Can Diet Help Psoriasis?

"Can diet help psoriasis?" is a hard question to answer. If you talk to a dermatologist, they'll yell "hell no" and slap your face with another steroid prescription, but ask a nutritionist and they'll give a resounding "yes - dietary improvements can affect skin". Who do you believe?

The problem is that diet and psoriasis is an area sorely lacking in research and scientific studies, so doctors and GPs are hesitant to discuss the connection between them. However, go online to the TalkPsoriasis forum or the National Psoriasis Foundation message-boards, and there are hundreds of messages from real people (like you and me) stating that dietary changes can have a profound effect on psoriasis. I agree with the second camp, because I can see with my own eyes how my psoriasis fluctuates according to the food choices I make day-to-day. So, what is it about our modern diet that aggravates psoriasis, and what diet can calm it down?

Fast Food, Junk Food and Modern Diets

You might remember an earlier time when you had pimples and acne, and how people used to tell you to put the Pepsi down and leave the French fries alone, because they only made things worse. Well, the same advice applies to psoriasis. As an autoimmune disease, eating such foods can increase inflammation in the body and worsen psoriasis.

The typical Western diet includes platefuls of processed food and refined carbohydrates as well as fast foods rich in omega-6 fatty acids; but no green in sight! Over the years, the imbalance created by such improper dietary choices can create so much internal inflammation that the only outlet for your body to release the accumulated toxins, poisons and waste is the skin. The liver and kidneys can't handle it alone, so eventually BOOM! Your body flips out and psoriasis comes out.

THIS Diet Helps Psoriasis

If the Western diet is wrong, what's right? Is it vegetarianism, veganism, raw veganism or fruitarianism? Or is it one of the miracle cure diets for psoriasis spammed around on the Net? Nobody has the real answer to that either, but the best bet is to try a healthy and balanced diet or an anti-inflammatory diet. The top ones to emulate are the Mediterranean diets (such as the Greek one, rich in healthy virgin olive-oil, oily fish and fresh veg) and Asian diets (rich in fish - they love sushi! - and freshly prepared meals).

To try a diet that helps psoriasis, you have to start eating GIANT helpings of vegetables, especially green ones that are rich in inflammation fighting phytonutrients and phytochemicals. Apart from that, you need to start eating more omega-3 rich foods such as fish (mackerel and tuna) and walnuts, as this will help to balance out the omega-6 rich foods. The final step is to cut down on refined carbohydrates such as pasta and white rice, replace them with wholegrain brown rice and eat more low-fat protein such as chicken and turkey.

Such diets have been clinically proven to help with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, and chances are high that sooner or later the tidal wave of anecdotal evidence will cause the same breakthroughs for psoriasis.

When you embark on making such dietary changes, who have to keep motivated! Changes are likely to come slowly. When you take an anti-inflammatory drug you can feel relief in less than 2 hours, but a diet takes more than 2 months to come into effect. Furthermore, if you can afford it, pay for a food allergy test. It might be that you are eating ONE particular food that is causing havoc to your psoriasis with every mouthful. If you eliminate it, you might end up curing your psoriasis.

But - There's Always A But

It is good to remember that for some individuals, dietary changes can have no effect whatsoever. Everybody has different habits, environments, genetic compositions and medical histories, and what helps one might not help another - especially when it comes to psoriasis. Some people might have the most balanced, healthiest diet in the world, but still suffer from psoriasis, and others might eat Burger King and KFC every day, but have blemish-free skin.

However, with that in mind, it is definitely a good thing to try. Your dermatologist might grate his teeth at me for saying this, but any treatment that only deals with the symptoms of a condition is ultimately a dead-end, and for a large proportion of psoriasis sufferers, diet can prove to work wonders by dealing with the root cause of their psoriasis. So, "can diet help psoriasis?" Well, maybe, and in some cases, certainly, but you need to try to find out!

Arthritis Treatment For Dogs

Arthritis is common in adults, unfortunately now children and also animals. Arthritis affects o,ne in every five of adult dogs in the U.S. Vetinarians commonly have arthritis treatment for dogs and it one of the major causes of chronic pain.

Most people not only love their dogs but pay attention to them. They will usually know if there's something wrong, even if they cannot pinpoint the cause right away. If your dog has problems getting into a sitting or standing position, that is a real clue. The dog may have problem climbing the stairs or you may notice that your beloved pet is not as active as usual or may not be interested in playing with you or your family. Other symptoms can be sleeping more or being generally less alert than normal. Favoring a certain limb is also a real sign.

Now you know the signs, what can you do?

Well, first of all go and see your vetinarian to see what he can recommend that you do. You'll find a lot of similarities between human and animal arthritis and their treatment.

If your dog is overweight, that is definitely not a help and will bring undue pressure on sore joints. So bringing him or her back to a healthy weight is key. It may also be, like with humans, that certain foods trigger arthritis pain. Again your vetinarian can help you. Also, just like us humans, your dog can benefit from more exercise so go for long walks which will be good for both of you! He can also prescribe NSAIDs which are non steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs for your pet.

There are also natural ways to help - particularly supplements containing glucosamine, MSM, and Omega fatty acids should be a part of the dog's diet anyway but they can be purchased as supplements. Also dosing your dog with vitamin C which can be bought in powder form and mixed in with food can also help to keep his muscles healthy and protect his bones. You can find a sodium ascorbate as opposed to ascorbic acid which has an acidy taste which he may refuse. Visit your local health food store for advice. There are also homeopathic remedies, particularly rhus toxicodendron. A homeopath can give you advice.

Since arthritis thrives in an overly acidic environment, it is important that your dog gets the very best quality food and water. Mix vegetables into his food as they are alkaline. The only exceptions being tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and potatoes as they could cause aggravation to the condition. Many people report changing to a raw diet has helped their dog. Also one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and one teaspoon of honey can help with pain and is good for humans and animals alike.

As you can see, arthritis treatment for dogs is simply a matter of getting the best advice and sticking to it. Consulting your vetinarian is a necessary step but there are many options like diet, exercise and supplements that can help too.

Natural Solutions to Arthritis (Including Rheumatoid Arthritis)

If you suffer from this dreadful conditions you may be concerned or even panicking. You may be plagued by images of disability and inability to pursue your favorite interests and activities. This is what I was told years ago, when I was first diagnosed with the disease. I was told that anti-inflammatory drugs would be the only solutions. At the time traditional medicine was quite ill-equipped to deal with this complex condition, so I refused to ingest drugs which would give me more side-effects than real relief from the symptoms (pain, stiffness initially and then some swelling with severe pain).

I was very lucky, in that, by mere chance, I was introduced to homeopathy. My then boss was also a registered Homeopath and happened to suggest a few remedies to me for a different condition, which were very effective. My interest in this alternative type of treatment was peaked and I quickly made an appointment with a highly-recommended Practical Homeopath (not a Classical Homeopath). She not only resolved my other complaint (skin-related), but my pain, stiffness and swelling disappeared almost overnight. Some of the symptoms occasionally returned and I was therefore prescribed slight remedy variations. I am proud to state that to this day I can function perfectly, I run, I hike, I play tennis without any pain nor stiffness. I no longer have any swelling of any type. And, above all, without any side-effects but rather an overall improvement in my health.

Homeopathy can be prescribed for specific symptoms or for an overall set of symptoms (the latter is always more effective, hence a careful study of the patient is necessary before prescribing a remedy). In my case, Staphisagria, Folliculinum and Lachesis were extremely effective, in this exact order. Homeopathy and the way it works with your body can only experienced and it's hard to explain. My advice is to go to a Practical Homeopath (registered) and not a Classical Homeopath; however, the latter can help if the former is not available in your area.

You can, of course, self-medicate if you have some knowledge of how homeopathy works. However, the guidance of a registered Practical Homeopath will help you find the right remedy much more quickly and effectively.

Having A Low Purine Gout Diet Is Beneficial

To help improve the conditions of gout, one can consider trying out a low purine diet. Low purine gout diet place special emphasis on vegetable protein, dairy products, and water intake and completely abstaining from including high purine foods in the diet. Food items such as anchovies, bouillon, brains, broth, consume, dried legumes, goose, gravy, heart, herring, kidneys, liver, mackerel, meat extracts, mincemeat, mussels, partridge, roe, sardines, scallops, shrimp, sweetbreads, yeast (bakers and brewers), and yeast extracts (maramite, vegemite) need to be eliminated completely no matter how tempting and tasty these food might be from one's diet in order to prevent and treat gout:

Studies have shown that with the adoption of a low purine diet, the symptoms associated with gout decreases preventing the sudden and painful attacks of gout from occurring. Foods high in purines such as anchovies, brains, organ meats, sweetbreads, kidney, meat gravies, meat extracts, wild game, mackerel, scallops, herring, and sardines such be avoided when one is thinking of planning to have a low purine diet.

For a low purine or modified-purine diet, foods that contain only moderate amounts of purine and are allowed. Asparagus, cauliflower, legumes, lentils, mushrooms, oatmeal, peas (dried), soy, spinach, tripe, best bets, beverages (carbonated), butter, cereals and cereal products, cheese (all types), cocoa, corn, cornbread, eggs, fruit juices, fruits, gelatin, ice cream, milk, noodles, nuts, refined white flour, tapioca, vegetables (except those high in purine), white bread and crackers, and white rice are examples of food with a moderate amount of purine.

For most people who have experienced gout will usually use a purine-modified diet and avoid high purine foods in their daily diet to reduce the possibility of having more attacks of the gout. This low purine diet consists of eliminating extremely high purine foods such as liver, brains, kidney and other organ meats as well as sweetbreads.

