Arthritis Diets - Is There a Connection Between Food and Arthritis
Symptoms?
Some
arthritis sufferers swear by their arthritis diet and insist it makes a
significant difference to the level of their arthritis pain.
Others completely reject the idea. So what's the truth concerning arthritis
diets?
The medical profession largely rejects the concept that
there is any connection between diet and arthritis (with the possible exception
of gout), but many naturopaths and holistic practitioners disagree.
There are many factors to consider with regards to
arthritic diets and nutritional healing, and no hard and fast rules can be
applied here. For instance, some people can develop allergies to certain foods,
and these allergies can actually worsen some forms of arthritis.
Eating foods that contain sodium nitrate or
tartrazine
can worsen the inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis, while eating foods
containing a substance called hydrazine can contribute to systemic lupus
erythematosus, an arthritic condition connected to lupus. Eating black walnuts
can cause flare-ups in people with a rare type of arthritis called Behcet's
Disease.
These are just a couple of examples of foods which
could negatively impact on those with a particular type of arthritis, so as you can
understand, the whole topic can get very complicated!
The term arthritis covers more than 100 separate
diseases and conditions. Since it would be impossible to cover all of them in
one article such as this, we will look at the most common condition:
osteoarthritis and tackle rheumatoid arthritis and gout in future articles.
Osteoarthritis is mainly a disease of wear and tear.
However there is one thing to avoid. Don't take large doses of Vitamin A, since
there is some evidence that it contributes to cartilage deterioration. Cartilage
deterioration is the main cause of osteoarthritis. It's better to get vitamin A
in the form of carotene found mainly in yellow vegetables such as
carrots.
There are holistic healers who will insist that a good
diet can alleviate inflammation and many of the painful symptoms. A diet high in fish is usually
recommended as it contain high levels of Omega 3 oil which helps reduce
inflammation and also has a range of other health benefits.
However if you live in an area where the sea has a high
concentration of mercury, fish oil capsules may be safer. Buy a known brand name
to ensure maximum bio-availibility (absorbtion)
Include lots of vegetables and sufficient low fat
protein in the diet (lean meat, tofu, fish or soy). This ensures optimal health
and avoids weight gain which puts a heavy strain on arthritic joints
Some osteoarthritis sufferers benefit from the food
supplements glucosamine and chondroitin in relieving symptoms of pain and
stiffness. As above buy a reputable brand.
The National Institute of Health is currently studying
glucosamine and chondroitin, so more should soon be known about the
effectiveness of these products for osteoarthritis. People taking blood-thinners
should be careful taking chondroitin as it can increase the blood-thinning
effect and cause excessive bleeding.. always seek medical advice to be safe.
©
Wendy Owen 2006
From arthritis diets to home |
