Arthritic Diets

Doctors have known for a long time that diet affects gout, a specific type of arthritic condition, however the jury remained out for a long time on other common types of arthritis such as rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. However, overall dietary health is important and does come into play.

Being overweight can affect certain arthritic conditions, forcing some joints to carry more of a load. This added weight stresses the joints, causing overuse or more wear to components, and pain, especially in the knees. So making sure arthritic sufferers eat god foods and get help from healthcare providers to create and follow a well-balanced dietary plan is advised.

To begin, here is a look at some vitamins, minerals, nutrients / foods and some herbal applications to consider.

VITAMINS

Vitamin B5 – When grouped and tanked together, B vitamins work at their peak. They, and B5 specifically, are good for reducing swelling.

Vitamin B3 – This vitamin reduces tissue swelling and dilates small arteries, increasing blood flow. Note that Vitamin B3 is NOT advised for persons with high blood pressure, gout or sliver disorders.

Vitamin B6 – Another B that reduces tissue swelling.

Vitamin B12 – This vitamin aids in multiple functions. It helps with cell formation, digestion, myelin production, nerve protection.

Vitamin C – This vitamin acts as an anti-inflammatory, relieving pain, and rids the body of free radicals.

Vitamin E – This is a strong antioxidant that protects joints from free radicals while increases joint flexibility.

Vitamin K – This vitamin assists with mineral deposit into the bone matrix.

MINERALS

Boron – This trace mineral aids in bone health.

Calcium – This is a much-needed mineral for bone health.

Magnesium – Magnesium helps keep calcium in balance within the system.

Zinc – This mineral is necessary for bone growth, but is often lacking in arthritic patients.

Manganese – Manganese is also necessary for bone growth. However, do not ingest manganese with calcium because they can work against each other.

Copper – Copper helps to strengthen connective tissue.

Germanium – This antioxidant helps with pain relief.

Sulfur – A lack of sulfur can result in deterioration of ligaments, cartilage, collagen and tendons.

NUTRIENT COMBOS

Chondroitin Sulfate – This lubrication in joints, joint fluid and connective tissue, can be found in the sea cucumber.

Gelatin – Help with raw cartilage replenishing with this cheap source.

Glucosamine Sulfate – This combo is necessary for tendon, ligament, bone, cartilage, and synovial (joint) fluid formation.

Quercetin – This helps with inflammation reduction.

Type II Collagen – Use this for growth and repair of joints, articular cartilage and connective tissue.

Arthritic Diets And Nutritional Healing

There are many factors to consider with regards to arthritic diets and nutritional healing, and each factor may not apply to each individual. For example, certain people are allergic to specific foods, and these allergies can indeed worsen arthritic conditions. Ingesting foods that contain sodium nitrate or tartrazine can inflame rheumatoid arthritis, while ingesting foods containing a substance called hydrazine can contribute to systemic lupus erythematosus, an arthritic condition connected to lupus.

There is a rare type of arthritis called Behcet’s Disease, and eating black walnuts can cause flare-ups in people with this rare condition. So as you see, there is a variety of arthritic conditions and along with them a variety of foods that may trigger them. The best way to approach the situation is to examine each arthritic condition and tailor one’s approach based upon the specifics.

The term arthritis covers over 100 different diseases and conditions. Since it would be impossible to cover all of them in a work such as this, we will look at the most common conditions: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and gout. There is a prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers that have an abnormally low blood zinc level. Several independent studies have been conducted where rheumatoid arthritis patients have been given increased doses of zinc and showed marginal improvement, yet the tests were not extensive enough to be conclusive.

The effects of copper on rheumatoid arthritis have been studied for a long time, and although results vary there seems to be some case for using copper to improve the condition, although this therapy has been dismissed by most of the medical profession as relatively ineffective. Copper therapy is not discouraged however when approached from food sources, and may work on some individuals. It is suggested that if you do attempt copper therapy, that copper-rich foods are utilized instead of copper supplements, because copper supplements can cause side effects which include change in sense of taste and smell, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abnormal blood clots, increased joint pain, chills, anemia and kidney problems, and excess copper can cause cirrhosis of the liver in patients prone to Wilson’s Disease.

Check with your doctor to be sure you are not prone to storing excess copper in your body. There is an extensive choice of foods you can enjoy in order to increase your copper intake: lamb; pork; pheasant quail; duck; goose; squid; salmon; organ meats including liver, heart, kidney, brain; shellfish including oysters, scallops, shrimp, lobster, clams, and crab; meat gelatin; soy protein meat substitutes; tofu; nuts and seeds; chocolate milk; soy milk; cocoa are just a few of the foods that are rich in copper.