In addition, only one serving of the following foods are allowed per day in order to avoid consuming too much purines: dried beans and peas, asparagus, cauliflower, spinach, mushrooms, poultry, meat or fish. In most of the prescribed treatment used today, a purine-modified diet is introduced for the treatment of gout. In a purine-modified diet, the doctor will only encourage the patients to consume some protein foods. However the patients will have to bear in mind not to exceed 100 grams of protein per day. As a rough guide, there are about 7 grams of protein in one ounce of meat and 3 grams of protein per serving of bread and grains. Studies have shown that dairy products such as milk, egg and cheese are good food choices for gout patients since they are low in purine but rice in protein. Consuming large amounts of these dairy products was found to reduce the risk of developing gout by 50%.

On top of having a correct and healthy diet, medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids and allopurinol are often prescribed by doctors together with the recommended diet to treat gout. There is no better form of treatment or prevention for gout other than drinking lots of water, eating lots of dairy products and vegetable proteins and abstaining from high purine food items.

If You Have Rheumatoid Arthritis You May Want To Start Going To Indian Restaurants!

Folk and herbal remedies for arthritis are often found, after scientific scrutiny, to have beneficial effects. A recent study seems to support the role of turmeric as a spice that could help alleviate the pain and inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis.

Turmeric is the spice that flavors and gives yellow color to curries and other foods. It has been used for centuries by practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine to treat inflammatory diseases. Turmeric extract containing the ingredient curcumin is marketed widely as a dietary supplement for the treatment and prevention of a variety of disorders, including arthritis.

Janet L. Funk, MD and Barbara N. Timmermann, PhD, researchers at the University of Arizona, Center for Phytomedicine Research, set up a series of experiments to determine whether (and how) turmeric works as an anti-arthritic. They began by preparing their own extracts from the root of the plant and compared them with commercially available products.

Dr. Funk and her colleagues then tested in animal models a whole extract of turmeric root, only the essential oils, and an oil-depleted extract containing the three major curcuminoids found in the plant root.

Of the three extracts, the one containing the major curcuminoids was most similar in chemical composition to commercially available turmeric dietary supplements. It also was the most effective, completely inhibiting the onset of rheumatoid arthritis.

Dr. Funk states that, "This was the first study that has examined turmeric with the researchers' own prepared, well-defined extracts... the study represents the first documentation of the chemical composition of a curcumin-containing extract tested in a living organism... for anti-arthritic efficacy. It also provides the first evidence of anti-arthritic efficacy of a complex turmeric extract that is analogous in composition to turmeric dietary supplements."

The significance, she explains, is that "translating the results of trials such as these to clinical use depends on accurate information about the chemical content and biological activity of the botanical supplements available for use. This work paves the way for the preclinical and clinical trials needed before turmeric supplements can be recommended for medicinal use in preventing or suppressing rheumatoid arthritis."

Dr. Funk and her colleagues add, "This study also provides the first in vivo documentation of a mechanism of action -- how curcumin-containing extracts protect against arthritis."

"We found that the curcuminoid extract inhibits a transcription factor called NF-KB from being activated in the joint. A transcription factor is a protein that controls when genes are switched on or off. Once the transcription factor NF-KB is activated, or turned on, it binds to genes and enhances production of inflammatory proteins, destructive to the joint.

The finding that curcuminoid extract inhibits activation of NF-KB suggests that turmeric dietary supplements share the same mechanism of action as anti-arthritic pharmaceuticals under development that target NF-KB. It also suggests that turmeric may have a use in other inflammatory disorders, such as asthma, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease."

In addition to preventing joint inflammation, Dr. Funk's study shows that the curcuminoid extract blocked the pathway that affects bone resorption. Bone loss associated with osteoporosis in women typically begins before the onset of menopause. Bone loss is also a feature of rheumatoid arthritis.

(Funk JL, Frye JB, Oyarzo JN, Kuscuoglu N, Wilson J, McCaffrey G, Stafford G, Chen G, Lantz RC, Jolad SD, Solyom AM, Kiela PR, Timmerman BN. Efficacy and mechanism of action of turmeric supplements in the treatment of experimental arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2006: 54 (11): 3452-3464).

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by University of Arizona Health Sciences Center.

Author's note: This study is interesting from at least three points of view. First, it confirms the effectiveness of an herbal supplement for adjunctive treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and provides information on a possible mode of action. Second, it gives credence to the use of turmeric in standard dietary supplement form for arthritis. Third, the bone loss inhibiting effect of turmeric is an important one given the magnitude of osteoporosis as a public health issue.

I, for one, am making reservations to my favorite Indian restaurant as soon as I can.

What Do Lysine Supplements Do?

What is Lysine? L-Lysine is an essential amino acid, which means our bodies do not make it and it must be obtained through what you eat or by supplementation. There are multiple uses for L-Lysine including: treating herpes simplex, fighting cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, Bell's palsy, calcium assimilation, heroin detox, and atherosclerosis.

L-Lysine can either be obtained from supplementation or from the foods we eat. Foods that are rich in L-Lysine are: yogurt, fish, cheese, brewer's yeast, wheat germ, and meat. The usual dosage for supplementation is anywhere from 1.5-3g/day. However, it has been proven safe up to 4,000mg per day. You should avoid L-Lysine supplementation if you have liver disease, are pregnant, or nursing.

L-Lysine is great for fighting outbreaks of herpes simplex. When you supplement with L-Lysine, it shifts the balance between L-Lysine and L-arginine in the body. Since herpes has to have sufficient L-arginine in the body to replicate the virus, supplementing and shifting the balance in favor of L-Lysine can reduce or stop breakouts.

It has also been found to be beneficial in fighting cancer. L-Lysine supplementation causes the harmful cancer cells to destroy themselves, while leaving the healthy cells unharmed. L-Lysine supplementation must be combined with Phototherapy (light therapy) to activate the cancer fighting properties.

L-Lysine supplementation has also proven beneficial in preventing and treating atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). It works by loosening the fat deposits that have built up in the arteries and also prevents new deposits from forming. L-Lysine has also been used as a part of heroin detox. Lysine acetylsalicylate has also been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and Bell's palsy.

L-Lysine has many beneficial uses. It can be used to treat herpes simplex, cancer, Bell's palsy, rheumatoid arthritis, heroin detox, and atherosclerosis. Before supplementing your diet with L-Lysine, be sure to talk it over with a medical professional first. While, there are very few known side effects of Lysine supplementation it is best to avoid if you are pregnant, nursing, or if you have any chronic conditions or are on any medications, unless told otherwise by a medical professional familiar with your case.

Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis - How to Deal With Pain Without Drugs?

Rheumatoid arthritis is not caused by aging, instead this condition is caused when your immune system starts to attack your joints for an unknown reason. When your immune system attacks these areas inflammation results, and this causes pain, problems with joint movement and function, tissue and bone damage, deformities, and even fatigue and a higher temperature. This fever affects the entire body, not just the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can be extremely painful, and affects all ages and ethnic backgrounds. Because of the pain, which can be debilitating at times, many people take narcotic pain medications or other drugs to become more comfortable and increase their movement ability. It is possible to manage the pain of this condition without harmful drugs though, and using alternative methods can be just as effective at relieving your symptoms and pain as anything your doctor can prescribe. In addition there are no risky side effects or mental dullness that pain medication may include with drug free treatments.

One very effective technique that can help with rheumatoid arthritis involves the use of heat and cold compresses or packs. Applying heat or cold to the joints that are affected can give you some relief, and the choice will depend on whether the pain is acute or chronic. A general guideline is that cold compresses and ice packs will work best if you suffer from acute pain, while chronic pain will usually respond better to a heat pack or compresses. Another step that can help minimize your discomfort is to exercise as much as you can within your specific physical limitations. If you do not use the joints then they will start to stiffen up, increasing the pain every time you move them. Exercises for range of motion in each joint will prevent this, and help decrease your pain in the long term.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis it is important that you stay positive and upbeat as much as possible. Your mental attitude plays a big part in the pain you experience, and depression can cause pain to be felt more severely. If you start to feel down or have negative thoughts make a conscious effort to reverse this thinking pattern and try to look at any positive things in your life. Laughter is an excellent way to minimize pain from rheumatoid arthritis, and this has been scientifically proven regardless of the cause of the pain. When you laugh your brain releases chemicals which minimize the pain impulses and improve your mood, making the pain seem much more manageable. Fill your life with people who make you laugh and help you stay in a positive frame of mind. Other treatments that do not involve drugs can include massage, acupuncture, relaxation techniques and training, electrical stimulation which increases the natural endorphins released by your brain, topical applications which will decrease the pain sensitivity of the nerves, and others.

A Diet for Those That Have Rheumatoid Arthritis

The medicine aids in fighting the pain that the patient is experiencing in their joints.

One type of arthritis that is treated by changes in a person's current diet is known as Gout. For a person to continue to eat what is causing the arthritis will cause the condition to worsen. If you stick with the diet that the doctor assigns to you then you can be sure to feel better and have relief of your current symptoms over time. If you know that you are suffering from arthritis then you need to contact your health provider immediately so that they can inform you on what kind of diet you need to be on.

You might not like the diet that you physician suggests to you, but the most important thing to you is your health so it is better to follow the guidelines of the proper diet so that your body can heal properly. You should know that there are certain foods that can trigger pain episodes in your body. After being examined, your doctor should be able to tell you what foods you need to stay clear away from eating.

There are some obvious foods that are considered to be stimulants of arthritis pain that you need to stay clear away from eating. These foods would include:
? Caffeinated food/drinks
? Specified vegetables
? Additives
? Chocolates
? Salt
? Red Meat
? Certain Dairy products

You should be able to notice on your own if certain foods cause you arthritis symptoms to flare up. Just take note of everything that you eat and if you experience joint pain after eating it then you should stop eating it and notify your physician on your next doctor visit.

