There are more than 100 types of arthritis inflicting Americans with pain and disability. Although many conventional medicines treat the symptoms of arthritis and alternative medicine accounts for a growing number of patients seeking relief, a few simple changes in your diet may reduce your pain levels significantly. Consult your health practitioner whenever you attempt to make changes in your diet with the intention of treating serious diseases.
Foods to Avoid
Certain foods may create problems for some people and not for others. It is important to know which foods commonly cause side effects, so if you eat something and end up aggravating your arthritis, you can later identify and eliminate it.
MSG is a known culprit and may produce significant aching and pain in the joints and muscles, according to Manfred Mueller, president of the North American Society of Homeopaths. Mueller explains that MSG, which is used as a flavor enhancer and preservative, may produce a wide range of symptoms from joint pain to headaches, cognitive problems and excessive sleepiness. He advises avoiding Chinese and other Asian foods that use MSG extensively as well as checking labels on packaged goods.
Wheat and wheat gluten are also on the list of foods to avoid for some people who have allergies to wheat. Wheat may cause your arthritis to aggravate, according to the University of Washington Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. In addition, there is a form of arthritis called sprue, in which symptoms develop because of wheat allergies.
The third group of foods that some people have problems with are the nightshade vegetables. Anecdotal evidence indicates that eating nightshade vegetables may produce joint and muscle pain for days after eating them, according to the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. The nightshade family consists of white potatoes, eggplant, tomatoes, peppers and tobacco. If you suspect you may have a problem with one or more of these foods, eliminate it from your diet to see how you feel. It may require that you stop smoking to see if you are reacting to the tobacco.
Tart Cherries
Research indicates that consuming about 8 oz. of cherries daily or drinking two glasses of tart cherry juice may bring pain relief, lessen stiffness and reduce inflammation. The University of Michigan Health System that those who ate 1/2 lb. of cherries every day for several weeks reported significantly less pain in their joints than previously. Any type of cherries will do; however, many people think that tart cherries work best.
On the other hand, you may prefer drinking tart cherry juice to eating cherries. If so, use only unsweetened cherry juice or concentrate and mix it in a ratio of 1:1, cherry juice to water recommends "The People's Pharmacy Guide to Home and Herbal Remedies." Drink two glasses daily for pain relief and to reduce inflammation in the joints.
Pineapple
Add pineapples to your diet to benefit from the natural, anti-inflammatory enzyme, bromelain, found in the pineapple flesh. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that bromelain can reduce inflammation in the joints, relieve stiffness, swelling and pain. However, only fresh pineapples or fresh pineapple juice provides enough bromelain to help lessen arthritis. Canned and bottled versions are heated during manufacturing, damaging the enzymes, making them useless for this purpose. If you do not like pineapple or cannot eat it, bromelain comes in supplement form and is available at the health food store. Take the supplements between meals to gain maximum benefit for your arthritis. Bromelain can thin the blood, so speak to your health practitioner if you take blood-thinning medicines.
Lemon Juice and Baking Soda
Another dietary aid you can use for arthritis inflammation is a drink made from lemon juice and baking soda. Mixing the acidic lemon juice with the highly alkaline baking soda creates a drink with a neutral pH of seven, according to "The pH Miracle." The balanced drink contributes to developing an alkaline state in your blood and reduces acidosis, one of the main causes of pain in the body, they add. This drink may relieve sudden painful attacks of gouty arthritis and other pains connected with various forms of joint disease. Because the baking soda is neutralized, it is not as likely to raise the blood sugar. However, you should speak to your health practitioner before drinking this mixture especially if you have high blood pressure or are taking medicines for hypertension.
References
- Hospital for Special Surgery: Eating Right with Arthritis: Arthritis Nutrition FAQs
- University of Washington Orthopedics and Sports Medicine: About Diet and Arthritis
- Harvard Health Publications-Harvard Medical School: Arthritis--Keeping Your Joints Healthy
- Manfred Mueller RSHom(NA), CHC; North American Society of Homeopaths; Asheville, NC
- "The pH Miracle"; Dr. Robert O. Young and Shelley Redford Young; 2003
- "The People's Pharmacy Guide to Home and Herbal Remedies"; Joe Graedon MS and Sifu Teresa Graedon; 2002