As for foods to avoid when suffering with rheumatoid arthritis, many nutritionists and naturopaths suggest avoiding dairy products all together, as they seem to exacerbate rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups. Because of the risk in overdosing, one should be discouraged from taking doses of vitamins that are higher than recommended without a physician’s direction. Some vitamins and minerals can actually worsen certain conditions, and the concentration that can be attained through vitamins can be dangerous. It is much better to approach any desired increase in vitamin or mineral intake through food therapy.

There has been some success with the food supplements glucosamine and chondroitin in relieving symptoms of pain and stiffness for some persons with osteoarthritis. These supplements can be found in pharmacies and health food stores, however the purity of the products or the dose of the active ingredients cannot be specified because the FDA does not monitor these supplements. The National Institutes of Health is studying glucosamine and chondroitin, so more should be known about the effectiveness of these products for osteoarthritis in the near future. Patients with osteoarthritis taking blood-thinners should be careful taking chondroitin as it can increase the blood-thinning and cause excessive bleeding.

Fish oil supplements have been shown to have some anti-inflammation properties and increasing the dietary fish intake and/or fish oil capsules (omega 3 capsules) can sometimes reduce inflammation of arthritis. With osteoarthritis there is also the concern with deterioration of cartilage; therefore those with osteoarthritis should avoid large doses of Vitamin-A, since there is some evidence that it contributes to cartilage deterioration.

In the case of fibromyalgia, although clinical proof is once again sparse, there is a great deal of personal experiences of improvement of this condition when certain dietary practices are followed. Eliminating wheat, dairy, citrus, sugar, Aspertame, alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco seem to be universal in those that have had success with treating the illness through dietary means. According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, author of “The Total Health Program,” nine of ten sufferers of fibromyalgia are female, and 76% of those who followed suggested dietary rules experienced a significant reduction in pain.

The thing to keep in mind with fibromyalgia is that, unlike the other common arthritis ailments, it is more of a syndrome than a disease, and much of it can be reversed. Making corrections to diet as well as reducing stress and getting plenty of rest can lead to a full recovery.

Tags: arthritis, body, cure of arthritis, health, prevention of arthritis, Treatment of Arthritis

On Having the Precise Attitude towards Acquiring Counseling or Therapy

Most people already understand how different humanistic therapy is these days from what therapy was many years before, but a little bit of the community shame still remains. Sand Tray Therapy can help people reconnect to who they really are. Emotional and psychological health is art and parcel of a person’s holistic health, and one cannot be truly healthy without considering both aspects. In a supreme world, a person can feel that he does not need any help in the emotions department; unfortunately, not every hurt has a medication.

Some people respond to burdens in their life very negatively, or have been exposed to a traumatic event in their life that has changed the way that they do their normal activities, or the way that they see themselves and their life. The role of therapy in people’s lives is very extensive and distinct, and it can’t really just be categorized as something only crazy people do.

There’s also something comforting about talking to an expert who knows what you are complaining and who doesn’t have anything to do with you. Sometimes it’s challenging to truly open up to the people you know because of the fear of being misinterpreted, and that’s understandable. It’s just more effortless to believe a doctor about things that you can’t let know other people.

Children have specific therapies like play therapy to help them out with their issues while keeping in mind the restrictions that they have in communicating with other people. Adults have better capabilities of figuring out themselves than children do; play therapy works best for children because the therapist can make interpretations depending on their performance while playing. While children aren’t exactly large on talk, adults are more competent of communicating their feelings. Adults are more able to translate and take in| what is causing them to feel melancholic or discontented with their life.

Talking is also enormously remedial for adults; a lot of adults wish for the experience of being able to tell to another person. One is the obvious benefit of being skilled to drop off one’s baggage to a professional. There have probably been times in your life when you feel so bad about something but then the feeling gradually drives away when you are able to get it out of your system by talking about your feelings sincerely and explicitly.

The target of your therapist is to help you; and to help you out, he or she would probably ask you to do things, not to do things, or to alter things in your life that would help you recover more rapidly. It’s like you won’t be humiliated to display your cavities to dentists who’ve seen worse.

What therapists can’t work out, then again, is to help you out if your problem has something to do with your physical health; so it’s significant to consult your physician first and take several tests to certify that you are physically fit. For example, if you have a thyroid problem, hormonal imbalances may be giving you the feeling that you are depressed; needless to say, the right person to see in times like this is your family physician so that he or she can prescribe the right kind of treatment.

Once your physician offers you a clean bill of health, then you can go ahead and consult with a therapist on the things that are troubling you.

 

Tags: Humanistic Sandtray Therapy, Humanistic therapy, psychological health, psychotherpay, Sandtray Therapy

Arthritis Diet – Relieve Your Pain

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/she 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.

DISCLAIMER: This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read.
Since natural and/or dietary supplements are not FDA approved they must be accompanied by a two-part disclaimer on the product label: that the statement has not been evaluated by FDA and that the product is not intended to “diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”

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Tags: arthritis, body, cure of arthritis, health, prevention of arthritis, Treatment of Arthritis