However, just like there are foods that can worsen arthritis symptoms, there are also foods that can stop symptoms and make you feel better. According to what diet your doctor recommends, you will most likely be told to eat moderate amounts of certain foods to help with your condition.

Recent studies that have been made show that inflammation can be reduced when you eat oranges, plant oils and fish oils. The oils will allow your joints to become less tender, and any fatigue that you might experience will be reduced as well. Some doctors even suggest a strict diet of organic fruits and vegetables.

Vitamins from fish such as Omega-3 and Vitamin D have also been known to reduce the presence of symptoms produced by arthritis. The intake of less sodium and sugar would be recommended by a doctor, and well balances diet is what would be replaced with your old diet.

Avoid all types of foods that are high in cholesterol and that are very fatty. These foods are so easy to indulge in and very tempting, but you must remember that your health comes first! You should also avoid drinking any alcoholic beverages because they tend to cause the arthritis condition to get worse.

Any type of foods that would cause you to gain excessive weight should be avoided altogether because the arthritis will get worse. Gaining weight can only cause the joint pain to get worse.

Water - The Elixir of Life

Water has always been regarded as the source of life for human beings. The reason why the Earth is populated is because of the water that exists on this planet. But does the water have any power when it comes to curing or diminishing the effects of diseases?

Many naturalists view water as the spring of life and health. There are major diseases that affect millions of people and have no certain cause. In this cases where the modern medicine is useless, people go back to the alternative treatments or the natural treatments that are known since the very beginning of the human beings' life.

While the natural treatments based on food diets do not work in the same way on people: for a person might be a treatment beneficial, for another it might cause an allergy, water cures have always the same beneficial effects.

The basic way water is known for being used in treatments is for drinking. Heart burn, back pain, migraines and even rheumatoid arthritis can be cured or have diminished symptoms by drinking water.

While the heartburn is the major thirst signal of the human being, back pain and rheumatoid arthritis are also signals of water shortage. Drinking the daily quantity of six glasses of water will always make a person feel better, no matter if she/he is suffering of any kind of disease or not.

While the miracles of this drink can not be neglected, the healing power water has when used for aerobic exercises can not be denied. When recovering, people suffering from arthritis joint pain, osteoporosis or post traumas can experience a pleasant physical exercise that will help them use their physical strength again and diminish their pains.

Recommended by doctors, the water aerobic treatment has always guaranteed effect: even if a patient does only 4-6 hours water aerobic exercises, there still can be seen an advance in the recovering process of the patients. For rheumatoid diseases like arthritis, warmer water than for other patients is commonly used in the therapeutic process. Hydrotherapy is also a commonly used treatment that includes massage that helps to the stress relief and a high relaxing capacity.

Water is considered in many cultures the elixir of life and even the modern medicine doesn't deny the benefits the regularly use of water as drink and therapy mode. This natural cure will remain for a long time an important part of rheumatoid arthritis treatment, rheumatoid arthritis diet and many other common severe illnesses like blood cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Water is also a known factor that helps balance the weight and reduce the stress. Because of the fact that our body is made up between 55 and 75 percent water, it is crucial that its importance and power is not ignored even when dealing with chronic or autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.

Top 7 Ways To Treat Arthritis

Arthritis is a term used to describe more than 100 different conditions that affect and cause pain to your joints. However, along with medication and exercise therapy, here are some other helpful ways you can try when treating arthritis:

1. Physical therapy

This form of therapy restores or keeps the range of motion in your joints and strengthens the surrounding muscles. A physical therapist can help you learn how to use supportive devices, such as crutches, canes, and braces, and also teach you to do everyday tasks with as little pain as possible.

2. Heat and cold therapy

Apply heat to your joints to increase blood flow and loosen the joints. Apply cold to your joints to relieve pain.

3. Hydrotherapy

Not only is soaking in a whirlpool or hot tub pleasurable, but it may also help to loosen tight joints and reduce some of the pressure on your aching joints by providing heat and buoyancy.

4. Diet therapy

Certain foods are linked to arthritis symptoms. Milk and cheese were found to cause symptoms. Other research shows foods in the nightshade family (chilli and bell peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, and potatoes) trigger arthritis flare-ups.

Other studies show that foods containing omega-6 fatty acids (vegetable oils such as safflower, soy, sesame, and sunflower) can produce inflammatory chemicals in the body. On the other hand, foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, sardines, and mackerel) may have an anti-inflammatory effect.

5. Antioxidants

Not having enough antioxidants (molecules that help fight against free radicals - destructive molecules made in the body by a chemical process called oxidation), such as vitamins E and A, and beta-carotene, could be a precursor to rheumatoid arthritis. People with rheumatoid arthritis had lower levels of several types of antioxidants, including the beta-carotene and vitamins A and D. Additional studies have found that vitamin E may help ease swelling, pain, and morning stiffness associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

6. Dietary supplements

Supplements such as chondroitin and glucosamine, two compounds found in healthy joints, have shown promise in relieving pain and improving mobility. They are taken separately or in combination - either in a pill or as a powder that can be mixed with a liquid. Because these are sold as dietary supplements in your local health food store, they are not monitored or tested for safety and efficacy by the FDA.

7. Herbal therapy

Some herbs that may help to relieve arthritis pain include arnica, feverfew, meadowsweet, and stinging nettles. However, because not all herbal therapies are effective or safe for everyone, you should speak with your doctor.

Raw Food Health Solutions For Arthritis

The Link Between Raw Foods and Arthritis

Do you suffer from the aches and pains of arthritis? Arthritis is used to refer to numerous rheumatism ailments which symptoms include: pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints, although other parts of the body can be affected as well. Internal organs, muscles, ligaments and tendons are other parts of the body within the illnesses reach.

Arthritis is not to be taken lightly. According to some statistics, arthritis is now second only to heart disease as a leading cause of work disability. According to Arthritis.com, the disease affected 46 million Americans in 2006.

There are two forms of arthritis that are dreaded for causing so much pain to their victims. These are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The former is the more common type that is prevalent among older people. It affects the cartilage, that spongy tissue between two bones that is responsible for shock absorption. The bones rub against each other and this is what causes swelling and pain. Some shards of bones may break off in the long run, lodging themselves inside the joint space, and thereby causing more pain. The latter type of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, affects other body parts, but will still cause inflammation in the joints and a general feeling of fatigue. The symptoms appear in a symmetric manner, which means that if one joint is affected, the other corresponding joint will be affected too.

What Causes Arthritis?

There are several factors that may contribute to arthritis development, and these may include:

1. Age - Cartilage wears out with age and it becomes harder for it to be replaced naturally. Thus as people become older they also become more susceptible to arthritis.

2. Weight - The more pressure applied to knee and hip joints by accounts of body mass, the faster the cartilage is likely to wear out.

3. Other ailments or infections - Individuals who have suffered a joint infection like gout may later develop arthritis in that joint.

4. Daily occupation - Some types of occupations seem to carry inherently higher risk of developing arthritis than others. And these are those that typically involve a lot of lifting of heavy materials especially in heavy construction industry.

5. Genetics - It is possible that there can be genetic variations that contribute to higher incidences of arthritis development though the exact contribution of the genes to the disease development is not exactly clear.

How Can I Prevent Arthritis?

Some of the causes outlined above may themselves help in identifying the correct measures that can be taken to prevent arthritis. Some of these measures may apply before as a preventative measure and after as an ameliorating measure. These measures include:

1. Reducing weight

2. Simple exercises regularly

3. Massage

Unleash the Power of Raw Foods to Help with Arthritis

These raw foods have been very powerful at reducing the effects of arthritis on your body:

* Oranges

* Lemons

* Strawberries

* Tomatoes

* Bell peppers

* Kiwifruit

* Sweet red peppers

* Papapaya

* Guava

* Dalanghita

* Anonas

* Kasuy

You also need calcium rich food, but don't reach out for that glass of milk yet. Instead reach out for spinach, collard greens, and broccoli they are great source of calcium. Vitamin B rich food is also recommended, and this would include delicacies such as cauliflower.

Vitamins and any antioxidants can really you with your Arthritis as they decrease the damage to the joints, thus reducing the pain. Organic vegetables grown in your own garden can also inspire you to consume more raw foods. Give it a try!

To your health,

Omid

Natural, Effective Treatments For Stiff and Aching Joints That You Shouldn't Pass Up

Stiff and aching joints are common complaints. Sometimes caused by conditions such as osteo- or rheumatoid arthritis, stiff and painful joints are also experienced by persons in otherwise good health, due to factors such as overexertion, but these complaints may also be linked to poor nutrition or improperly balanced diet.

Many studies and surveys have shown that the typical American diet is too high in omega-6 fatty acids and too low in omega-3 fatty acids. The best source of omega 3s is fish, while omega 6s are found in most other meats and foods. The long popular "meat and potatoes" diet adhered to by many Americans has practically no omega 3s, at all.

Studies have shown that improper diet plays a role in heart disease. More and more researchers believe it is also related to many forms of cancer. And, now more and more studies are showing that the lack of omega 3s in the diet plays a major role in the development osteoarthritis. Likewise, the addition of omega 3s to the diet improves and relieves symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

One excellent source of omega 3 fatty acids that is receiving attention throughout the world is the New Zealand green lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus). If the research is correct, many of us may never need to suffer from the stiff and aching joints in the morning that was commonly considered "just a normal part of aging". Apparently, it is not normal, or at least not inevitable.

Studies have shown that in communities around the world where fish is eaten more often than other meat products, the rate of heart disease is lower. Most people are aware of the importance of omega 3s to heart health, but people following this type of diet may also suffer less from stiff and painful joints.

Prescription medications designed to relieve the pain and inflammation associated with stiff and aching joints have numerous, sometimes life-threatening side effects. Over the counter remedies can eventually damage the lining of the stomach, cause ulcers, worsen acid reflux and even damage the liver. Many researchers feel that it is important to find a remedy for stiff and painful joints that is not accompanied by dangerous side effects.

