Arthritis brings swollen, painful joints and limited range of motion to millions of people each year, many of whom consider trying to manage their symptoms with foods and dietary supplements, such as orange juice and cod liver oil. Although arthritis typically requires regular medication to control the disease progression, drinking orange juice and taking cod liver oil supplements may play a supportive role in helping to minimize the symptoms of this ongoing disease.
The Facts
Arthritis occurs when chronic inflammation develops in your joints. Over 100 different kinds of arthritis can affect people at different stages of their lives; two of the most common forms of this disease include rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis takes place when your body starts attacking the tissue lining your joint capsules, which results in swelling and pain in the lining of your joints, especially those in the wrists and hands. Osteoarthritis results from the gradual wearing down of the cartilage that cushions the bones at your joints. It develops most frequently in older individuals and produces joint stiffness and swelling.
Features
Orange juice and cod liver oil provide two of the most helpful nutrient-based remedies for arthritis problems: vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acids. As an antioxidant, vitamin C helps rid your body of arthritis-friendly free radicals, substances that aid arthritis in destroying your joints. Maintaining the proper levels of vitamin C also helps your body produce plenty of collagen, a substance necessary in the formation of healthy joint tissue, according to Dr. Virginia Byers Kraus, associate professor at Duke University School of Medicine and coauthor of "The Everyday Arthritis Solution." The omega-3 fatty acids in cod liver oil fight the progression and severity of the painful swelling of arthritis by contributing to your body's production of leukotrienes, special compounds that help reduce inflammation.
Considerations
Frozen, fresh-squeezed, boxed and canned -- you have a variety of options when drinking orange juice, and not all are equal when it comes to fighting the effects of arthritis. Go for frozen orange juice concentrate to obtain the highest vitamin C levels, recommends Kraus. And don't try to gulp down several glasses at one time; your body absorbs more vitamin C when you consume smaller amounts of orange juice throughout the day. Orange juice also isn't the only dietary source of arthritis-fighting vitamin C; other prime sources include cantaloupe, mangoes, strawberries, broccoli, spinach and tomatoes. Omega-3 fatty acid-rich alternatives to cod liver oil include salmon, tuna, mackerel, nuts, dark green leafy vegetables and canola oil.
Cautions
Don't expect cod liver oil and orange juice to singlehandedly rid your body of arthritis symptoms. Arthritis is a chronic health condition that has no cure, and most people need to take medication regularly to help slow the progression of the disease and control the severity of symptoms. Consuming large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids in the form of cod liver oil supplements adds calories and cholesterol to your diet, which could pose problems if you're obese or have high cholesterol. Always check with your doctor before taking cod liver oil or any other omega-3 fatty acid supplements, especially if you take blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin.
References
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: Rheumatoid Arthritis; April 2009
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: Osteoarthritis; July 2010
- "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Arthritis"; Dr. Neal Birnbaum, et al; 2009
- "The Everyday Arthritis Solution"; Dr. Virginia Byers Kraus, et al; 2003
- "The Great Physician's Rx for Arthritis"; Dr. Joseph Brasco, et al; 2007
- Medline Plus: Vitamin C
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