Nutrition and Arthritis Arthritis can be an excruciating condition and can take a very heavy toll in terms of disfigurement and loss of mobility. It is such a problematic condition that, according to the British Arthritis and Rheumatism Council, it costs the economy around 88 million working days each year. Arthritis is becoming very common in people of all ages and will probably effect 90% of people by the age of 60. Whilst conventional medicine often helps to ease the symptoms, nutritional supplements can also have powerful effect in assisting keeping this debilitating condition in check. Osteoarthritis is the most common, and could be referred to as the 'wear and tear' form of the condition. Considered to be a degenerative disease, it mostly afflicts people from the age of 50 onwards. Although, having said that, it can begin any time after the age of 30. Affecting more women than men, osteoarthritis usually effects hip, knee and shoulder joints, and is found particularly where there is damage to the cartilage at the ends of the bones. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the joints that often involve many parts of the body. It is usually progressive. This condition can occur at any age and usually develops over a period of months or years. Symptoms often include fatigue, stiff, and swollen joints on waking in the morning, poor appetite, weight loss, and the victim can often become feverish. Arthritis is a poorly understood condition but some scientists believe that rheumatoid arthritis is the result of a micro-organism or other foreign substance in the body. Others believe it is a malfunction of the immune system, attacking its own healthy tissues, by manufacturing antibodies to fight off other invading bacteria and viruses, and not making the distinction between what is hostile and what is friendly. Why the body should react in this way is not known. Conventional treatment for this condition involves prescribing NSAIDs, (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories) and steroids. These have proved very effective in relieving the pain, but they need to be taken on a regular basis - sometimes for months or years and can cause some very unpleasant side effects. Many people combine conventional treatment with complimentary therapies.
Lifestyle Learning to relax and manage stress in your life, can also be beneficial ,because stress is known to aggravate the condition.
Diet
Foods that are generally recommended to sufferers are..
Everybody responds differently to various food substances, so always check with your health practitioner/dietitian for allergies and food intolerances. Unprocessed foods should be consumed whenever possible.
Supplements that can help...
Niacin (B3) Has been known to increase joint mobility and ease pain. (Anything from 250 - 1500mg a day) Patothenic Acid (B5) This vitamin is associated with the adrenal glands and nervous system. If a deficiency occurs, the glands cannot produce the hormones necessary to convert body starch (glycogen) to sugar. The blood sugar will then remain low until adequate nutrition restores adrenal function. This result of this can cause physical and mental exhaustion and also be responsible for the poor absorption of the other B vitamins. 100 - 350mg a day, has proved to lessen the symptoms, particularly of rheumatoid arthritis Vitamin C Sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis nearly always have low levels of vitamin C in their bloodstream. Cartilage cells also seem to depend on high concentrations of this vitamin. Sufferers would benefit from an intake of anything between 1,000 - 3,000mg per day. Vitamin E Vitamin E has proved to inhibit the action of certain inflammatory prostaglandins in a very similar way to NSAIDs. Also thought to aid the blood circulation. 400 - 100i.u. a day is recommended.
Glucosamine An amino acid found in cartilage, tendons and ligaments which, as we age, tends to become depleted. Several studies have shown that supplementation of Glucosamine has helped to reduce the discomfort and joint tenderness in osteoarthritis. 1800mg a day for about two weeks, which is then reduced to 1200mg until the symptoms subside. Many sufferers then reduced the dose even further without a return of symptoms.
Derek Ayre, Cardiff. UK. Please note: These pages are for information purposes only, and are not meant to be medical in any way. If you have a medical problem, you are strongly advised to contact your doctor. We do not recommend self diagnosis.
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