Inflammation is the cause of the stiff and aching joints and the pain that accompanies them. Chronic inflammation is also believed to be the root cause of heart disease and cancer. Obesity has long been associated with heart disease and recently scientists have learned that obesity is accompanied by chronic inflammation.

Being overweight or obese can also worsen and increase complaints, such as stiff and painful joints, as well as increasing the deterioration of the cartilage that "cushions" the joints and prevents the grinding that, once again leads to inflammation.

At one time, it was believed that fat cells expanded as a person gained weight and then shrank, as a person lost weight. It has now been shown that fat cells actually "burst" due to weight gain and the "remains" of the burst cells stimulates inflammatory processes in the immune system. In other words, inflammatory molecules are sent to "clean up the mess" left by the fatty substance.

Both omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids are used by the immune system to create substances that the body needs to repair damage to cells. However, the substances derived from omega 6 fatty acids mostly lead to inflammation, while those from omega 3s are mostly anti-inflammatory.

The latest research has shown that extract form the New Zealand green lipped muscle relieves stiff and painful joints, improves mobility and strength in the hands. In general, omega 3 fatty acids improve the body's own ability to reduce inflammation.

Increasing omega 3s in the diet can help prevent heart disease and possibly cancer. Recent studies supplementation is beneficial for persons trying to lose weight. And, finally omega 3s and green lipped muscles may relieve the pain from stiff and aching joints, while supplementation early in life may prevent the development of chronic conditions like osteoarthritis.

The Anti-Inflammatory Diet: How It Can Protect You From Disease

Inflammation is a good thing. It is the natural way your body responds to threats such as infections or wounds. We have all seen inflammation at work when we have pain and redness at an injury. We say it looks inflamed, and it literally is, because injury activates the inflammatory response.

When is inflammation a problem?

When inflammation lasts for long periods of time, we call it chronic, and it can cause problems. Some common causes of chronic inflammation include allergies, autoimmune disease, periodontal disease, arthritis and other diseases that activate the immune system over time. Even obesity is inflammatory, because fat cells give off chemicals called cytokines that trigger inflammation.

Why is it a problem?

Chronic inflammation causes damage to the endothelial lining of arteries, which can lead to atherosclerosis and heart disease. There is also evidence that it contributes to type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and a growing number of other chronic diseases that are common in modern, western societies.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of inflammation vary with what is causing it. You may even have no symptoms at all, as in the case of obesity. Here are some examples of specific disease related symptoms:

• Arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis ( joint pain, stiffness, swelling)


• Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis (abdominal pain and cramping, fever, diarrhea)


• Psoriasis or eczema (redness)


• Allergies (respiratory symptoms, hives)

More subtle, early indicators of problems could include headaches, muscles aches, fatigue, muscle stiffness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, gas, abdominal discomfort and even emotional problems including depression. These could be related to food sensitivities and intolerances. The most common food intolerances include dairy (lactose), wheat (gluten), yeast, soy, corn, eggs and even some artificial sweeteners.

How can you know if you have chronic inflammation if you don't have symptoms or a diagnosis?

You can find out if you have inflammation by having your C- reactive protein levels tested. The high sensitivity C-reactive protein, is the preferred indicator of chronic, low-grade inflammation.

What should I do if I have high levels of C-reactive protein?

If your C-reactive protein levels are high, you will first want to talk to your doctor to find out if there is an underlying infection, allergy, autoimmune disorder or other contributing disease. If not, your excess weight could be the cause and weight loss is your best line of defense. If you are a smoker, that could also be contributing to the problem.

How do foods influence inflammation?

Inflammation can also be influenced by the foods you eat. Research has shown that certain foods trigger inflammation and others suppress it.

Some of the foods that are pro-inflammatory include:

• Animal fats (corn-fed beef, dark meat and skin of poultry, pork, duck


• Hydrogenated fats (trans fat)


• Fried foods (fried in saturated,hydrogenated or polyunsaturated fats)


• Sweets (sugar, candy, cookies, cakes, ice cream, donuts, sweet drinks)


• Refined grains (white bread, pasta, white rice)


• Processed foods (chips, crackers, fries, cold cuts, hot dogs, canned meats)


• Dairy products (especially full fat milk, cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, cream)


• Some people may also need to avoid the nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers)

Here are some of the best anti-inflammatory foods:

• Fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, herring, trout and tuna (with omega 3 fatty acids)


• Grass fed beef also contain some omega 3 fats (unlike corn-fed beef, mostly saturated fats)


• Nuts and seeds (walnuts, flaxseed, almonds)


• Monounsaturated fats (olive oil, canola oil, avocados), by replacing polyunsaturated fats


• Turmeric (part of most curry dishes)


• Ginger, used in Asian cuisine (also helps control nausea)


• Whole grains (except wheat, barley and rye if you are gluten intolerant)

Foods that have high antioxidant levels also tend to reduce inflammation, possibly by reducing the damage that stimulates inflammation. Antioxidants are prolific in brightly and darkly colored fruits and vegetables.

Some of the best sources of antioxidants include:

• Berries: blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cranberries, strawberries, cherries,


• Beans: Red beans, kidney beans, pinto and black beans


• Herbs: oregano, basil, sage, marjoram, thyme, dill, garlic, dry mustard


• Spices: cinnamon, cloves, cumin, turmeric, ginger


• Nuts: pecans, walnuts, pistachios


• Green tea is rich in both antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds


• Coffee, cocoa (or dark chocolate) and red wine (but caffeine and alcohol are inflammatory)


• Exotic fruits: acai, gogi, pomegranate, papaya, pineapple

Eating more of these anti-inflammatory and high antioxidant foods can help calm chronic inflammation and by doing so, reduce your risk for chronic diseases. Find ways to make these foods a part of your everyday diet and you will not only be protecting your body from disease, but you may find that some of your aches and pains improve.

Does Low Dose Prednisone Work For Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic progressive autoimmune inflammatory disease that affects multiple organ systems, but the joints in particular. Rheumatoid arthritis also damages and erodes away the cartilage and bones in the affected joints. This erosion cannot be seen by physical examination and is measured by x-rays. More erosion on an x-ray usually means that the disease is progressing or worsening.

Glucocorticoids or corticosteroids such as prednisone are used by some arthritis patients to reduce inflammation and suppress immune system activity. Synthetic corticosteroids, like prednisone, are designed to mimic cortisol action in body. Cortisol is a natural corticosteroid produced by the adrenal glands.

Glucocorticoids have been shown to improve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. There is some debate as to whether glucocorticoids can slow the progression of the disease.

There is also concern about the long term side effects, such as heart problems, when taking glucocorticoids.

Glucocorticoid use in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is common. Two Cochrane Reviews have been published examining the short term clinical benefit of low dose glucocorticoids compared to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They have demonstrated good short term and medium term clinical benefits. The possibility that glucocorticoids may have a "disease modifying" effect in RA, which would be seen by a reduction in the rate of radiological progression, has been suggested by several investigators.

The objectives of the current review was to evaluate glucocorticoid efficacy in inhibiting the progression of radiological damage in rheumatoid arthritis.

This summary of a Cochrane review presents what we know about the effect of low dose glucocorticoids, such as prednisone, on the progression of rheumatoid arthritis.

The studies that were reviewed looked at people who had rheumatoid for up to 2 years. Low doses of glucocorticoid pills were taken and usually with a disease-modifying anti-rheumatoid drug (DMARD).
X-rays were periodically used to assess the progression of joint erosion and other signs of joint damage. Of the studies which were reviewed, all but one concluded that glucocorticoids given along with standard arthritis treatments significantly reduced the rate of joint erosion in rheumatoid arthritis patients. It did not necessarily correlate with long-term improvement in function however.

Bottom line: In people with rheumatoid arthritis, low dose glucocorticoids reduce the progression of RA over a 1 one to two year period.

This benefit occurred in people already taking a disease-modifying anti-rheumatoid drug (DMARD) and therefore this benefit is over and above any benefits from the DMARDs.

These results were true in people that had rheumatoid arthritis for less than 2 years. It seems possible that glucocorticoids would have the same effect in people who have had rheumatoid for 3 to 4 years, but it is not known whether this is true in people who have had it for longer.

The evidence that glucocorticoids, given in addition to standard therapy, can substantially reduce the rate of erosion progression in rheumatoid arthritis is convincing. There is concern about potential long-term adverse reactions to glucocorticoid therapy, such as increased cardiovascular risk and osteoporosis.

(Kirwan JR, Bijlsma JWJ, Boers M, Shea BJ. Effects of glucocorticoids on radiological progression in rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD006356. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006356).

How to Stop Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain!

Having a debilitating physical condition is bad enough, but it's even worse when doctors don't even know the real cause of the illness. Welcome to the delemma faced by two million sufferers of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis(R.A.) is a painful condition that can fully impact your quality of life and your lifestyle because it effects the joints. Doctors are still baffled by the causes but they do know that it is an auto immune system disease. So basically with Rheumatoid Arthritis the bodies auto immune system (which is the gatekeeper for all of the foreign substances that can enter your body) ) breaks down! When this occurs, it cannot defend and drive away the viruses and bacteria.

Those who suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis have an immune system which is constantly under attack; can't ward off the intruders and eventually malfunctions as a result. Even otherwise normal parts of the body are prey and are vulnerable to this takeover.

The main symptoms come from the tissue area that surrounds the joints,( usually in the feet or hands) and there is considerable inflammation which causes a varying degree of pain. In the course of this tissue attack, the joint region is open to further destruction and degeneration.

Joints are a meeting place where two bones converge. They rotate around each other. The different parts include the cartilage, which provides a smooth surface and allows the bones to move around without friction. And surrounding the cartilage is a membrane called the synovium, which produces a thick oil-like substance that lubricates the joint.

