. They asked the study participants to gather all their prescription and nonprescription medications and then discussed the doses and timing of each. The researchers posed such open-ended questions and as:

What does your osteoarthritis feel like at this time? What are you doing for your osteoarthritis? What other medications are you taking? Do you take your medication in the way your health care professionals suggested? Why or why not? Do you take your medications regularly? Why or why not?

Most participants took medications for other conditions too, but they viewed painkillers as different. They were reluctant to take pain pills and often didn't follow label directions. Although the participants generally follow the instructions on their other medications, most purposely took pain relievers less often than recommended or at lower doses.

The interviewees also followed different medication behaviors when it came to pain relievers. The elderly men and women did not place painkillers in their pill organizer along with their other medicines. One woman filled her prescription for an opioid pain reliever, and then threw away the bottle. Another recorded how many acetaminophen tablets she took each day and put lower dose acetaminophen in the bottle for the extra strength product. Some took less pain medication when it was about to run out, although they did not do this with other medication.

What reasons did people give for not wanting to take pain medications or for cutting back on dosages? Most said that they didn't like to take pills, although several of them took many pills each day, plus dietary supplements. Several feared addiction. One participant referred to a common opioid pain reliever as a hard drug and said it reminded her of drug use on the street. Others had similar concerns, noting that taking pain relievers had become a habit more than a necessity.

Yet some of the participants hold friends and family to a different standard, scolding them for not taking their pain medications as described.

Many of these older people with osteoarthritis dismissed their pain or made light of it, even though pain restricted their activities. They claimed that at their age paint was to be expected. That's how you know you're alive, one man remarked. Several others justify taking less pain medication than prescribed by claiming to have a high tolerance for pain. Or they expressed the need to fight the pain and not give into it. Many participants said they would take pain relievers only if the pain became very bad.

The researchers noted that noncompliance with pain medication may indicate a person's refusal to accept that arthritis - associated pain warrants treatment. As a result, doctors may want to omit or clarify the instruction "as needed" on pain medication.

Also, educating older people with osteoarthritis about the safety of opioid avoid pain relievers and the need to take all pain medications as directed may relieve their concerns about addiction and improve their quality of life.

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Smoking - Evidence That Smoking Increases Your Risk

Smoking or nonsmoking?

How many times have you been asked that question when you entered your favorite restaurant?
If you answered nonsmoking, you are directed to a smoke-free area where you can eat your food without the rancid smell of smoke to truly enjoy the flavor of your food. After all, you pay hard-earned money to go and enjoy a meal. You don't want someone else's smoking to interfere with your evening. Hopefully you will continue to choose the nonsmoking section because studies show that smoking increases your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, as well as many other different medical difficulties.

It used to be smoking was allowed in every public place, but that's simply not the case anymore. There are some states that ban smoking in public gathering places. Despite the money that is made from smoking, cities and states are banning together to read the facts about smoking and don't wish to remain vulnerable for potential lawsuits. The health industry is becoming quite successful at relaying the health hazards associated with smoking. You want the facts, right? Well, let's discover what smoking does to your body.

Smoking gives you...

- An empty wallet

- Bad breath

- Breathing difficulties

- Frequent colds and coughs

- Lung cancer

- Medical difficulties

- Prison-like addictions

- Risk of infections

- Smelly clothes

- Yellow fingertips and teeth

How can smoking make my rheumatoid arthritis worse?

Statistics show that cigarette smoking causes 87% of lung cancer deaths. Smokers are about twice as likely as a nonsmoker to suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. If you already have rheumatoid arthritis, smoking can make the disease and pain worse. Smokers with rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to develop complications of rheumatoid arthritis that affect parts of the body other than joints than nonsmokers.

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis causes chronic inflammation and degeneration of the joints, especially the fingers, hands, shoulders, knees, feet, and ankles. It is easily recognizable by swollen joints, by x-rays revealing erosion around the affected joints, and by the presence of antibodies in the blood known as the rheumatoid factor.

What does rheumatoid arthritis cause?

Rheumatoid arthritis causes many medical deficiencies such as:

- Anemia

- Crippling pain

- Fatigue

- Fever

- Stiffness

- Swelling

- Uncontrollable weight loss

How can smoking cause rheumatoid arthritis?

Researchers aren't positive of the reason why smoking increases rheumatoid arthritis, but they are sure that smokers have worse rheumatoid arthritis than nonsmokers. The more years and more frequently you've smoked can dramatically increase your chance of worsening the symptoms of your rheumatoid arthritis.

How many people are afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis?

About 2.9 million Americans suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.

Which gender is more susceptible to suffer from rheumatoid arthritis?

Women are two to three times more susceptible than men to be diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

At what age do people acquire rheumatoid arthritis?

The typical age that people get rheumatoid arthritis is between the ages of 25-50.

How Himalayan Salt Could Help Your Arthritis

Our health has many enemies and one of the main ones is the salt on your table. Mankind has been abusing his body with wrong types of food for a long time.

The reason is that most of us do not grow our own food and in the main would not know where to start, so we have to relay on others to do it for us.

Those who do grow food start off with the question; what is good for my bank balance and not with the question: what's good for our health. To maintain our health we must be prepared to adjust our living and eating habits.

It cost money to grow and eat good food but it cost far more in bad health to eat unwholesome food.

When we reach for the salt on our table, we are using a food which is not whole, for it is missing 81 elements and this means that we are slowly poisoning ourselves with an imbalanced food that is making us become weaker, unbalanced and more prone to diseases (arthritis being one of them).

But all the same, we need salt to maintain balance within our systems. So it is no good living a salt-free diet because the body would compensate by taking the salt from different parts of the body.

Osteoporosis arthritis can occur if that goes one for any length of time.

Himalayan Crystal Salt is an all-natural salt with therapeutic properties,

In parts of the world where they are wise enough to use natural salt and not refined, disease of the heart and arthritis are unknown.

This pure, natural salt is the main ingredient of the sea. When salt is mined miles from the sea it is because, over millions of years, the sea has evaporated, and this has left the salt in undisturbed deposits deep under the earth.

This is the real salt, which our bodies crave and is absolutely full of natural minerals, just like it is meant to be.

It may interest you to know that common salt is nothing more then sodium chloride. If you eat chloride it will slowly poison you and sodium will burst into flame if it comes in contact with water. In combination they are know as salt, which you have on your kitchen table; what joy.

Natural salt plays a very important part of our body's health; in the digestion of food and is also very critical in making our hearts beat correctly. Natural salt also regulates the body's metabolism.

It is a proven fact that if we do not get enough natural salt we could have muscles cramps, experience exhaustion, dizziness and lots more unpleasant effects.

But when you take natural salt you strengthen your joints and also utilize your food better because the natural salt helps with the digestion.

You do not even have to eat the natural salt; use it in your bath and have a good soak to relieve your joint pains and ward off arthritis joint pain. Old wives tell or not, it works. For that matter if you live near the sea swim in it as much as you can, it is truly great for arthritic conditions.

