Arthritis - The Junk Food Conspiracy?
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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory joint disease (Autoimmune disease) that is characterised by daily pain, stiffness and fatigue which, in turn, limits activities of daily living. Rheumatoid arthritis, a crippling disease that affects approximately 2-3% of the world’s population, and usually starts between the ages of 20-40 years and is more common in women, affecting them 3 times more often than men. Some forms of the disease can occur in children. Rheumatoid arthritis affects about 1 percent of our population and at least two million Americans have definite or classical rheumatoid arthritis. It is a much more devastating illness than previously appreciated.
Rheumatoid arthritis is not restricted to race or gender and can be prevalent in all ethnic groups. Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory illness that affects the joints and surrounding tissue, the condition is also “systemic”, which means it can effect the entire body, including organs.
Medications include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), disease-modifying anti rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), biological response modifiers, and corticosteroids. Non-drug treatments include physical therapy; modified exercise programs; devices such as canes, special shoes, and splints (rigid supports that keep a part of the body from moving while it heals); and lifestyle changes–such as balancing activity with rest, eating a healthy diet, and reducing stress.
When the body’s immune system falls completely out of sync, medicines called Immuno-suppressants may be used, Immuno-suppressants are designed to deplete and manage your immune system. These particular drugs are less commonly used due to the fact that they leave the body unable to fight other infection, and illnesses.
An autoimmune diseases is the description given to a condition which causes the body’s own antibodies mistakenly attack their own body tissues (in RA the area normally attacked is the joint synovium), this causes the pain and inflammation.
The joints most commonly afflicted by rheumatoid arthritis can include the hands, wrists, ankles, elbows, hips, & knees. Arthritis varies from person to person and Rheumatoid arthritis is no exception, while some will suffer daily with the chronic condition others may experience long periods of remission with perhaps only mild infrequent attacks. Most cases of rheumatoid arthritis are however chronic conditions, which means the disease is reoccurring.
Patients should always consult with their doctor about the choice of medication. Medicines must be used carefully and patients should tell their doctors about any changes that occur. Patients may not notice that their rheumatoid arthritis is affecting their spinal cord because this disease also causes arthritis in the fingers, hands, and hips at the same time.
Many foods are known to help one’s RA, while many others will actually contribute to the disease or trigger the symptoms, there are far to many to list here, however one of the most important foods to cut out of your diet, would be white flower, and anything made with white flour.
A clear link exists between rheumatoid arthritis & food allergy & intolerance
Certain foods contain chemicals called inflammatory prostaglandins, which can be directly responsible for triggering some arthritis conditions. Rheumatoid arthritis is known to be linked to food allergy & intolerance’s, having said that without extensive testing the allergy may never be apparent to the patient or even the doctor. Sufferers of RA have shown a vast improvement when they remove certain foods from their diet, (the foods to which they are allergic).
Foods all Arthritics should avoid;
1.Shellfish
2.Fatty foods
3.Fried food
4.White flour
5.Citrus fruit
Foods which should shown caution by anyone suffering with rheumatoid arthritis
Foods which cause confusion amongst many are those from the ‘nightshade family’
1.Potatoes (except for sweet potatoes)
2.Tomatoes (especially the smaller variety)
3.Peppers
4.Paprika
5.Paprika (in all forms)
Good and beneficial foods;
1.Brown rice (a good alternative to potatoes)
2.Pulses
3.Onions
4.Garlic cloves
5.Seeds
6.Salmon
This is only a small list of some of the foods which have a link to RA (good or bad). Diet and natural programmes used to treat arthritis may not be quickest rout to pain relief because they first have to tackle the underlying contributing factors, this may take a few weeks, however natural practices do actually address the disease and not just the symptoms.
Natural, alternative and complimentary practices all play a part in the road to arthritis relief, and shouldn’t be discounted.
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Food has direct impact on arthritis.you can read articles regarding this.