The joint itself is supported by a wrapping of ligaments which hold the bones in place and keep them moving in the right direction. For sufferers of Rheumatoid Arthritis, the bodies immune system attacks the healthy tissue of the joints. Fluids enter along with antibodies and defense cells and the joint starts to swell; stiffen and cause pain! After a while there can be permanent decay and degeneration which could cause disfigurement if left untreated.

So, what do you do to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis and how do you stop R.A.'s onslaught?

Since the causes are still unknown it's hard to say that you can prevent it, but knowing the effects of the disease can help you to treat the symptoms that start with the breakdown of the joint itself.

Recently, the use of an all natural substance called cetylmyristoleate (CMO) has proven to be very effective. Cetylmyristoleate (CMO) is a waxy/ gooey substance which is taken orally, that lubricates the membrane of the synovium, thus restoring some of the lost fluidity of the joint. This relieves the swelling; inflammation and pain and also assists in a broader range of motion.

Can we stop Rheumatoid Arthritis?.... probably not! - but we can ease the pain and suffering by regenerating parts of the joint region. We can start by using cetylmyristoleate(CMO) on a regular basis.

Arthritis Treatment - How to Reduce Your Arthritis Pain and Stiffness to Manageable Level

The word arthritis means inflammation of the joints. Arthritis is a crippling condition associated with the inflammation of a muscle joint. The inflammation is often caused by the rubbing of the bones. There are two main types of arthritis:

Osteoarthritis is caused by degeneration of the cartilage in the joints (the cartilage between the bones wears away). Osteoarthritis usually affects older people although it can develop in a younger person, especially where joints have been damaged by injury.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) a systemic disease caused by abnormality in the body's immune system making it to work improperly and therefore leading to inflammation of the joints. It is an autoimmune disease of the joints (usually).

However, you can learn to live with this disease without permitting it to rule your life. To ease the pain while continuing your daily life, here are some things you can do. Arthritis can be managed through medication, regular exercise (preferably walking), rest, weight-management, nutrition, or in some cases, surgery. Arthritis is a chronic disease that lasts for a long time and possibly for the rest of one's life. Treatments will probably change over time and medication may be adjusted.

Positive mental outlook and the support of family are essential for performance of daily activities. Stay focused on the positive things in life.

Try to maintain your social life, laugh with your friends, and keep doing the things you do daily.

Keep joints warm at night to avoid morning stiffness.

Practice deep breathing in addition to a regular exercise program. Exercise alleviates arthritis symptoms and improves strength and flexibility. In addition, exercise helps prevent weight gain which makes arthritis pain worse.

Oily fish is a good source of Vitamins A and D as well as being rich in Omega 3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids have the power to lessen inflammation in the body, as well as lessen the pain associated with arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis patients usually report improvement in joint pains and inflammation when taking fish oil supplements.

Honey is useful in arthritic and rheumatic pains when combined with apple cider. Use the cider vinegar and honey treatment for arthritis and also apply cider vinegar externally to painful joints. This entails drinking a glass of water with two teaspoons of cider vinegar and two teaspoons of honey three times a day.

Raw potato extract is a traditional remedy that has been used for centuries. Wash a medium size potato but do not peel. Be sure it has no green patches. Cut it into thin slices. Lay the slices in a bowl, cover with water and cover the bowl. Leave overnight. Drink the water in the morning.

Calcium supplements can also help some cases of arthritis. If you prefer not to take supplements you can take calcium in dietary form.

Glucosamine in combination with chondroitin is a supplement that can help lubricate joints while reducing inflammation and pain in some cases.

Add several teaspoonfuls of ginger to vegetables, salads or beverages daily.

Garlic and turmeric both have anti inflammatory properties and can be included in your diet in generous quantities.

Eat grapes regularly as grape skins contain resveratrol. Resveratrol deactivates the Cox-2 enzyme, which produces inflammation at the site of injury or pain.

Regular diet of bananas, which are rich in potassium and vitamin B6, can be helpful in treating rheumatoid arthritis flare up. Eat only bananas for up to 3 days. Bananas should be ripe, i.e. starting to show brown spots on the skin.

Practice deep breathing in addition to a regular exercise program. Exercise alleviates arthritis symptoms and improves strength and flexibility. In addition, exercise helps prevent weight gain which makes arthritis pain worse.

The following foods are known to make arthritis worse and should be avoided. You may have to cut them all out of your diet for at least 4 days and then reintroduce them one by one to feel the effects:

Sugar, caffeine, red meat, dairy products, citrus fruits, corn (maize), wheat, salt, artificial sweeteners and other food additives.

Take Control:

Arthritis may limit some of the things you do, but it does not have to control your life. One way to reduce your pain is to build your life around wellness, not pain or sickness. Think of pain as a signal to take positive action rather than an ordeal you have to endure. This means thinking positive thoughts, having a sense of humor (i.e. you can joke about your disability), eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly (e.g. walking), enjoying activities with friends and family, taking your medication properly and practicing relaxation.

Exercise and Arthritis:

For a long time, it was thought that people with arthritis should not exercise because it would damage their joints. Now doctors and therapists know that people with arthritis can improve their health and fitness through exercise without hurting their joints. Along with medicine, rest, acupressure, relaxation techniques and regular exercise can keep your joints in working order so that you can continue your daily activities. Everyone should exercise regularly. But if you have arthritis, it is a must. Exercise enhances the muscles around your joints and reduces the pain in your body. It also acts like lubrication for the joints in your body. It also may help prevent further joint damage. If your joints hurt, you may not feel like exercising. However, if you do not exercise, your joints can become even more stiff and painful. Exercise is beneficial because it keeps your muscles, bones and joints healthy. Be sure, however, that you only exercise within your body's limits.

3 Easy Natural Cures For Rheumatoid Arthritis

Do you suffer from rhuematoid arthritis? You may feel you're facing a grim diagnosis, but don't despair! There are many natural cures for rheumatoid arthritis that don't rely on dangerous treatments or prescription medication with harmful side effects. Millions of people suffer from this disease but many of them have been successful at treating the pain with simple, safe, all-natural methods.

Diet

Believe it or not, your diet is one of the biggest contributing factors to the advancement of RA. In particular, saturated fats are known to cause inflammation so you should try to avoid most animal products, especially bacon, steak, cream, and butter. Many feel that simply switching over to a vegetarian or vegan diet is one of the best natural cures for rheumatoid arthritis. It is also very important to consume lots of probiotics and omega-3 fatty acids. Some studies have even shown alcohol to be effective at preventing and treating RA. But always remember to talk to your doctor before drinking anything, especially if you are taking medications.

Glucosamine

Glucosamine is a naturally-occurring substance found in the fluid around the joints. It is used to make and repair cartilage. Glucosamine has been shown to be a highly effective treatment for osteoarthritis and shows promise as a fantastic natural cure for rheumatoid arthritis. Its anti-inflammatory properties make it an effective pain reliever. It is especially effective when used in conjunction with Chondroitin, which keeps cartilage strong and resilient. You can buy these supplements in most drug and grocery stores.

Ginger

Ginger is well-known to provide relief for upset stomachs. Few people realize that it is also a natural cure for rheumatoid arthritis! It lowers the hormones that contribute to inflammation in the body, and studies have revealed it to be as effective as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory prescription drugs. Experts recommend taking ginger supplements or drinking ginger-infused tea on a regular basis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment

Rheumatoid arthritis treatment aims to accomplish several things:

-Reduce systemic inflammation
-Reduce symptom severity and duration
-Modification of the disease process
-Improve general health
-Send the disease into remission

While RA treatment should deal aggressively with the causes of the disease and seek to treat them first and foremost, the patient is certainly entitled to relief from the sometimes debilitating symptoms of RA.

RA Treatment of Symptoms

For mild to medium RA symptoms such as joint pain and stiffness, various supplements and over the counter medications can be used with good results. Both anti-inflammatory drugs and pain relievers can help treat rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

Non-steroid anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as naproxen and ibuprofen are quite effective for low-grade symptoms but their continued use is not advised as they have a number of potentially serious side-effects such as stomach bleeding.

Several other pain relievers are available both over the counter and by prescription such as opiodes (hydrocodone, oxycodone, etc.) for more serious pain.

RA Treatment via Surgery

The part of the joint that becomes inflamed by RA is the synovial membrane and surgery is sometimes indicated. The purpose of the surgery is to extract the inflamed synovial fluid which helps preserve the joints. The synovia has a discolored appearance which is indicative of inflammation and is sometimes used as a diagnostic tool to check for RA. This surgery is particularly useful when RA is still relatively undeveloped and has a success rate of about 50%.

Rheumatoid arthritis treatment by means of surgery is usually performed on knees, elbows, ankles, shoulders and feet. The surgery requires the cartilage to still be intact and physical therapy is required afterwards.

RA Treatment With Other Methods

There are many other therapies that an individual can employ to ease RA. Diet and exercise, for example, can essentially reverse much of the symptomatic portion of the disease. Specifically, a highly anti-inflammatory diet that avoids grains and often dairy and is high in protein and high-quality fat. This diet is popularly known as the paleo diet and has significant implications for sufferers of inflammatory diseases.

Light use of medical marijuana and alcohol have been endorsed by RA patients as ameliorative.

Exercise and a low-stress lifestyle can improve general health and immunity substantially and thus help the body help itself. However, it should be noted that too much exercise with insufficient recovery periods can actually have an inflammatory effect.

Certain supplements can be useful for RA patients. Fish oil is a highly anti-inflammatory supplement that is very safe even in large doses as it is essentially a food. Patients with active inflammatory processes often see fantastic improvement with high dose (several grams a day) of high-quality fish oil.

