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Articles: Health - Diet
Control of Arthritis
By
Kathryn
Whittaker
The term “arthritis” refers to
the chronic inflammation of joints throughout the body. Arthritis is
one of the most rapidly growing chronic conditions in North America.
Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is also known as
wear and tear arthritis and degenerative joint disease. This form of
arthritis classically affects the knee joint, the hips and other
weight bearing joints. Other forms include rheumatoid arthritis and
gouty arthritis.
New treatments for arthritis are constantly
researched. The most common arthritis medications are non-steroid or
steroid anti-inflammatory drugs which, although effective, have
serious side-effects. They can have unpleasant side effects: cause
weight gain, acne, osteoporosis, hypertension, diabetes, cataracts
and infections. The side effects of steroids impact on almost every
system of the body, and the more steroids you take, the more side
effects you are likely to experience.
The newest findings
link arthritis not only to poor diet and obesity, but also to the
overall state of the immune system. Quite recently, researchers have
found a protein in the immune system that malfunctioned in patients
who have arthritis or other inflammatory diseases. Doctors believe
they can block this protein to reduce the need for steroids.
As the general population ages, the number of people with
arthritis is growing. Today arthritis medications are aimed at
baby-boomers who have spent more years living with obesity than the
previous generation. Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical
Center have found that there are more cases of obesity-related
arthritis among baby boomers compared to the previous generation.
What we eat often plays a large role in setting the stage
for the start of arthritis. There are a few changes anyone can make
to their diet to successfully offset arthritis even without using
arthritis medications.
The typical North American diet
contains an overwhelming amount of cooked, processed and other acid
forming foods. A healthy diet should be 70 alkaline and 30 acidic.
Unfortunately, the average North American diet has reversed this
ratio. Instead of eating cooked foods that are acid forming, a diet
of mostly raw, fresh vegetables, fruits and reducing the consumption
of meats are an excellent way to help reduce inflammation throughout
the body.
To ease your arthritis symptoms without succumbing
to arthritis medications, avoid foods that form acid in your body.
These foods include bread, coffee, corn, honey, oatmeal, peanuts,
rice, soy, pasta and wheat. When treating arthritis, stay away from
saturated fats, such as butter, cream, and margarine.
Antioxidants in brightly colored fruits and vegetables offer
substantial protection against arthritis. By eating more yellow and
orange fruits and vegetables you will consume antioxidants called
carotenoids, which can lower your chances of developing inflammatory
arthritis. Some dietitians suggest that night-shade vegetables are
unsuitable for arthritis patients, which means you should think
twice about eating peppers, (red, green and yellow), potatoes,
tomatoes and eggplants.
Build your arthritis diet around
such alkaline-forming products as most berries, bananas, dates,
figs, prunes, raisins, almonds, asparagus, avocado, fresh beans,
beets, carrots, grapes, plums, spinach, apricots, broccoli, all kind
of cabbage, cantaloupe, celery, cherries, chestnuts, chicory,
coconut milk, fresh sweet corn and cucumbers. Focusing on vegetables
instead of proteins will ease many other symptoms and help you
reduce weight too.
Proper hydration is a must. Drink half
your weight in ounces – that would be 75 oz of water for a person
weighing 150 pounds. If you must drink alcohol, coffee or soda,
drink an extra 16 oz of water for every alcoholic drink and cup of
coffee or soda you consume in addition to the water you would
normally drink.
Arthritis is a condition that takes years to
develop. In many cases, arthritis can be avoided or effectively
managed through the use of alternative methods that include proper
nutrition, hydration and specific nutritional supplements that can
reduce the damage done to aging joints.
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