Medical people often laugh at folk remedies, but it is not all rubbish.

People who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis are found to have very low sulphate levels, so would it not make sense to use Himalayan salt because it is one of the 84 minerals in its make up. Himalayan salt is very similar to human blood so it makes very good sense to use it to maintain our good health.

Himalayan salt does have components in trace amounts that are similar to human blood. Rather then abusing your body with common salt, take care of your health with Himalayan salt.

The Health Risks Of Eating Too Much Cheese

Cheese must be one of the best dairy products ever processed. A lot of Americans and other people over the world love cheese so much and the cheese-making industry has grown to be a thriving business. All types of cheese that tingle the taste buds line the supermarket shelves, deli and gourmet shops.

You'll be surprised to know that there's a thing called cheese addiction. A scientific study conducted in the eighties revealed that traced of morphine can be found in milk and dairy products, and the highest among them can be found in cheese.

Now you ask - how did the morphine get there? I was too surprised myself, but a specific milk protein called casein was found in cow's milk. The same protein releases opiates when digested, and it occurs more in cheese than in any other dairy product since cheese in concentrated milk protein after lactose sugar and water are extracted in the cheese-making process. So too much cheese can actually develop into a form of addiction.

And just as much as it can lead you to specific cravings, too much cheese can also be bad for your health. It contains high levels of saturated fats which are directly responsible for the bad cholesterol that builds up and blocks the arteries.

Above average cheese consumption has also been observed to trigger migraine attacks and arthritis flares. In fact, the high fat content in cheese has been directly correlated with about 50% of rheumatoid arthritis cases. It also interferes with vitamin D absorption since an excess of calcium from dairy products can suppress the activation of vitamin D in the body. Vitamin D insufficiency increases your risk for prostate cancer by the way. It also causes an increase in testosterone production, which is also linked to prostate cancer.

Cheese takes 70 percent of its calorie from fat, so apart from being addictive, it can also be quit fattening. It is also loaded with high levels of sodium, which is a critical contributing factor to elevated blood pressure.
It hurts as I write this since I am a self-confessed cheese person! I'm already thinking about all those cheeses in my fridge, but it should be wise to motivate ourselves out of our cheese cravings, knowing too much of it can cause a lot of critical health issues.

Superfoods and Gout - Curing Gout With Dietary Changes

When considering superfoods and gout, there are several that are known to stop the instance of gout from occurring. The value cherry juice is well known and strawberries may help as well. There are certain chemicals contained in dark colored berries that are thought to lower the uric acid present in the body and reduce the swelling that is present in gout sufferers. There are many other foods that help, too.

Gout is caused by a build up of uric acid in the bloodstream that causes crystals to be formed in the joints and under the skin. This causes swelling, pain and stiffness in the joints most notably the big toe. While it is not limited to the big toe, that is the best known part of the body to get this condition. Working to reduce or eliminate the painful symptoms of gout is accomplished by adding some of the superfoods mentioned to your diet.

Another food that has shown favorable results is oily fish. This would include fish such as salmon. The fatty acids that are present in flax seed is another. There is also evidence that nuts or olive oil can help to reduce the swelling of gout. Instead of eating meat, especially red meat, which has been linked to gout, eat tofu instead.

Superfoods and gout are one of the keys to controlling this problem, so a little advice - check out the superfoods that are recommended. By eating a diet that is low in fat, low in protein and contains a large amount of complex carbohydrates, you may get the relief you need.

Beverages are important, too. Water is one of the best things you can drink to help flush uric acid from the body. Coffee and fruit juices are excellent for helping to reduce uric acid. Check the purine levels in the food you eat and try to avoid those that contain high levels.

Some of these super foods will include different types of cereal that are low-fiber. Breads made from white flour or refined grains are another. Peanut butter and vegetables that are low in purines are good sources of food that will help. Cream style soups, gelatin, nuts and low fat cheese are just a few more of the super foods. Eating avocados, celery and grapes will help to reduce uric acid.

Sources of food that come from animals are high in purines. This is converted by the body to uric acid. So the best idea would be to avoid meat as much as possible, limiting yourself on the amount of lean meat you consume and avoiding red meat.

Now that you know how superfoods can help you reduce or eliminate the symptoms of gout, get started today to get rid of you pain and lead a healthy life. For a free report of how to get rid of gout, check out Gout Facts Here, a site with a wealth of information on eliminating gout.

This Man's Victory Over a Dreaded Disease Called Rheumatoid Arthritis

In my 8 year struggle with Rheumatoid Arthritis I have learned more then one thing that we will attempt to offer concerning general health practices that are beneficial for any one to do, but along with that I will speak of ONE single answer that was shown to me, that has effectively "tipped the balance", and has begun to cause me to recuperate.

Today's date is January 25th, 2010, and as of this date I have not yet shed all the signs of RA, but I know that I am on the road to complete recovery. My story with RA (in brief details) started almost exactly 8 years ago.

At first I experienced needle like pains that would come at night, and always in different places in my body. They were very frustrating in that they kept me from sleep. As those diminished I began to be subject to an overwhelming fatigue that became so great it was all I could do to step up 6 inches at a time, and it is fair for you to know that prior to this I had always been very strong and able bodied. Effectively, I went from 44 to 94 years of age in three month's time. About then, it was suggested to me to begin to drink much more water and take MSM. The which I did, and the fatigue began to lift. (General Health Tip - Drink lots of good fresh water, and nutritional supplements are very needed. However, not all supplements are equal)

In the numerous months that followed I experienced swelling in my limbs that would come and go. At one point my left leg, from my knee down, and including my ankle was swollen for what must have been 3 to 4 month's time. Then the focus of the disease seemed to turn to my smaller joints. My toes, fingers, and the joints in my hands became extremely affected, and began to be distorted and swollen. In fact, the joints in my right hand were at that time so affected that if I were to shake my hand they would just freely wobble, as if there was little or no connection between them and my hand. The knuckle joints had simply been "eaten up" by the disease. However, in time the RA relaxed in these joints and began to affect the major joints, such as my knees, wrists, and elbows.

In the summer after I first began to be affected by RA I visited a doctor and he diagnosed me with Rheumatoid Arthritis. This doctor told me that there was no answer for RA, and that I would have to learn to "live with it", and his suggestion as to how to "live with it" was Viox. The which I took for some months. However, I experienced NO outstanding benefits from it, and never felt good about it. So when I heard that people were dropping dead of heart attacks because of using it, I discontinued the use of it. I then tried Celebrex. I experienced no particular side affects, but neither did it do anything for me. So I discontinued the use of it.