Further, MSM, glucosamine and chondroitin are anecdotally reputed to have joint supportive properties although the scientific literature is conflicting.

One rather fascinating supplement that this author has used for non-RA joint pain is Cissus Quadrangularis. This is a fairly new supplement on the market and studies indicate that it is rather safe. It is highly anti-inflammatory and has a powerful analgesic (pain-relieving) effect on joint pain.

Rheumatoid arthritis treatment can take many forms depending on the rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and progression of the disease but it all starts with the patient taking control of diet and exercise.

When Treating Arthritis, There are Definite Foods to Avoid, and Specific Arthritis Foods to Eat

Foods to Avoid

You need to make sure that the calcium to phosphorus ratio in any of the foods you eat is as low as possible - this is because excess phosphorus will increase the loss of calcium from the body and worsen the condition. The more phosphorous-containing foods you eat, the more you need to supplement with a good source of calcium.

Reduce your intake of:

o red meat, red-fleshed fish

o most grains, especially wheat.

Eliminate:

o soft drinks - high in phosphoric acid

o organ meat (liver, kidney), processed meat - especially high in phosphorus

o caffeine - increases the rate of loss of minerals and nutrients

o fried foods and vegetable oil - a high intake of fried foods and omega 6 from vegetable oil can make the inflammation worse

o sugar - results in poor absorption of nutrients

o antacids - neutralize stomach acid and result in poor absorption of calcium (heartburn and indigestion are caused by poor eating habits and NOT ENOUGH stomach acid!)

Important Note: Eliminate the bad fats such as margarine, cooking with too much vegetable oil and fried foods from your diet. A high intake of vegetable oil (a source of Omega 6) needs to be avoided as this will aggravate any inflammation.

Arthritis Foods

The best arthritis foods are diets high in calcium and magnesium and other trace minerals - this will ensure healthy bone and bone matrix structure. Specific nutrients are also required to build bone and bone structure.
Calcium: Non fat milk, yoghurt, cottage cheese, snow peas, soybeans, tofu, sardines, salmon, walnuts and almonds, sunflower seeds, kale and other green leafy vegetables, broccoli, alfalfa seeds - to name a few. Milk isn't a great source of calcium because it has a low magnesium content and you need magnesium to get the calcium into your bones.

Magnesium: Many fruits and vegetables, whole grains, leafy vegetables, nuts, beans, bananas and apricots - all these make great arthritis foods.
Vitamin D: is required to get the calcium into the bones. The best source is the sun - about 10 minutes per day is fine. Other sources include dairy products and fatty fish.

Trace minerals: Boron and Manganese are important to help the body absorb Calcium; the best sources of Boron are green leafy vegetables, apples, almonds pears and legumes. For Manganese, look for ginger and oats as your arthritis foods.

Collagen & Support Tissues: Collagen is part of our bone matrix, the cartilage in our joints and in the fluid that protects and lubricates our joints. It's also part of our skin, hair and the connective tissues of the body.

Arthritis foods containing the following nutrients will provide nutrition for bone support: zinc, copper, selenium and beta-carotene (Vitamin A). Green leafy vegetables and pumpkin seeds are good sources of zinc; selenium may be found in brazil nuts from Brazil (because of the high selenium content in the soil); while Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, berries, red and green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli and spinach. Eggs and meat are good sources of amino acids which form part of the collagen structure.
Essential Fatty Acids - are excellent arthritis foods and are required for the body's natural pain relief and anti-inflammatory responses. They are also part of the protective joint fluid. Best sources are from fish (particularly oily fish such as salmon and mackerel), animal fat and some oils such as flaxseed (for omega 3)and borage oil (for omega 6).

Regarding essential fatty acids, ideally you should consume Omega 6 EFA & Omega 3 EFA at a ratio of 2:1. Most people find it very difficult to get this right (the average ratio in the U.S. and UK is around 10:1) so we suggest you use an EFA Supplement from a quality source.

Final Note on Arthritis Foods

While it is possible to meet some of your dietary requirements from the food you eat, if you are serious about preventing or reversing arthritis, you need to consume these arthritis foods in combination with nutrient supplements.

Also consider that the majority of the food we eat is grown in minerally-depleted soils - so an almond may not contain all the calcium and magnesium it's supposed to have, sad but true!

If you have a busy lifestyle, eat junk food and/or can't get enough fresh food in your daily life, then you should consider supplementing with all 90 essential nutrients including plant derived colloidal minerals and supplements containing vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fatty acids.

Calcium and magnesium are normally very difficult to absorb from our arthritis foods diet and from supplements, however, calcium liquid supplements containing Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Vitamin D and Glucosamine are a good way to supplement your diet.

Supplements that specifically assist with maintenance and repair of the joint such as Glucosamine, are also beneficial. If you suffer pain and inflammation, then CM Cream has been scientifically and medically proven to relieve pain and improve mobility.

The use of a digestive enzyme supplement - will improve the absorption of the good arthritis foods you eat and will maximize the benefit you receive from taking supplements. As we all reach the age of 40, our stomach acid concentration begins to fall and this can lead to complications of existing chronic disease conditions, such arthritis.

Summary

1. Avoid foods high in phosphorus - particularly SOFT DRINKS, processed foods, processed meat and organ meat. No fried foods, cooking oil or margarine - use butter small amounts of extra virgin olive oil.

2. Eliminate caffeine and sugar from your diet and stop taking antacids.

3. Consume food with a wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables and eggs. Reduce your intake of red meat and fish.

4. Consider the use of supplements to support and reverse your arthritis, and digestive enzymes to maximise the absorption of the food and of the supplements.

Arthritis Different Types and Related Conditions - List

Before we delve into arthritis different types, it's important to note that arthritis means joint inflammation. It is actually a name given to problems that cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints. It can affect one or more joints and it could mean anything from slight tightness to severe pain and disability. Put simply, there are more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions. In fact, here's the compete list of arthritis different types and related conditions.

A-B Arthritis Different Types and Related Conditions

• Achilles tendinitis


• Achondroplasia


• Acromegalic arthropathy


• Adhesive capsulitis


• Adult onset Still's disease


• Ankylosing spondylitis


• Anserine bursitis


• Avascular necrosis


• Behcet's syndrome


• Bicipital tendonitis


• Blount's disease


• Brucellar spondylitis


• Bursitis

C-D Arthritis Different Types and Related Conditions

• Calcaneal bursitis


• Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD)


• Crystal deposition disease


• Caplan's syndrome


• Carpal tunnel syndrome


• Chondrocalcinosis


• Chondromalacia patellae


• Chronic synovitis


• Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis


• Churg-Strauss syndrome


• Cogan's syndrome


• Corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis


• Costosternal syndrome


• CREST syndrome


• Cryoglobulinemia


• Degenerative joint disease


• Dermatomyositis


• Diabetic finger sclerosis


• Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH)


• Discitis


• Discoid lupus erythematosus


• Drug-induced lupus


• Duchenne's muscular dystrophy


• Dupuytren's contracture

E-F Arthritis Different Types and Related Conditions

• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome


• Enteropathic arthritis


• Epicondylitis


• Erosive inflammatory osteoarthritis


• Exercise-induced compartment syndrome


• Fabry's disease


• Familial Mediterranean fever


• Farber's lipogranulomatosis


• Felty's syndrome


• Fibromyalgia


• Fifth's disease


• Flat feet


• Foreign body synovitis


• Freiberg's disease


• Fungal arthritis

G-H Arthritis Different Types and Related Conditions

• Gaucher's disease


• Giant cell arteritis


• Gonococcal arthritis


• Goodpasture's syndrome


• Gout


• Granulomatous arteritis


• Hemarthrosis


• Hemochromatosis


• Henoch-Schonlein purpura


• Hepatitis B surface antigen disease


• Hip dysplasia


• Hurler syndrome


• Hypermobility syndrome


• Hypersensitivity vasculitis


• Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy

I-K Arthritis Different Types and Related Conditions

• Immune complex disease


• Impingement syndrome


• Jaccoud's arthropathy


• Juvenile ankylosing spondylitis


• Juvenile dermatomyositis


• Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis


• Kawasaki disease


• Kienbock's disease

L-N Arthritis Different Types and Related Conditions

• Legg-Calve-Perthes disease


• Lesch-Nyhan syndrome


• Linear scleroderma


• Lipoid dermatoarthritis


• Lofgren's syndrome


• Lyme disease


• Malignant synovioma


• Marfan's syndrome


• Medial plica syndrome


• Metastatic carcinomatous arthritis


• Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD)


• Mixed cryoglobulinemia


• Mucopolysaccharidosis


• Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis


• Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia


• Mycoplasmal arthritis


• Myofascial pain syndrome


• Neonatal lupus


• Neuropathic arthropathy


• Nodular panniculitis

O-P Arthritis Different Types and Related Conditions

• Ochronosis


• Olecranon bursitis


• Osgood-Schlatter's disease


• Osteoarthritis


• Osteochondromatosis


• Osteogenesis imperfecta


• Osteomalacia


• Osteomyelitis


• Osteonecrosis


• Osteoporosis


• Overlap syndrome


• Pachydermoperiostosis Paget's disease of bone


• Palindromic rheumatism


• Patellofemoral pain syndrome


• Pellegrini-Stieda syndrome


• Pigmented villonodular synovitis


• Piriformis syndrome


• Plantar fasciitis


• Polyarteritis nodosa


• Polymyalgia rheumatica


• Polymyositis


• Popliteal cysts


• Posterior tibial tendonitis


• Pott's disease


• Prepatellar bursitis


• Prosthetic joint infection


• Pseudoxanthoma elasticum


• Psoriatic arthritis

R-S Arthritis Different Types and Related Conditions

• Raynaud's phenomenon


• Reactive arthritis/Reiter's syndrome


• Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome


• Relapsing polychondritis


• Retrocalcaneal bursitis


• Rheumatic fever


• Rheumatoid arthritis


• Rheumatoid vasculitis


• Rotator cuff tendonitis


• Sacroiliitis


• Salmonella osteomyelitis


• Sarcoidosis


• Saturnine gout


• Scheuermann's osteochondritis


• Scleroderma


• Septic arthritis


• Seronegative arthritis


• Shigella arthritis


• Shoulder-hand syndrome


• Sickle cell arthropathy


• Sjogren's syndrome


• Slipped capital femoral epiphysis


• Spinal stenosis


• Spondylolysis


• Staphylococcus arthritis


• Stickler syndrome


• Subacute cutaneous lupus


• Sweet's syndrome


• Sydenham's chorea


• Syphilitic arthritis


• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

T-Z Arthritis Different Types and Related Conditions

• Takayasu's arteritis


• Tarsal tunnel syndrome


• Tennis elbow


• Tietse's syndrome


• Transient osteoporosis


• Traumatic arthritis


• Trochanteric bursitis


• Tuberculosis arthritis


• Arthritis of Ulcerative colitis


• Undifferentiated connective tissue syndrome (UCTS)


• Urticarial vasculitis


• Viral arthritis


• Wegener's granulomatosis


• Whipple's disease


• Wilson's disease


• Yersinial arthritis

Arthritis Different Types-- Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. As such, we will discuss these two types in more detail.

Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease involves the breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of one or more joints.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

• Mild aching to severe pain and loss of mobility, especially in the evening, due to joint stiffness.


• Usually affects the weight-bearing joints - the knees, hips, and facet joints (in the spine), as well as the finger joints.

Osteoarthritis is primarily associated with aging and injury. In fact, it was once called "wear-and-tear" arthritis and it affects nearly everyone past age sixty. Although it can develop before age forty, it is said to be rare. In truth, the exact cause of osteoarthritis is unknown. However, about 20 million Americans are affected by osteoarthritis.

Supplements that may be helpful for Osteoarthritis

For supplements that may be helpful for Osteoarthritis, please click on the link below.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a type of inflammatory arthritis, is an autoimmune disease, in which the body's immune system improperly identifies the synovial membrane as foreign and, as such, inflammation results, damaging cartilage and tissue around the joints. Often, the bone surfaces are destroyed as well. Joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis include the hands, knees, wrists, and feet.

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) include:

• Swelling, stiffness, tenderness, redness, and pain in the affected joint. Usually more severe in the morning.


• Fatigue.


• Fever.


• Chills.


• Body aches.


• Joint deformity.


• Weight loss.

It affects about 2.1 million Americans and roughly 75% of them are females. In addition, it frequently occurs in people under forty five and when the disorder occurs in children under sixteen years old, it is known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown or should we say it is still not well understood.

Supplements that may be helpful for Rheumatoid Arthritis

For supplements that may be helpful for Rheumatoid Arthritis, please click on the link below.

What Foods Can I Eat If I Have Arthritis?

The link between food and arthritis has been difficult to prove because of the difficulty inherent in study design. However, observations made over the last several decades point to trends that may be important. Multiple studies have suggested that rheumatoid arthritis symptoms could be reproduced by the reintroduction of certain foods and ameliorated by excluding these foods from the diet.

More recently, rheumatoid arthritis has been shown to worsen when there is an excessive amount of Omega-3 fatty acids in the diet. Excessive ingestion of feedlot beef, refined cooking oils and margarines result in an increase of inflammatory symptoms. Some evidence has linked the consumption of saturated fats found in whole milk, cheese, as well as other animal products such as red meat and poultry to worsening RA symptoms. (O'Banion DR. J Holistic Med 1982; 4: 49-57)

An interesting connection has been proposed by some researchers that a food allergy to high saturated fat foods, meat, dairy, omega-6 fatty acids, and refined vegetable oils may be responsible for some rheumatoid arthritis flares (Hicklin JA, et al. Clin Allergy 1980; 10: 463-470.)

For centuries, nightshade foods such as potatoes, eggplant, and pepper have been claimed to aggravate arthritis. Firm data here, though, is not compelling. Study design has been a drawback. Doing a randomized double-blind study using foods is exceedingly difficult.

Small studies evaluating the effects of foods in rheumatoid arthritis sufferers have continued to make a case for food being a significant inciting factor in disease. Studies performed by researchers have demonstrated that partial fasting with avoidance of animal fat, refined sugar, citrus fruits, preservatives, coffee, tea, alcohol, salt, and strong spices which were associated with symptoms led to a reduction of symptoms.

Another study published by Beri et al showed that an elimination and rechallenge diet provided significant improvement in 71% of patients tested. (Beri, D, et al Ann Rheum Dis 1988; 47: 69-72)

In another study, Darlington evaluated 70 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. By eliminating foods deemed to provoke symptoms, he was able to eliminate symptoms as well as need for medications in 19% of patients. Darlington also identified foods such as grapefruit, cheese, malt, coffee, beef, eggs, rye, oats, milk, oranges, bacon, tomato, peanuts, cane sugar, butter, lamb, lemon, and soy as causative factors. (Darlington LG. Rheum Dis North Am 1991; 127: 273-285)

A recent study suggested that a diet high in vitamin D such as is found with salmon, tuna, shrimp, sunflower seeds, eggs, and vitamin-D fortified milk may prevent rheumatoid arthritis. (Merlino, LA et al. Arthritis Rheum 2004; 50: 72-77)

The upshot of these studies indicates that perhaps dietary manipulation should be considered as a possible therapeutic intervention. Elimination of all foods believed to be causing symptoms followed by single food reintroductions to determine which foods might be the culprits seems a reasonable course of action. Foods such as corn, wheat, cow's milk, pork, oranges, oats, rye, eggs, beef, coffee, malt, cheese, grapefruit, lemon, tomato, peanuts, and soy seem to be the most common offenders.

In our office we have found the Immunolab assay (Fort Lauderdale, FL) to be useful in excluding food allergies as a potentially important contributing factor to arthritis symptoms.

Doctor - Does Fish Oil Help Arthritis?

Fish oil has been touted as a remedy for a number of conditions.

Data from at least a few randomized double-controlled studies have demonstrated a beneficial effect of dietary fish oil in rheumatoid arthritis In fact, more than nine studies overall have shown statistically significant reductions in the number of tender joints. In many of these studies, patients were able to lower the amount of non steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and corticosteroids. One study suggested that combining fish oil with olive oil may enhance the anti-inflammatory effects of fish oil. (Kremer J, et al Dietary fish oil and olive oil supplementation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Clinical and immunologic effects. Arthritis Rheum 1990; 33:810-820).

Fish oil works by reducing inflammation. Scant evidence indicates it may retard progression of rheumatoid arthritis... although the effect, if it exists, is relatively mild.

Fish oil is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids which can reduce inflammation. Fish oil also lowers triglycerides and reduces blood pressure therefore protecting against cardiovascular disease as well. This is noteworthy because of the known increase in cardiovascular risk, patients with rheumatoid arthritis have.

It is difficult to get therapeutic amounts of fish oil by eating fish alone. Supplements are advised.

The type of fish oil is important. The oil should be derived from cold-water fish such salmon, cod, mackerel, halibut, tuna, and herring.

Fish oil comes in a variety of preparations. The most common is gel caps. Each gel cap should contain at least thirty per cent EPA/DHA, which are the active compounds. For rheumatoid arthritis about 2.6 grams of fish oil containing 1.6 grams of EPA should be taken twice a day.

A few words of caution. Patients on anticoagulant therapy with warfarin may notice their clotting times will bounce around. Pregnant woman may want to avoid eating cold water fish because of the danger of mercury toxicity. On a lighter note, burps often have a fishy taste and odor.

Try A Natural Diet For Arthritis Pain Relief

I got rid of my arthritis and arthritis pain forever by eating a natural living food diet. I found relief from my arthritis pain, naturally, and you can do it too.

Arthritis concentrates in one or several joints where deterioration occurs. To get the arthritis pain relief you're seeking it's helpful to understand how arthritis works. The first step when looking for solutions to an arthritis pain problem is to understand how arthritis works.

The combination of the collagen meshwork and high water content tightly bound by proteoglycans creates a resilient, slippery pad in the joint, which resists the compression between bones during muscle movement. Collagen is the main protein found in all connective tissues in the body, including the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. The ability to make repairs to cartilage becomes limited as cartilage cells age.

Most experts now believe that osteoarthritis results from a genetic susceptibility that causes a biologic response to injuries to the joint, which leads to progressive deterioration of cartilage. Genetic factors are thought to be involved in about 50% of osteoarthritis cases in the hands and hips and a somewhat lower percentage of cases in the knee. An inflammatory response causes cytokines, to gather in injured areas and cause inflammation and damage to body tissue and cells; it's known to play a role in rheumatoid arthritis and other muscle and joint problems associated with autoimmune diseases.

Try massaging your fingers or other affected joints with coconut oil twice a day. Some foods and beverages to avoid that are inflammatory are: caffeine, salt, sugar, meat, dairy products, additives, soft drinks, white flour, white rice, alcoholic beverages, fast food, processed vegetable oils, refined, packaged and processed food. Studies done on antioxidant vitamins question the value of these supplements; it's clearly better to consume these antioxidants in living foods because they may also need to work with other nutrients present in the foods to work properly.

If you really want to get rid of your arthritis pain forever it may take a radical change in your diet and an ongoing commitment. Make smoothies with fruit only using a base of two bananas, adding a cup of frozen or fresh blueberries and mango chunks or substitute any other fruit and add an energy boost of two tablespoons of coconut oil; add one or two leaves of kale for another highly nutritional boost -- no one will ever know. Making a ginger tea, by adding a thin slice or two of fresh gingerroot to hot water, is helpful to many people I know.

