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Foods to Help Arthritis
Does eating certain foods help to cure arthritis? Conversely,
is the elimination of certain foods any help in controlling
this debilitating and painful disease? With over 100 different
forms of arthritis and not a lot of research into its causes
and cures, the debate rages on.
Because the symptoms of arthritis often seem to come and
go without warning it’s hard to tell whether any sudden
relief was due to a new diet or not. It is important for the
sufferer to be able to choose a new treatment because it makes
him feel to some degree in control of his life and also gives
hope, an important consideration.
Researchers have discovered that a diet including too many
calories can actually aggravate RA, while 5% of sufferers
in another study showed a flare-up of symptoms after drinking
milk. A reduction of fat, dairy and red meat was shown to
relieve pain. In 1998, Finnish researchers found that the
addition of lactobacillus improved symptoms of RA. This was
supported by animal experiments, where mice given lactobacillus
were found to be less likely to develop the disease and their
immune systems were more able to cope with it if they did.
One thing to remember when following any diet is that the
nutrients lost through the elimination of any foods must be
replaced by other means. Certain foods or food groups often
seem to cause a worsening of arthritis symptoms. In this case,
an elimination diet could be helpful. All suspected foods
must be completely eliminated from the diet for several weeks,
then reinstated one at a time over a period of several days.
If the symptoms of pain and inflammation re-occur after each
food is eaten again, then it could be a culprit. This should
be done at least three times to determine that there were
no other factors involved. If an elimination diet is followed,
it is wise to keep two diaries. One of the food eaten and
at what times and dates, the other of the dates and times
of pain flare-ups. When the two are compared, it will be plain
to see what was eaten that could have caused pain.
Some of the food groups that are suspected of causing pain
are the nightshade group ie, white potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant
and bell peppers. Others are red meat, lemons, grapefruit,
corn, wheat, rye and milk, eggs coffee, sugar and cheese.
One of the main studies done way back in the 1950’s
has shown that fish oil has a very beneficial affect on arthritis
pain. Fish oil supplements are widely taken, but in some cases
cause unwelcome side effects like a fishy after-taste, gas
and an upset stomach. Some researchers recommend simply adding
omega 3’s to the diet by eating cold-water fish like
mackerel, herring, tuna, salmon, anchovies, bluefish and mullet.
Another study, researched and supported by the University
of Manchester, discovered that people with high levels of
beta-cryptoxanthin were 40% less likely to develop arthritis.
This is classed as a pro-vitamin A carotenoid which can be
found in all yellow or orange- fleshed fruits and vegetables.
It enhances bone, skin and immune health. Pumpkin, winter
squash and peppers are the vegetables with the highest levels
of beta-cryptoxanthin, while tangerines, persimmons and papayas
are the fruits with the highest levels.
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Author: Eric Choong
Please visit my website at: http://www.health-beauty-care.com
(You are granted the right to reprint this article but the
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and content must remain unchanged and the authors name
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