After about three years of "dealing" with RA I hurt badly. At that point my right knee was bone on bone, and to walk was exceedingly painful. It was then that I was introduced to an herbalist in our area. At her suggestion I did several types of cleanses, (including a very complete colon cleanse) and began a very restricted diet of salads, yams or sweet potatoes, and salmon. After doing this, and with the introductions of numerous vitamins and minerals I did experience a come back. Awe! How sweet it was! I actually recuperated to about 95% of my original physical abilities. (General Health Tip--It seems very much universally accepted that the core of all good health starts in the colon, therefore one needs a source of fiber to effectively keep the colon clean and in good working order--Also, there is no substitute for a balanced diet. Particularly one that is 70% or more alkaline. However, it also seems very much universally accepted that because of the present conditions of the our soils, plus the introduction of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, growth hormones, food preservatives, and many other man made manipulations of our foods there is little or no hope of eating a pure and balanced diet without the use of a wise food supplement product. Plus a supplement is needed that can effectively remove toxins from our bodies)

However, no matter how obedient I was to this diet, or to taking these vitamins and minerals (the which I used to take by the hand full) I was not able to maintain the recovery I had experienced, and once again began to hurt terribly. I again became stiff. I again experience swelling in different parts of my body. In short, I began again to greatly loose my physical abilities. This continued up until recent days, so that by the time, (according to God's rich mercy upon me) the Reliv products were introduced to me, I had become very crippled with advancing deformity in my arms in my legs.

I was still able to walk, but I describe it as hobbling. Both my legs and my arms were very seriously being deformed so that they would not straighten, and my left knee took a crook, so that my left foot was approximately five inches out of alignment, 5 inches to the left of where it was suppose to be. I walked very much bent over, partially dragging my left foot. It was very humiliating to me! At this point, for about a nine month duration I was on Enbrel. Which is in my understanding the strongest pharmaceutical available for RA, and the only reason I could then afford it is that I could no longer work and was at this point on a disability, and had therefore become so poor that I was able to receive it by means of a grant. However, the way I described the good (or lack there of) that it did for me are these words. "It sorta, kinda, held back the symptoms". In other words, it wasn't curing anything.

I have to admit, the whole situation looked very bleak. I had no idea where to turn. My only hope was in Yahweh, that He would bring an answer to me. For I had tried everything I knew to try. I had spent many, many thousands of dollars on doctors, on medicines, but mostly on what seemed like "every supplement known to man kind", but in the end, nothing was working.

THEN IT HAPPENED!

I was at a conference near my home town and a fella saw me "hobbling" along. He walked up to me and the words I recall him saying were, "what's your problem?" I answered, "Rheumatoid Arthritis". He then looked at me and said, "I believe I can show you how to over come that." The first thought in my mind was, "No one overcomes rheumatoid arthritis." But I did not say that to him, I simply looked at him and said, "Ok, what do you know?" I guess hope was still alive in my heart, for I had been praying for an answer, even though it had been a long time coming.

Roger, the man who met me that day later took me via a three way call to speak with Larry who had himself struggled with a form of RA and who had been turned on to using the Reliv Nutritional Products and had completely overcome the affects of his RA, to the point where he had gone from only being able to walk with the aide of a walker to running a marathon, and that in 9 month's time. I must admit, after talking with Larry I was very encouraged and very interested. Roger then set me up with a list of phone numbers that were connected to health testimonies. I bought a Magic Jack so that I could make these calls at an affordable rate and began to listen to the testimonies. I did not stop until I listened to over 150 of these testimonies. Testimonies of people who had been suffering not only from RA, but many other forms of diseases and traumas, and had themselves tried many other things, but with little or no true success, but then had found victory over their physical affliction when they used the Reliv Products! (Health Tip--Supplements do not heal the body no matter how good they are. It is just that good ones, such as the Reliv products, very effectively nourish the body, and then the body by God's design can heal it's self.)

Healthy Eating Benefits of EPA and DHA

In a previous article that you might have read (Eating Right With EFAs), we talked about the positive results of adding EFAs (essential fatty acids) to healthy diets. Now, we'll expand on the benefits of 2 specific omega-3 fats - EPA and DHA - and the best sources of this good nutrition.

EPA and DHA positively impact several different areas of health. From the heart to blood sugar to arthritis, healthy eating with these fatty acids is a must whether your goal is healthy weight loss or improved overall health.

No matter who you are, you probably value your brain. That's why it is so important to know that there is a brain diet food out there accessible to everyone. The brain is rich in fats, so omega-3s play an important role. With a brain that lacks DHA, a person is more prone to developing depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. Insufficient amounts of EPA and DHA, coupled with excess omega-6 fats, is connected to ADHD (attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder). When used as treatment, EPA and DHA can reduce symptoms of depression and improve the cognitive scores of people with mild Alzheimer's.

A healthy brain is definitely something to strive for, but how can EPA and DHA enhance healthy meals in order to create better body composition? The answer is found in a study that had overweight men and women follow a moderate exercise plan and take 6g of tuna oil (which contained about 1.9g of omega-3s) per day for 12 weeks. The end result was an average loss of 3.3lb of fat. Another example of how to eat healthy with omega-3s is to replace 6g of some dietary fat that is already included in your daily diet plans with 6g of fish oil. Participants who did this in a study lost about 2lb of fat after only 3 weeks as a result of increased lipid oxidation (also known as fat-burning). The possible reason behind the healthy weight loss tendencies of EPA and DHA could be one or both of the following explanations: they are preferentially incorporated into cell membranes and they induce anti-inflammatory processes. Either way, the use of EPA and DHA does not include body fat storage, so healthy eating plans for fat loss are being supported by the fatty acids.

Speaking of anti-inflammatory processes, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms can be relieved by taking marine-based omega-3 EFA supplements. Two recent scientific studies indicated reduced pain intensity, improved morning stiffness, less affected joints, better physical performance, and decreased pain medication needed to alleviate symptoms.

So far, we have discussed the advantages of incorporating EPA and DHA into healthy diets, but there is another omega-3 fatty acid that offers good nutrition and is even more readily available in diet food that many people already eat. In fact, ALA is the major omega-3 consumed in a typical North American diet, yet it has been left out of many studies. Limited research has shown us the ability of flaxseed (30g per day) to reduce PSA levels, which translate into prostate cancer markers, in men and increase apoptosis. For women, higher ALA intake has been linked to a significant reduction in breast cancer risk. Also, incidences of inflammation, arterial stiffness, and cardiovascular disease are all minimized when people are eating right for higher ALA intake.

ALA sources are plant-based. EPA and DHA come from the sea. The most potent of beneficial effects have been observed when fish, shellfish, and algae are the sources of omega-3 EPA and DHA. Because of this, the most popular way to work marine-based omega-3 fats into healthy meals and diets has traditionally been fish oil supplements. However, another option is available, and this one avoids the "fish burps" that so many people are unfortunately familiar with. It also seems to offer more effective fatty acids, so less of it is needed for the same amount of good nutrition. This highly effective, marine-based, EPA and DHA goldmine is krill oil.

Are you wondering how to eat healthy doses of a living thing that you're not even familiar with? Let's start with an explanation of krill. Krill are 2-inch long crustaceans, like shrimp, that are abundant in the coldest seas of the world. Because their cell membranes have high EPA and DHA contents and they lack toxic build-up, they are a safer and more significant source of omega-3s than fish oil. To add even more good nutrition to healthy diets, krill naturally contain antioxidants like astaxanthin.