Try avoiding the eight most allergic foods, wheat being the most allergenic; they are wheat, corn, eggs, milk, peanuts, fish, shellfish and some nuts, not all. One natural treatment method involves avoiding all inflammatory foods, that is, foods that are not alive.

I know quite a few people who are drinking tart cherry juice to relieve their arthritis pain; but is has to be the tart kind though. Some of the supplements commonly used for relieving arthritis pain, but I don't know if any of these work, are: glucosamine, chondroitin, bromelain, grapeseed extract, omega-3 and omega-6, cod liver oil, manganese ascorbate, MSM, boron, niacinamide, pantothenic acid, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E.

To be on the safe side always seek your doctor's advice before starting or changing your exercise program. A good exercise routine is the key to beating arthritis and relieving arthritis pain. If you have pain and swelling in your fingers, try squeezing Thera-putty made for this purpose or exercising with two Chinese chime balls called Taiji balls. Even the lightest exercise can go a long way to maintaining your joint mobility and overall health.

Your body has 147 different joints that are in motion every day of your life. Exercise your affected joints every day, to keep them flexible. Stretching and warming up the joints should always be the first step in your exercise routine to make your joints more flexible, just be careful you don't do further damage-proceed slowly..

Be aware that the use of NSAIDs or Cox-2 inhibitors do not halt the progress of osteoarthritis and may even hasten the onset.

Once you become more informed about arthritis you'll be able to plan an arthritis treatment program, natural or conventional or a combination of both. For conventional treatment of arthritis - if you do choose to take drugs or medications, be very careful and read the labels thoroughly.

Following these suggestions can help you get back in the swing of things fast and allow you to spend your days enjoying life once more. Arthritis pain relief is the ultimate goal - understanding arthritis is a good way to get there. Begin your treatment program with a diet change, exercise and weight loss plan to see incredible results and fast pain relief.

Natural Remedies For Psoriatic Arthritis

Around 2% of Caucasians in the United States fall victim to this skin disease. Psoriasis causes skin to become red and scaly and although it can affect any part of the body, it usually seeks out the elbows, knees and scalp. In Europe, some people go to the famous Dead Sea in Israel to find relief. Psoriatic arthritis develops in people that have psoriasis and the ratio is about 2%. The symptoms of this particular form of arthritis are similar to that of rheumatoid arthritis. Most people come down with this disease between the ages of 35 to 45, but of course, there are exceptions.

This form of arthritis is usually caused by psoriatic lesions, which are typical of psoriasis sufferers. These lesions keep re-surfacing once the arthritis has started. For more clarity, think about certain body parts: if you have psoriasis in your nails, for example, you could develop the arthritis in your hand. So basically, this form of arthritis is usually found near a body part affected near where the skin has broken out. On the good side, the flare-ups are usually mild and are not regular.

Although, this is certainly a serious condition, treatments are many and varied. Often doctors recommend certain medications with success. On the other hand, others turn to natural therapies to get pain relief.

If you want to look at natural therapies, then a trip to your local health store might be a good idea. Usually they are very helpful and can give good advice. Another idea would be to visit a naturopath who specializes in arthritis. You can also do research yourself - on the problem to understand it further and also to seek out information about natural remedies.

One of the main remedies you can take is Omega 3 fatty acids as they can really help calm down your symptoms and relieve pain as well as slow down damage to the joints.

Other possibilities include borage, evening primrose, tumeric curcumin and bromelain.

All these can be obtained in supplement form so they are easy to ingest. As with any form of the disease, diet is important as certain foods can trigger outbreaks.

Also, it is important to talk to your doctor to obtain his views. Psoriatic arthritis sufferers do have a lot of options to help alleviate their pain.

RA and the Blood Type Diet

I was in the prime of my life, physically fit, eating nutritiously, doing everything I thought would keep me healthy for years to come. Then just like that I'm hit with rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis comes in various forms and although it is more common among women it affects hundreds of thousands of men as well. It seems like every other commercial on tv is about arthritis. Well I guess this will be my commercial.

I wrote about my condition before and the amazing results I was able to achieve by using Chinese herbal remedies. While I was able to do just about all the activities I wanted I was still only 95% back to normal. This was great but did not stop me from looking for more information about my condition and how I can do better. Then I hear about this new (new to me) diet from a friend that's designed specifically for your blood type. Now I'm 5"11 and weigh 175 lbs, not over weight and not looking to lose it. This is something else.

The Blood Type Diet is based on ancestral diets. Basically the type of food your blood type ancestors ate. Now this started making perfect sense to me because how else can you explain why some people can eat one thing and have no weight change and another person eat the same thing and the same amount and gain weight. Your probably thinking because their body chemistry, genetics, metabolism, or somewhere along those lines right? Well that's exactly right!

Now for me, I am blood type O positive. I learned that whole grains like wheat, corn and barley are not the best for me. This hit me right between the eyes because every morning I would have my bowl of whole grain cereal thinking I was doing my body good when I was actually adding to the inflammatory responses in my blood. I'm getting really interested at this point. I read on and discover one of my favorite meats is off limits as well, pork. I love my swine. Carnitas, bacon, pork chops, all that good stuff is not good for me. Well not if I want to reduce my inflammation. Turtle is also on the avoid list, who cares, I love my pig. Man this was looking like it was going to be hard to stick to this diet. The list of foods to avoid goes on, almost all dairy products, fish is good but a few are bad, most oils are bad but my favorites are good (relief), Some nuts, some beans, and a lot of my commonly used veggies I'm to avoid as well. This diet breaks it all down for each blood type, secretors and non-secretors, what herbs to use, exercise routines, supplements, and it even gives you recipes and daily meal plans to help you get results.

The books I discovered to be the best are "Eat Right For Your Blood Type" which you can find anywhere and another specifically for arthritis sufferers called "Arthritis: Fight It with the Blood Type Diet". These books are an interesting read and easy to digest. Just remember to always consult your physician before trying any kind of diet or exercise routine and never settle when it comes to your health!

An Introduction To Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is the second major type of arthritis - exceeded in number of cases only by osteoarthritis. It is a very serious ailment caused by inflammation of the joints. The pain associated with the disease is at times so severe that it almost completely disables sufferers. It affects women more often than men.

Rheumatoid arthritis advances in three stages starting with painful swelling and stiffness of the joints. In the second stage the pain aggravates and the bones and cartilage are severely affected thereby restricting the movement of the person altogether. By this time the diseases becomes chronic and just defies all treatment.

It is in your best interest to immediately consult a doctor as soon as you have pain in the joints. This means that don't wait for any other symptom appear. Also, you should never try treating the disease by taking over the counter medicines. Chances are that you may aggravate the ailment.

It is important that you ask your doctor to diagnose whether you are actually afflicted with Rheumatoid arthritis and if so, start taking the treatment that he prescribes. If you go by your doctor's advice you can save yourself a lot of damage by reducing the severity of the attack of the disease. Any delay in diagnosing and treating the disease may aggravate to an extent that you may have to undergo surgery. This will not only entail great pain, but also require huge costs of treatment.

Besides seeking a doctor's advice early, you may take general precautions like protecting your affected areas from stress of exertion. You should also try to reduce your weight if you are obese. Also contact your physiotherapist. Seek his or her advice about certain kind of exercises that may be specific to your kind of rheumatoid arthritis and take these exercises regularly as per the expert's advice.

Arthritis Cures - The Best Diet For Arthritis Sufferers

What Makes A Food Good For Arthritis?

Knowing what the best foods for arthritis are is more than just giving you a list and you trying to keep your diet confined to that list. Wouldn't it be better if you knew exactly how a food could ease the pain of arthritis or make your symptoms worse? I for one have to understand why I'm doing something or I can't properly follow through with it.

Some of the best foods for arthritis can reduce inflammation, assist in the recovery of joint tissue and prevent arthritis from occurring in other joints of the body.

Possibly the most important group of the best foods for arthritis are alkalizing foods. What does this mean and why are they important? Alkalizing foods are foods on the higher side of the pH scale. The pH scale runs from zero to fourteen. Any foods with a pH level over seven are considered alkaline.

Alkaline foods are important for people suffering with arthritis because they hinder the body's ability to produce inflammation, thus reducing pain experienced from chronic inflammation diseases such as arthritis.

Most alkaline foods are also healthy foods that usually contain anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants can help with the detoxification of the body by removing free-radicals. The inadequate removal of free-radicals has been linked to the development and worsening of the arthritis condition.

What Makes Foods Alkalizing on the body?

As we just touched on, alkaline foods are foods with a higher pH than seven but, this isn't always the case. Some foods are acidic by nature but have an alkalizing effect on the body. This means that it's not so important what the foods pH is outside the body, but after it's been absorbed.

Citrus fruits such as oranges and limes are known to be acidic in nature, but once they are consumed, they have an alkalizing effect on the body. This is because of the alkaline vitamins that the fruits contain. These alkalizing vitamins outweigh the acidic effect of the fruits, thus they are among some of the best foods for arthritis.

Some of the vitamins found in these alkaline foods can also aid in the recovery of joint tissue. Vitamin C has been known to play a vital role in the body's ability to create collagen. Our joint cartilage consists of mostly collagen type II, thus vitamin C is a good idea for anyone suffering from arthritis or any form of joint degradation.

Unfortunately, some foods that are very necessary for the function of our body are acidic. Proteins are one of these food groups and are generally acidic, but some more than others. This shouldn't scare you away from protein because protein is a very important part of anyone's diet. Did you know that collagen (the substance that makes up connective tissue) is made up of amino acids and that protein is comprised of amino acids?

In conclusion, if you eat the best foods for arthritis, you can greatly reduce your inflammation and pain, as well as have an abundant source of building blocks to assist your body in rebuilding its joint tissue. You can also reduce your chance of developing arthritis in other joints.