Food That May 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.

Omega 3/Fish Oil   PURIFIED SUPPLEMENT

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.

 Next Article: More Arthritis Help is Available  

 Arthritis eBooks