People who suffer from arthritis are always looking for ways to relieve their pain. One way to ease or even prevent it is through an arthritis diet. There are some arthritis diets that some people will swear by, but have never been proven to make a difference. There are some diets that make a definite difference according to health experts.
First we’ll take a look at some arthritis
diets where there’s little or no evidence that they actually make a difference.
One of the most common arthritis diets is to
eliminate potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, and most peppers. While the diet won’t do any harm, it hasn’t
been proven to affect arthritis at all.
Another
arthritis diet seeks to reduce the acids in one’s body eliminating sugar,
coffee, red meat, most grains, nuts, and citrus fruits. It’s intended to be followed for just one
month. People may feel better because
they lose weight which reduces the stress on their joints, but again there is
no evidence to support this. It also
excludes many sources of vitamin C which is essential in fighting arthritis.
Drinking green tea has been shown to reduce
the effects of rheumatoid arthritis in mice, but there are no conclusive
results on human studies yet. Shark cartilage
is supposed to relieve arthritis. Animal
and lab studies show promise, but there are no human studies to support this
yet.
Not let’s take a look at some arthritis
diets that have been shown to work.
Switching fats can reduce inflammation.
Eating fats found in red meat and poultry have actually been shown to
increase inflammation. Switching to cold
water fish can help reduce the inflammation.
Using corn, safflower, and sunflower oils also helps.
Another arthritis diet is the ASU
(avocado-soybean unsaponifiable). It has
been shown to relieve osteoarthritis, stimulate cartilage repair, and lessen a
patient’s need to NSAIDs to control pain.
Ginger has been shown to ease pain and inflammation as well as protect
the stomach from gastrointestinal effects from taking NSAIDs.
Glucosamine is a supplement that relieves
pain in some patients with osteoarthritis.
It helps the body rebuild cartilage, but can take up to two months to
see the effects. If you are allergic to
shellfish, check with your doctor before taking this as it is derived from
crab, lobster, or shrimp shells. Before
taking any supplements talk with your doctor as some can interfere with or
worsen side effects from your medications.
Of course the best arthritis diet is a good
old-fashioned well balanced diet. Eat 5
to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables, and go easy on fats and
cholesterol. A heart healthy diet is especially
important to patients with rheumatoid arthritis as studies have shown a link
between this disease and heart failure.
Vitamin C is good for repairing body tissue. Vitamin D helps absorb calcium, build bone
mass, and prevents bone loss. Calcium
helps strengthen your bones.
If you are
on medication, ask your doctor if he recommends taking vitamins. Some medications can create vitamin or
mineral deficiencies. When choosing your
arthritis diet, be sure to talk with your physician as different types of
arthritis have different needs.
0 Comments