Some research has been done to compare the effectiveness of krill oil and fish oil. One study involved the issue of PMS, by using female participants who were diagnosed with the condition. Some were treated with krill oil and some with fish oil. Both treatments provided 600mg of EPA and DHA, but the difference was that the participants taking krill oil also enjoyed the benefits of the naturally occurring phospholipids. Results were similar in that abdominal discomfort and swelling were reduced. However, krill oil outperformed fish oil, dose for dose, in minimizing irritability, stress, depression, joint pain, and bloating.

An issue that affects both women and men is heart disease, which follows such risk factors as high LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol. In a double-blind trial, male and female participants received 1 of 4 treatment options: 1-1.5 grams of krill oil, 2-3 grams of krill oil, 3 grams of fish oil, or a placebo. The 90-day study concluded with significantly lowered LDL cholesterol and increased HDL in those taking the lowest dose of krill oil. The 2-gram dose also reduced triglyceride levels, while the highest dose did not provide any extra benefits. The fish oil treatment made marginal improvements in cholesterol but did not lower triglycerides.

Those two studies compared the performance of krill oil with fish oil, but krill oil produces amazing effects even without being compared to anything else. This study used 90 participants who had high CRP, which is a systemic marker of inflammation, and either rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or heart disease. After a mere 7 days of ingesting 300 milligrams of krill oil, CRP levels were reduced by 19% in all subjects. Then, after 30 days, the reduction was 30%.

While it might seem natural to think that similar health outcomes can be achieved from any good source of omega-3 EPA and DHA, this is simply not true when it comes to krill oil. This diet food adds astaxanthin, phospholipids, and other vitamins and minerals to its omega-3 fatty acids to produce more potent effects. If you're eating right, you won't have to take in as much krill as you would fish oil. Astaxanthin, an antioxidant, really boosts the healthy eating quotient of krill oil. Studies on humans have shown that it protects DNA from damage and increases immune response.

If you're looking for more fad diets to add to your repertoire of up-and-down weight loss and inconsistently healthy lifestyles, omega-3 EPA and DHA supplementation is not for you. Specific, yet simple, guidelines should be followed in order to take advantage of this good nutrition most effectively. First, as we have discussed, choose marine sources of these fatty acids. Second, concentrate on making healthy meals part of an all-encompassing eating plan. Finally, keep naturally-occurring omega-6 fatty acids in your diet, by eating salmon, trout, sardines, hemp foods, chia seeds, flax oil, and pumpkin seeds. Taking krill oil will ensure the proper balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and optimize your health in so many other ways.

Where Does Arthritis Come From? I Know What Cured Me

Who's Fault is It?

So, what led to my acquiring of arthritis? I was the victim of divorced parents. My mom remarried twice and my dad had visitation rights. In my particular case, neither parent was insistent upon my consuming what I would call "a well balanced diet." Frankly, I doubt that they really knew what one was.

Dad, for example, would encourage me to eat chocolate candy bars for quick energy, with which instructions I was only too happy to comply. If I wanted hamburger, fries, and malts or banana splits, it made no difference to them. Needless to say, I was overweight and I am likewise convinced that my system was well on the way to becoming plugged up at an all too young age.

What Does That Have to Do With Arthritis?

Yes, I did in fact develop arthritis, and there are millions who also suffer from this loathsome and painful disease. Much later in my life, my daughter-in-law was also affected adversely by arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis as a matter of fact. Anyone who has or is suffering from this malady knows only too well that the word "atrocious" just about defines it in a fair to middling fashion.

In my case, it had the potential of being life threatening in view of limiting my ability to defend myself adequately as a policeman. In my daughter-in-law's case, she was the mother of six and had all of attendant responsibilities that being a wife and mother imply. Again, when a member of one's own family is affected adversely with any malady, the pain becomes even more pronounced.

Though I do not know where all arthritis comes from; I do know that my arthritis left my body only after an M.D. advised me that I should stop eating white sugar. So I had to stop eating banana splits and candy bars and everything in-between. Of course I could not blame my parents because I was now "all grown up" and made my own decisions. But it wasn't an easy decision to eliminate sugar from my diet.

Is There Any Hope at All?

Changing my dietary habits was a great alternative for me since it freed me from spending the "best half" of my life on pain medications. Because of my successful experience with alternative medicine, it was only as one would suspect that our children would be open to alternative medicine as a viable consideration for their health needs as well. You can only imagine the delight that my wife and I had upon learning that our daughter-in-law had been delivered from all of the effects of rheumatoid arthritis by the use of an herbal supplement.

If you or someone you love is suffering from arthritis, I highly suggest that you get advice from a nutritionist about how you can modify your eating habits. I also suggest you consider what benefits might be available to you from supplementing your nutrition with herbs as well. If you have a hard time breaking free from sugars, there are herbs that can suppress those cravings. So don't give up hope! Your freedom from arthritis might be just around the corner.

Beating Rheumatoid Arthritis - Five Tips for Success

Rheumatoid arthritis and all related types of inflammatory arthritis, including psoriatic and reactive, are very complicated diseases to unlock, but there are a few areas that can be tremendously helpful to look into. Even today there is no established cure for these diseases, and the medicines that are prescribed are not only dangerous, but act in a way that is a mystery to those prescribing them. So, it's no wonder that many sufferers look to alternative therapies to supplement or replace the established remedies.

There very well might be no cure as yet, but there are many cases of total remission, and to give yourself the best possible chance of being one of those happy people, here are five suggestions of areas to cover in your search for your personal solution...

1. Meditation

I put this first, because it might actually be the key to all the rest. Arthritis is a very depressing illness anyway, but there are theories that the toxins produced by the disease process actually create a state of depression as they circulate in the body.

Obviously a state of depression is not the best starting point for a successful campaign against arthritis, and meditation is one of the very best ways to beat depression and release a few natural endorphins to counteract those toxins and black moods. So, daily meditation might very well be the best way to keep your spirits up and your enthusiasm keen for the detective work ahead of you in your path back to health.

2. Diet and supplements

This is an area that's densely populated with old wives' tales and the charlatan who peddle them. However, that doesn't mean that there aren't some really useful truths out there about the effects of diet and supplementation on the path and severity of arthritis.

Whether you can actually cure arthritis just with diet and a few supplements is debatable, but many claim to have done just that. What is undeniable though is that it is one of the very important pieces of the puzzle, which can make the journey far easier, and which can of course improve other areas of health too, which can't be bad!

One thing is for sure - everybody's requirements for diet will be different, and if you come across any diet plan that says otherwise, run away! So, where to start in figuring out what's good for you and what's not?

There are two areas that can really help in speeding up the process of finding out what's likely to calm arthritis symptoms and what's likely to inflame them, and they are Ayurveda and the blood type diet theory. Ayurveda is an ancient science that groups body types and foods into three types; vata, pitta and kapha, whereas the blood type theory puts forward suggestions about what might be useful depending on your blood group.

