Nutritional information on Arthritis
Arthritis is one of the three major denerative diseases of the western world. Although not a direct killer like heart disease or cancer, arthritis causes more pain, despair, and suffering than any other single disease.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form, and is typified as an "old age" disease because it arises in people past middle age. This type of arthritis describes the degeneration of the cartilage at the joints. Cartilage, or gristle, absorbs the shock of joint motion. When it wears down, it leaves the two surfacces of bone in contact with each other. Osteoarthritis can affect the finger joints, the spine, and the weight bearing joints. It is in the latter that severe problems can develop. Paradoxically, leading an active life does not wear out the joints, just as the heart of the active person is more likely to be healthy activity helps to keep the joints supple and lubricated.
Rheumatoid arthritis, known as RA in medical jargon, is a crippling form of arthritis. Dr. James F. Fries of the standford Arthritis Clinic says that RA is "more than just arthritis," stating that many doctors call it "rheumatoid disease." Rheum refers to the flu-like symptoms of stiffness, fatigue and body ache which often accompany this disease. It usually effects people in young adulthood, affecting women three times more often than men.
In RA, the synovial fluid which lubricates the joint and allows for flexibility becomes inflamed. Also inflammatory cells release enzymes which, if the process continues over years, can gradually digest the cartilage and bone of the joint. In his book, Arthritis, Dr Fries states that medical science doesn't have a "good explanation" as to why the inflammation starts.
However, some medical doctors, mot notably European specialists, and naturopathic doctors claim that arthritis is a metabolic disorder caused by stress. Through years or unhealthy living - poor environment, faulty nutrition, over-eating, emotional and physical stresses, sedentary lifestyle and lack of positive outlook - contribute to metabolic imbalance and the breakdown of basic bodily functions including digestion, assimilation, elimination, glandular secretion and circulation.
Because of resulting damage to the normal channels of elimination (kidneys, liver, lungs, skin and bowels), large amounts of toxins accumulate at the joints. In its wisdom, the body sends inflammatory cells to the sigh to help repel the toxins. Unfortunately over long periods of time this inflammation causes damage to the joint itself just as any continuous stress response will ultimately damage the body.
A growing number of physicians and other specialists in the healing arts believe that the best way to cure disease is to create a physical environment in the body which supports its own natural healing function. It follows that diet and nutrition are real keys to help those suffering from arthritis. However, this natural approach is only as effective as the body's own restorative powers. It will be of little help where there is glandular atrophy, impairment in the body's healing mechanism (which can happen through prolonged use of anti-arthritic drugs), and/or extensive degenerative changes in the joints.
Classically the arthritic person demonstrates three basic syndromes:
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the entire body but especially the synovial membranes that cushion joints. When this connective membrane becomes inflamed, it invades and damages the nearby bone and cartilage, resulting in pain, stiffness, loss of movement, and eventually destruction of joints. It’s a classic example of an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissue. The factors contribute to the disease process include calcium depletion, poor diet, lacking in fresh vegetables, high in acid and mucous-forming foods, chronic constipation, prolonged use of aspirin or cortico-steroid drugs, that eventually impair the body’s own healing powers .
Diet has been strongly implicated in many forms of arthritis. Eliminating allergenic foods has been proven beneficial for some rheumatoid arthritis sufferers. Virtually any food can aggravate RA. The most common offending foods are wheat, corn, milk and other milk products, beef, and nightshade family foods (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, bell peppers, and tobacco).
A 13-month study at Oslo Rheumatism Hospital in Norway investigated the effect of diet on patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. The researchers found short-term fasting followed by a vegetarian diet resulted in “a substantial reduction in disease activity”. The authors also suggested additional improvements were due to changes in dietary fatty acids.
Fatty acids are strong mediators of inflammation. Dietary fat intake can significantly increase or decrease inflammation depending on the type of fat or oil consumed. Arachidonic acid, a fatty acid derived mainly from animal sources, contributes greatly to the inflammatory process. Vegetarian diets and fish oil supplements are often helpful in inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, presumably because they decrease the availability of arachidonic acid. Over all, make sure the diet is rich in whole foods, vegetables, and fiber, and low in sugar, meat, refined carbohydrates, and saturated fat.
Research has shown that many individuals with RA are deficient in digestive enzymes. Supplementing with digestive enzymes may aid protein digestion and reduce food sensitivities.
Recently a formula of nutritional substances has become available. It has been used successfully to enhance the healing capacity of the body, having a beneficial effect on all three arthrici syndromes.
This formula contains B-complex factors, the mineral magnesium, enzymes, herbs and raw glandular substances. Listed below are the ingredients of this formula
In a base of raw crude licorice extract, black cohosh , skullcap, alfalfa juice concentrate, and raw pancreas, raw brain, raw duodenum, raw heart raw kidney, raw liver, raw spleen. Research has shown the B-complex factors PABA, pantothenic acid, and niacin/niacinamide to have positive application in teh nutritional approach to arthritis. PABA, para-aminobenzoic acid, is currently receiving much attention. This interest was generated by the results achieved by teh Rumanian physican, Dr. Ana Aslan, in her geraitric clinics. PABA has a softening effect on various tissues, especially glandular or organ tissues, ccausing them to act more normally and to improve hormone output. Also PABA acts as a coenzyme in the breakdown and utilization of protein. It acts synergistically with cortisone in the treatment of arthritis and aids in normalizing the sedimentation rate.