Arthritis Foods to Avoid

Let’s begin by listing some food items that you should avoid. While there
are over 100 different types of arthritis, they all have one thing in common.
One or more ofthe food items listed will be an “allergy food” for the arthritis
sufferer.

The most common culprits are:

- sugar
- caffeine
- citrus
- salt
- red meat
- dairy products
- additives
- soft drinks
- corn
- flour

Some have said that nightshades are a problem. They are not.
This is an old myth that has been going on for years.

This is the list.

- eggplants
- red peppers
- tomatoes
- white potatoes
- tobacco

If you do eat any of these foods, pay attention to any reaction you
might have in the next 24 hours. If you notice a reaction, you are
indeed allergic to that food item.

Society Factors

If there are two major factors that we could examine in the past
50-60 years that has lead to an increase in the numbers of
people who suffer from arthritis, it would be these:

1. Sugar has become a major part of our daily diets
2. The consumption of soda pop has become widespread.

Let’s talk about soda. It is difficult to believe but every time you
drink a (regular) soda, you are consuming 11-13 teaspoons of
sugar. (Some of you may remember that old trick of putting a
penny in a glass  of soda. It corrodes that penny to the point of
virtual destruction.) In short, soda is not somethingthat you should
be drinking on a regular basis if you are concerned about arthritis.

Food Labels

Read the labels contained on the foods you are buying in your local
grocery. Be especially careful and avoid as much food as possible that
contains preservatives and/or additives. (Take an extra careful look at
labels on ice cream and candy for example.) The more natural your diet
in terms of the food you eat, the greater your chances are of defeating
arthritis.

Prepared Meals

Those meals you buy that can just be “popped” into the oven are also
something you should avoid if possible. Some contain as much as
1200 mg of sodium and as much as 60 mg of cholesterol. (You might
consider some of the other health factors at play here and not justyour
arthritis.)

J.R. Rogers

The One Minute Arthritis Cure

Glucosamine – The Arthritis Cure?
 by: Bill Morrison 

Glucosamine sulphate has been around a long time now and as each year goes by more and more claims are made telling us about this miracle joint lubricant. Are all the claims true? Will it cure Arthritis? What is Glucosamine anyway? And what about Chondroitin?

Glucosamine is a naturally produced amino sugar which is found in small amounts in foods. It plays an important role in maintaining the cartilage gel-like material between our joints. The body also produces a carbohydrate called Chondroitin, which is thought to promote water retention and elasticity as well as blocking the enzymes that break down cartilage.

As we get older the body’s ability to manufacture and synthesize Glucosamine and Chondroitin decreases. This probably contributes to the joint problems we have all come to associate with growing old, a fact that health food companies did not take long to latch on to.

Although studies have been carried out in numerous countries to try to prove conclusively that Glucosamine is effective in treating arthritis and joint problems there have been an equal number of questions raised about the methodology of many of these studies. One such study, in Europe, took X-rays to measure the size of the gap in the knee joint before and after taking Glucosamine. Even though the results showed that the size of the gap was significantly larger, in a group of people taking Glucosamine compared to a group taking NSAIDs, critics said that the study was not large enough to draw firm conclusions. They also claimed the X-ray evidence was too difficult to interpret.

Many Vets and pet owners have been using Glucosamine to treat joint problems in horses and dogs for a number of years now. They swear by the effectiveness of this form of treatment for their animals. While there is no placebo effect in animals it is equally difficult to find well documented, and conclusive, scientific evidence to confirm the effectiveness of Glucosamine.

While there might be limited good, accredited, scientific proof as to the effectiveness of Glucosamine there is an abundance of people as well as pet owners who swear by the effectiveness of Glucosamine. Even though Glucosamine is often used in combination with other supplements, or treatments, the general feeling among most users is that it does help. Results of empirical studies in various countries have shown that arthritis sufferers report significant improvements when taking Glucosamine supplements. The same is also true for people who have other types of joint injuries or back problems. Some countries now sanction Glucosamine as a treatment for people with mild to moderately severe osteoarthritis.

To date no study has found any serious side effects from either Glucosamine or Chondroitin when taken as a supplement in humans. However people with diabetes are advised to keep a check on their blood-sugar level. While there have been no reports of allergic reactions to Glucosamine, since it’s made from shellfish shells, it may not be suitable for people with seafood allergies. It may also increase a person’s daily salt intake level – something people with high blood pressure may want to watch. Chondroitin on the other hand may sometimes cause bleeding in people with bleeding disorders or taking blood-thinning drugs. Like many supplements insufficient data is available about the long term effects and hence it should be not be taken by children, or pregnant or breastfeeding mothers.

The United States Food and Drug Administration embarked on a study involving 1500 people earlier in 2005 to determine the effects of Glucosamine and Chondroitin on people with arthritic problems.

There are many claims that taking Glucosamine will slow and possibly halt osteoarthritis-related damage to joints, speed healing of strains and sprains, control back pain and help promote healthy aging. Whether this is true or not, the overall rhetorical evidence is probably stacked in favour of the use of Glucosamine as a supplement – so maybe it’s worth a try – for a trial period anyway!

This information in this article should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease. You should always consult with your health care professional especially relating suitability of supplements or drugs and on all health matters that may require diagnosis or medical attention.

About The Author

Bill Morrison has his own website http://www.help4urback.com where he describes his own personal experiences coping with lower back pain and sciatica. He also includes personal recommendations for people who suffer from sciatica or lower back pain including what books to buy, TENs machines, and what web sites to check out.

A number of us are looking to the natural health arena for an arthritis remedy. One specific area which is attracting the interest of researchers is glucosamine chondroitin supplements. These are being studied extensively by many who are interested in discovering new treatments and arthritis remedies

Accepting that Glucosamine chondroitin is not an arthritis remedy in itself, it is proving to be a effective anti-inflammatory. This explains why a number of arthritis patients are deciding to supplement their diets with this combination supplement.

Glucosamine might cause stomach irritation in some individuals. One answer to this is to obtain time release capsules. This will protect your stomach from a powerful dose of glucosamine in one short burst. Time release capsules also maintain nutrient levels in the blood on a consistent level which can help to reduce inflammation and pain.

Mangosteen supplementation is also an area which should be considered concerning pain relief. Mangosteen is said to have properties which inhibit pain. a number of consider this an arthritis remedy in itself.

Mangosteen also contains powerful xanthones which can boost the immune system. Many forms of arthritis are thought to be an autoimmune disorder. It will be interesting to watch the research on the mangosteen. Who knows? Perhaps a new arthritis remedy is to be found within this small, purple fruit.

Undoubtedly an arthritis remedy will be found. It is just a matter of time. Until then, doctors encourage their patients to find alternative medicines which bring them relief. Alternative medicine is not now thought a taboo topic in the doctor’s office. Doctors are aware that there have been outstanding results through alternative and natural medicines.

If you would like to learn more about arthritis remedies, you could search on the Internet. Here you will find personal stories from arthritis patients and you can see what arthritis remedies are working for them. However, do remember that, as with most things in life, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.