Both these areas of investigation can provide very useful clues, and when faced with having to find your food sensitivities with complicated elimination diets and their endless time-consuming possibilities, they can narrow the search considerably.

One last area worth looking at in the realm of diet is fasting, which is a fantastic way to clear out toxins and/or prepare the way for an elimination diet. These fasts can be juice or water, and several days in duration. Intermittent fasting for a day or two a week can also be used to keep the body toxin and inflammation-free in the long term.

3. Exercise

Of course, when in a flare up of arthritis symptoms, some exercise, such as weight training and aerobic activity is not only uncomfortable, or indeed impossible, but can be counterproductive, as it can trigger further flares. It is also very difficult to build up muscles wasted by lack of use and the toxins flooding them from adjacent inflamed joints while the process is still active. Far better to wait until the inflammation has subsided before tackling any serious bouts of such exercise, but as soon as it does, by all means take to the gym or that bicycle and get toned up again!

However, there are exercises that can be beneficial at any point that you feel you can do them, even during a flare, if it's not too uncomfortable. They are the range of motion exercises so important to each affected joint to minimise damage and mobility problems. Yoga is a wonderful way to stay supple too, and is well worth looking at.

Perhaps the very best exercise for arthritics is a gentle, very enjoyable form of movement and stretching called Somatic Movement Education. It is designed to unlock knots in the body and free up energies in the muscles, tendons and joints, and has a very profound effect on the whole nervous system, thus not only bringing relief to the affected areas, but also flooding the system with healing and balancing wellbeing to ease the recovery process.

4. Minimise drugs

In an ideal world, we would get rid of arthritis with natural means, as listed above, and never have to resort to the dangerous drugs that are prescribed to keep the symptoms under control. However, in reality, sometimes it is necessary to hold some of the symptoms in check just to make life tolerable.

If you do use the popular drugs, whether the simple aspirin, or all the way through to steroids and DMARDs, take the attitude of using the minimum necessary for the shortest possible time while you find your own way out of the disease. Educate yourself about these drugs and weigh the positives against the negatives so you can use them with your eyes open!

5. Antibiotics

Finally, and possibly the most important, is the fact that, as many believe, arthritis is not simply a disease where the autoimmune system goes mad and attacks the joints, but that it is a bacterial allergy to mycoplasmas, or forms of bacteria deeply embedded in the tissues and very hard to detect and destroy.

I cannot vouch for this one way or the other, but the pioneer of the reportedly very safe antibiotic treatment used to bring remission to many thousands, Thomas McPherson Brown, MD., has written a book called 'The Road Back', which is a very informed and moving account of his life's work in this field.

I strongly recommend that you investigate The Road Back Foundation's website and read all you can about this incredible breakthrough.

Good luck!

Improve Your Diet and Be Less Susceptible to Your Arthritis Symptoms

There are around 200 kinds of arthritis, the two most common being osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. If you are overweight you have an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis because of the increased stress on joints such as your hips and knees. Consequently reducing your weight with slimming or a low fat diet can help to reduce your chance of developing osteoarthritis or lessen your symptoms if you already have it. Therefore, maintaining a healthy balanced diet that is low in highly refined and processed foods, saturated animal fats, sugar and salt, but high in wholegrain cereals, fruits and vegetables will aid in minimising the discomfort of osteoarthritis. Unfortunately for slimming, diet alone is never enough and should be combined with sensible, regular, gentle exercise. Exercise will strengthen muscles that protect joints and help to prevent stiffness. Low weight bearing exercise such as swimming and using a cross trainer will help minimise the stress on joints whilst exercising. Be sensible though and respect your body's limits - overdoing it is never a good idea. Remember also that you should consult your doctor or health care practitioner before embarking on a new exercise regime.

Food allergies or intolerance are thought to play a part in causing some people to develop rheumatoid arthritis. As with diagnosis of all food allergies it can be difficult to identify which food is the culprit or indeed if there are more than one causing the problem. Following an elimination diet with subsequent re-introduction of new foods is one way to find out or you could get skin and blood tests done. You may already suspect you have a problem with certain foods and the main offenders are usually dairy products, eggs and cereals.

There is increasing scientific evidence to suggest that fish oils, in particular polyunsaturated fats such as omega-3 fatty acids, can have an anti-inflammatory effect on the joints of rheumatoid and osteoarthritis sufferers. Inflammation is the bodies natural reaction to arthritic diseases and causes the very uncomfortable symptoms of pain, swelling, redness and heat. If you find it difficult to eat fresh oily fish (e.g. salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines or trout) 2 to 3 times a week then fish oils are readily available in capsules or liquid form. Evening primrose oil has been shown to also have a beneficial anti-inflammatory effect - useful if you don't like fish...in fact a vegetarian diet has been shown in studies to reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Several studies have shown that glucosamine sulphate a compound needed to build and maintain cartilage alleviates osteoarthritis.

Helpful foods to include in your diet to alleviate the symptoms of your arthritis:
Salmon and other oily fish supply omega-3 oils - eat 3+ times a week
Greens source of beta-carotene, calcium, folate, iron and vitamin C - eat raw or lightly cooked every few days
Bananas provide a good source of potassium, fibre and vitamin C - eat 3+ times a week
Broccoli source of beta-carotene, vitamin C, folate, iron and potassium - eat raw or lightly cooked every few days
Carrots excellent source of beta-carotene - eat raw or lightly cooked as often as you like
Ginger anti-inflammatory agent - eat 5g incorporated into cooking, twice a week
Celery anti-inflammatory agent and source of potassium - eat raw 3 times weekly

A diet that contains plenty of wholegrain cereals, fresh fruit (especially fruits high in anti-oxidants such as beta-carotene and vitamins C and E e.g. blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, prunes, raspberries, strawberries, apples, sweet cherries, plums and bioflavenoids e.g. lemons, limes, oranges, cherries, and grapes) vegetables and oily fish and is supplemented with anti-inflammatories such as evening primrose oil, ginger or glucosamine phosphate will be beneficial for reducing the chance of developing arthritic conditions or for minimising the painful symptoms once the disease is established. Also, consider reducing your intake of refined and processed foods and those high in sugar, salt and saturated animal fats, as well as investigating the possibility of a food allergy or intolerance.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment and Cure

Most people, especially doctors, will tell you that there is no cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Yet, what if I were to tell you that scientific studies conducted over the past 30 years have shown that hundreds - YES hundreds - of people have been able to get off all medications and control their pain and inflammation using only dietary methods alone?

Well not only have I studied the scientific literature and seen these papers first hand, but I have used what I have learned and applied it to myself to completely eliminate my own Rheumatoid Arthritis. I want to share with you below the essential things that need to happen if you are to ever eliminate Rheumatoid Arthritis to restore faith to those who are suffering and who are seeking some serious results.

1. Believe that it can be done.

If you remain skeptical about there being a cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis then you will never be able to overcome the disease. Faith is required that this is possible, and faith is gained by seeing others who have done it.

2. Discipline is required

Nothing of great value is ever achieved without effort. However, we have two types of pain in our lives - the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. I know which one I prefer, and I'm sure most people would opt for the pain of discipline also if they were thoroughly convinced of the effectiveness of an alternative path.

3. A diet change is required

Although overly-academic people will tell you there is little to no link between RA and diet they should be ignored like any ill-informed person should. Rheumatologists are not taught nutrition and rarely does a Rheumatologist ever actually know anything about the disease first-hand. After suffering for 5 years with RA, I know that it's like a living hell and that most people with RA would do anything it takes to cure the disease if only they had the right information.

Well, a dietary change is required because Rheumatoid Arthritis stems from an underlying poor digestive system. A 'leaky gut', a depleted intestinal mucosa, an overgrowth of candida and 'bad bacteria' and and over acidic body all contribute to the autoimmune attack on the joints. This is coupled with food sensitivities, meaning that several foods will cause a worsening of symptoms for sufferers of RA. If you don't believe me, don't eat for 3 days. Just drink vegetable juice (cucumber and celery only) and watch most of your pain disappear. I'm not kidding.

4. Animal products cause the most pain

Food sensitivities tend to trigger an autoimmune response up to 48 hours after eating. Thus, it is tough to work out which foods are causing the inflammation in each person. However, as a general rule, animal products tend to cause the most long-term problems for RA sufferers because animal products cause each of the intestinal disorders outlined in bullet point 3.

In addition to animal products, cereals and soy products are also recorded as being the most common allergens for people with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

5. The best diet is a low-fat, sugar-free, plant-based diet with lots of leafy greens

What does this kind of diet look like? Buckwheat, Quinoa, Amaranth, Brown Rice, Sweet Potatoes and Lentils and Beans of all types. These heal the intestinal environment. Leafy greens such as Romaine Lettuce, mixed greens, baby spinach and so on are extremely alkalising and detoxing for the body and also aid in the digestive process when eaten with the meal (taking pressure off an already compromised gut).

6. It takes time

It took me 2 months of eating like this to get of my 20mg/week of Methotrexate and I've been drug free ever since. As long as I eat as per above I get no joint inflammation and my CRP blood reading reads less that 3mg (well inside normal limits) month on month. If you have had RA for more than 10 years it might take longer. The body can only heal at the pace that nature allows - but healing is healing, and when you're inflicted with RA then healing is not a word you hear very often so you take what you can get.

Clint Paddison

Previous Sufferer and author of the ultimate Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment 'Clint's Cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis'

Stop the Pain and Progression of Rheumatoid Arthritis IX

This is the ninth article in this series. The second book that we read was actually recommended by my wife's rheumatologist. It was written by a physician. He gave us an excerpt from the book and we immediately ordered it to compare it with our own research. An interesting addition to this book, is he related this diet to many other diseases and conditions. Everything from migraine headaches to fibromyalgia, breast and minstrel pain, cancer pain and carpal tunnel syndrome, are all mentioned in his book. He does not eat any meat in his own life and therefore recommends this to his patients. He also, as the title suggests, talks about foods that can help fight different diseases, as well as the ones to avoid.

I think it is always wise to educate yourself from as many sources as possible. I hope no one relies solely on these articles. When several different sources come to the same conclusion, I strongly consider that this is a valid conclusion.We chose not to take one thing that our customer recommended because there were many conflicting views on the internet when I researched the topic. I will mention it later and let you research it and draw your own conclusion. His list of common trigger foods was almost identical to Ms Allan's. So my wife avoided all of those. The main difference that I mentioned before was he was against all meat and fish. Both of the books cautioned against using NSAID's except aspirin. Another thing that might help is both mentioned that food sensitivities tend to run in families. So if others in your family have a sensitivity to a certain food, you are likely to have the same sensitivity. It was reassuring to see the similarities in these two books, especially since one was recommended by my wife's doctor.

A disturbing fact was that the American Arthritis Foundation did not endorse these findings, or even say promising research has shown that diet can aid in the treatment of R.A. They said more research needs to be done on the subject. Who is going to do this research since there is no profit in a treatment with a natural diet? When some of the treatments cost thousands of dollars, what drug company is going to research a natural cure? I don't blame the drug companies. There is a lot more information in both of these books, but I am only writing about how we used the information from them to help my wife stop the pain from this horrible disease.

5 Powerful Juice Recipes for Arthritis Sufferers

Juicing can be a powerful way to combat the inflammation and pain caused by arthritic conditions. A variety of delicious juice recipes are available to help you manage your arthritis pain.

Arthritis is a painful, inflammatory condition of the joints that afflicts men and women of all ages. It involves the breakdown of cartilage, which normally acts as a cushion for your joints. In the absence of cushioning cartilage, bones rub together in a way they were not intended to, which can cause pain.

There are as many as one hundred types of arthritis, ranging from autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis to the more common osteoarthritis which affects most people as they age. Some forms of arthritis can even affect children. Most arthritis is associated with stiff joints that may also be swollen, creaky, and painful.

Joints affected by arthritis may have limited movement and in severe cases may become deformed in appearance. In rheumatoid arthritis joints may be red and warm to the touch and are typically equally affected on both sides of the body. All forms of arthritis can range from very mild to quite debilitating.

Many plants contain powerful anti-inflammatory compounds that can help dramatically reduce symptoms. The standard "Western" diet, which includes a lot of pro-inflammatory foods such as red meat, dairy, refined and processed grains, and refined sugar, is believed to promote conditions such as arthritis. A diet built around fruits and vegetables helps to prevent chronic disease, including certain arthritic conditions.

Fruits and vegetables believed to be effective for those with arthritis pain include:

• ginger


• pineapple


• papaya


• blueberries


• grapefruit


• spinach


• grapes


• plums


• collard greens


• kale


• pears


• bok choy


• sour cherries


• pomegranate


• cauliflower


• raspberries


• strawberries


• onions


• apples


• carrots


• beets


• garlic


• lettuce

Juicing concentrates the healthful compounds in these plants, allowing you to benefit from them more effectively than by eating small amounts of the whole fruit or vegetable. By harnessing the powerful antioxidants and enzymes of raw fruits and vegetables, using these juice recipes for arthritis may increase your joint mobility and comfort and reduce swelling.

You can also increase the anti-inflammatory effectiveness of your juice recipe by mixing it with green tea, raw cold-pressed flax seed oil or liquid fish oil. These all have additional properties that make them healthful elements in an anti-inflammatory diet.

Green tea contains epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) which has been shown to be helpful in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Flax and fish oils contain omega 3 fatty acids which are useful for a variety of conditions including various forms of arthritis. These can also be mixed with fresh juices.

The following juice recipes for arthritis can all be easily made using most electric juicers.

Pineapple, Carrot & Celery Juice

5 carrots

2 stalks of celery

4 oz pineapple

1 tsp lemon juice

Papaya Orange Juice

翹 papaya, peeled

1 large orange, peeled

Papaya Blueberry Juice

2 cups blueberries

翹 papaya, peeled

Broccoli Carrot Juice

1/2 cup fresh broccoli, cut in pieces

3 medium carrots, roots only

1 apple, core removed

1/2 lemon, peeled

Sour Cherry-Pomegranate Juice

2 cups sour cherries

1 pomegranate, skin removed

1 apples, core removed

For each recipe, simply juice the listed ingredients in an electric juicer.

You can find other juicing remedies for arthritis on the internet or in books about juicing. However, many of the most successful recipes come from experimentation, so don't be afraid to use the list of fruits and vegetables above to come up with ideas for new juice combinations. You just might invent a juice that tastes fantastic while providing great relief for your achy, stiff joints!

Tips For People Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis can be daunting at times especially in the workplace, driving your car, and doing household chores.

In the office there are several things you can do to make life at work more comfortable for you. Following are some suggestions for rearranging your office.

In the office

-Keep all supplies within easy reach
-Have an adjustable chair
-Use a lateral filing cabinet beside your desk to avoid reaching
-Install a glare-proof screen on your computer monitor; causing less eye strain
-Use a footrest to keep feet elevated
-Install wrist rests on your keyboard to make typing easier.

With these things in place your office should be more comfortable for you.

In the car

Driving a car can also present problems for the patient with rheumatoid arthritis. Here are some suggestions that should make driving easier.

-Installing grab bars on the roof to help you get in and out of the car
-Power steering, power seats, power windows all benefit the person with rheumatoid arthritis
-Adjustable head rests, power steering, cruise control and a tilt steering wheel
-Use a wide-angle mirror to avoid straining your neck
-Install lever type handles for opening the car doors
-A key holder will make turning the key easier and prevent pain in the fingers
-When taking a long trip, stop the car and get out to stretch your body from time to time.

In the Kitchen

Preparing meals ahead of time can prevent a lot of pressure at meal time. Of course, that is not always possible, so you should allow yourself plenty of time to prepare a meal.

-Use disposable aluminum pans; or you can use the same pans for cooking and serving to make cleanup easier
-Use foil to line pans for easier cleaning
-Store heavy appliances within easy reach
-A microwave oven, electric can openers, dishwasher, blenders, food processors, all make life easier
-Store most often used dishes on shelves where you won't have to reach
-Sit on a stool while preparing food at the counter, or sit at the table to chop vegetables
-If you have to transport items to another room, use a wheeled cart.

Doing the household chores

Trying to clean the whole house in one day is not a good idea. Make the heavy traffic areas a priority. Designate the heavy chores which need to be done to someone else. Break up the workload; do some vacuuming today, and leave cleaning the bathrooms for tomorrow. Doing only one major task per day is enough. This way you will not be expending all of your energy in one day.

Here are a few helpful tips that you might try when doing your household chores.

-When sorting clean laundry, sit rather than stand
-Purchase a rolling laundry cart on wheels. This is much easier than carrying a full load of laundry
-Separate light and dark loads of laundry into two different baskets
-Store cleaning supplies both upstairs and downstairs for convenience if you live in a two- story house
-When cleaning tiles in the bathroom, use a mildew remover, eliminating the need to scrub
-Use a mop with a long handle to clean the floors. This will save you from bending to get the job done
-Letting your dishes air dry saves time. If you own a dishwasher, this is done for you.

With some of these helpful solutions in place you should find that your environment in your office and home is somewhat improved and is a place where you enjoy spending your time.

Rheumatoid Arthritis - Natural Remedies That Can Change Your Life

It's easy enough to realize that having rheumatoid arthritis can be life changing. The disease causes inflammation in your joints, causing pain and discomfort, and may also cause the joints to become disfigured. This results in a loss of flexibility and mobility in the joint, making you unable to move easily.

While this is one of the more well known symptoms of the disease, it is more than just a disease that attacks the joints of your body. Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune disorder - your own immune system is causing the damage to your body. RA may result in anemia, and can also affect your skin, lungs, kidneys and heart. Treatment can sometimes be difficult; some medicines that are effective in slowing the damage sometimes have negative side effects. Because of this, for some of those with the disease, natural remedies become more appealing that conventional drugs and medications.

Changing your lifestyle is one of the available rheumatoid arthritis natural remedies. This involves balancing moderate exercise to relieve stiffness with periods of rest. This will help maintain functionality and mobility of affected joints, as well as generally improving your health. However, if even moderate exercise causes you pain, you should stop exercising and consult with your doctor to find an exercise regimen that you can benefit from.

Changing your diet is another form of rheumatoid arthritis natural remedy. A variety of fasting programs and diets are available, with the goal of making your body healthier in order to combat the disease. Many of these diets have also begun to recommend consuming omega-3 fatty acids like that found in fish oil and fatty deep sea fish. Fish oil is also available in a number of supplements that a person with RA can take.

Aside from changing lifestyle and diet, you can also try herbal remedies. Herbs such as boswellia, devil's claw and horsetail are said to provide relief from the pain. Many times these herbs are available as teas, but may also be found in various food supplements used to treat RA.

There are many other options to treat rheumatoid arthritis with natural remedies. These can range from massage therapy, to meditative techniques, acupuncture and so on. Each have their advantages, though some do offer more immediate relief, and others offer more lasting relief. Many of them can be very effective, though they are best used in conjunction with conventional methods, or other alternative natural remedies. In this manner, you can combine treatments in order to receive better results.

The Right Foods to Use in a Diet Cure For Gout Victims

Gout sufferers live with pain that can be debilitating and hinder daily activities and mobility. When we tell someone we have found a cure, they are probably suspicious because real cures are hard to come by. On the other hand - while we know that there are foods that cause the body to have high levels of uric acid, we also know there are foods that can fix this efficiently if used in a diet cure against gout symptoms.

Gout is the inflammation that is caused by high levels of uric acid in the joints of the body. The high levels of uric acid are created in the joints because the kidneys cannot process all the uric acid it receives and it spills into the bloodstream. The foods that cause uric acid in the body are foods containing purine. These are typically foods with high levels of fat.

That is how we get gout, but what can we do to fix it? We can assume that what food creates it can fix. That is true. The gout suffer should, of course, decrease his intake of foods high in purine. That is the first step. After that, then the foods that fix gout can work more efficiently. Otherwise it would be like spraying gasoline on a fire and also water at the same time. It is counterproductive.

The first food is not really a food. It is water, specifically spring water without additives. This should taken daily in rich amounts, primarily to flush the kidneys. This will give the kidneys opportunities to release the uric acid already in there. This is good for kidney health. The amount of water to take daily is basically, as much as you can. The body will keep you from overdoing it. Water is very filling. Just take as much as you can comfortably at each sitting.

Another food that fixes gout is wild or black cherries. These have a substance in them that cancel out the uric acid. The substance is only found in the fresh wild or black cherries or fresh wild or black cherry juice. The over-the-counter juice may loose its power in the manufacturing process, even if it is just juice.

Fruits in general are also fixes for gout because there is no purine in them. However, the best fix is the wild or black cherries. If someone is experiencing a severe attack, the suggestion is to start with the wild or black cherries and begin the water flush with copes amounts of spring water. Then adding other fruits will continue the purification of the bloodstream.

There is evidence that when a low purine diet is implemented, the gout symptoms decrease significantly. Also, the occurrences are significantly reduced if not alleviated.

With a little planning ahead and a little conscious effort, gout sufferers can find relief that will give them a new lease on life. There is no reason to suffer when there are foods that can fix or some say, cure your gout. The food is available and it does not have harmful side effects.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure any kind of a health problem. Always consult with your health care provider about any kind of a health problem and especially before beginning any kind of a diet modification or exercise routine.

Natural Cure For Arthritis - Prevention Is Still The Best Option

Arthritis literally means inflammation of the joints. Annually, millions of Americans are affected by this malady especially those in their fifties. But recent surveys revealed that some persons in their twenties already have arthritis. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease which is a result of erosion and destruction of the cartilage. The cartilage is a tissue that absorbs shocks to the joints caused by injuries, wear and tear, stress, improper nutrition, genetics, metabolic and endocrine factors. Usual symptoms are pain aggravated by movement, stiffness and in worsening cases, sufferers start to have limitations of movement that may lead to disability.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune disease: it means that the person's immune system attacks certain tissues in the body particularly the joints and the synovium. Symptoms are red, stiff painful joints and in some cases fever, weight loss and anemia. The triggers are usually infections or injuries.

Arthritis is usually treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the more recent Celecoxibs. Use of these drugs should be minimized because of some controversies involving these drugs and their many side effects, hence more and more patients seek alternative and natural cure.

Proper Diet and Exercise

Most helpful are low impact exercises like walking, swimming and stretching - you can also ask your physical therapist or physician to make a program of exercise designed for your type of arthritis. Healthy diet is important, so try to eat a balanced diet, take lots of vegetables, fruits, fish high in Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamins C, E and folic acid. Avoid cigarettes, alcohol, coffee and tea.

Ultrasound Heat Therapy

This uses an ultrasound machine that produces high energy sound waves directed to the affected joints and muscles. It relieves pain and its effect is medium to short term.

TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)

This is a portable battery operated device that works by sending electrical currents to affected parts of the body. Electrodes are attached to the affected surface and are set in desired duration and intensity of stimulation. Many claim a significant reduction of symptoms and improvement of general well being.

PST (Pulsed Signal Therapy)

When joint tissues are stressed, this creates an electrical signal that causes the body to repair itself. PST works this way - it produces electromagnetic electrical signals at repeated and specific intervals that will in turn activate the body to repair or regenerate. This is usually done at a frequency of nine one-hour sessions.

Diathermy

Diathermy uses electromagnetic heat which is applied to the injured tissues and muscles. Temperature is raised by a high frequency current. It is believed that heat speeds up healing process by increasing blood flow to the injury. Precautions are necessary - for example, it should not be used on wet areas or those with metal objects to avoid risk of burn injury.

Intake of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate

These substances are called amino sugars which give elasticity to the cartilage. The recommended amount is 1500mg of glucosamine and 1200 mg of chondroitin sulfate per day for at least 6 to 8 weeks to achieve benefits. Precautions are given to children, pregnant women, diabetics, those taking blood thinners and those with allergies.

An Ounce of Prevention is Better than a Pound of Cure

Of course, nothing beats preventive measures to avoid developing crippling Arthritis. One of the most important is to lose weight if you are overweight because extra weight will put more stress to your joints. Intake of antioxidants like Vitamins C and E is recommended because they attack free radicals. There are also studies on the importance of oily fish like salmon, tuna and swordfish.

Regular exercise helps strengthen and make the muscles and joints more flexible to protect them from wear and tear. Simple practical measures include good posture, usage of big joints when lifting and carrying, use of supportive and comfortable shoes, use of protective gears for those in injury prone sports. Minimize job-related induced arthritis like improperly positioned tables and computers.

To de-stress is also a key factor if you are looking for a natural cure for arthritis, as evidence suggests that stress plays an important role in its development, so go on vacation, do some Yoga, Pilates or Tai Chi - and lastly, always have a regular check up with your physician.

Will the Specific Carbohydrate Diet Cure Your Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) has helped thousands of people recover from bowel problems, including Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, and Celiac Disease. But will it cure your Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Cell science researcher, Elaine Gottschall MSc, popularized the SCD in her book, Breaking the Vicious Cycle. Gottschall learned about the Specific Carbohydrate Diet in a successful attempt to cure colitis in her 8-year-old daughter. Then she did the science to figure out why it worked.

The SCD is a way of eating that is gluten-free, grain-free, sugar-free, and almost completely dairy-free-only lactose-free dairy products are allowed. It is designed to heal and prevent bowel problems when there has been damage to the intestinal wall.

Does this apply to you if you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome? Probably not. Lots of people with IBS don't need to eat gluten-free and do well on a diet that includes white rice, oatmeal, and crackers and bread made from white flour. On the gluten-free, wheat-free Specific Carbohydrate Diet, these foods are big no-no's.

Secondly, there's no bowel damage in Irritable Bowel Syndrome. There is inflammation and damage in conditions like Celiac, Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis but not with IBS, so there's no need to heal the bowel.

So, what's the story? Why do some people with IBS thrive on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet and not others?

One answer comes from James Braly MD and Ron Hoggan MA, authors of Dangerous Grains. According to them, as many as one out of three people is grain-sensitive and will react to gluten, wheat and all grain products, even when they don't show reactions on a conventional allergy test. Fortunately, that means the majority of us-two out of three-are okay with grains.

Among people with IBS, you could be in either group, the one-out-of-three or the two-out-of-three, which is why some IBS folks are fine with grains and flour products and some aren't.

But how can you tell?

Braly and Hoggan recommend a blood test they describe in detail in their book, and believe this is more accurate than allergy scratch tests or challenge tests. There are also services in most cities that test for reactions to grains by computer or with applied kinesiology.

Probably the least expensive way to get a sense of whether or not you react to grains is to look at your blood relatives and their health patterns. Do your parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, or siblings have Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac, chronic diarrhea or constipation, food allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, migraines, autoimmune disease, osteoporosis, brain disorders, intestinal disease, chronic pain, digestive disorders, infertility & problematic pregnancies, diabetes mellitus, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, kidney disease, or lupus?

According to Braly and Hoggan, when your family members have any or several of these conditions, they can be a sign of the inability to digest grains even if there are no obvious bowel problems. (Many more diseases and chronic conditions are listed in their book which details over 100 health problems that are linked to grains.)

So will the Specific Carbohydrate Diet cure your IBS? It depends on what is stressing your digestion in the first place. If it's largely a grain- or mould-related stress, then the SCD could be your best friend. But if your IBS is more typically caused by stored trauma and you have no markers of grain-sensitivity, then you need a treatment that goes beyond food. For more information, see the article on this site called: Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Breakthrough in Brain Research Helps You Heal IBS.

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