Taking the Ache out of Arthritis

How your diet can help your joints.

 

By: Nora Jane Pope, B.A., N.D.

 

These days more Canadians are being diag- nosed with arthritis. As the ranks of sufferers swell, the age of onset is also becoming alarmingly younger, with people in their 20s now afflicted. There have been great medical advances in treatment, and, combined with strategies used for centuries, it is possible to find relief from this chronic pain in the joints. It is important to get a diagnosis for joint pain because there are two main types of arthritis, and treatments are more effective if you know the cause.

 

Osteoarthritis is the result of wear and tear on our joints. When the cartilage is worn down, pain and inflammation result. It affects anywhere from two per cent to six per cent of the population, men and women equally. Symptoms include stiffness, pain, creaking joints, decreased flexibility and some swelling. On an X-ray, the space between your joints will shrink and bony growths or spurs will develop on the edge of some bones.

 

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition. That means the body has an immune system that is overreacting. This is a more inflammatory condition, which commonly affects the joints of the hands and feet. Some tell-tale signs include weakness, fatigue and anorexia. It affects more women than men (a ratio of some three to one) before the age of 50. After 50, both sexes are equally affected. Symptoms include morning stiffness lasting more than one hour, hand pain in several joints and blood tests that show elevated “acute disease markers.”

 

Use nutrition to treat the cause and put out those potentially destructive flames with an anti-inflammatory diet. This means eating less animal protein and fat and increasing anti-inflammatory fats found in fish and flax seeds. Add three tablespoons of ground flax seed to a morning protein shake or smoothie on a daily basis. In one study, an increase in cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2), an enzyme involved in the production of the pro-inflammatory agent prostaglandin-2, which causes pain and swelling, was due to a diet high in animal fat. If you are not able to source wild fish then filtered cold-water fish oil in capsules is a good alternative.

 

Make sure the food you eat is right for you. It has been documented that if sensitive people consume gluten, a protein found in wheat and other grains, it elicits an increase in the body’s production of IgG and IgA antibodies that can aggravate rheumatoid arthritis. Luckily, you can find many alternatives to wheat. Try gluten-free cereal in the morning made with rice and hemp. Instead of a sandwich, pack a lunch of sweet potato or quinoa salad.

Consider supplements like glucosamine sulfate in liquid or capsule form to help the body repair itself. GLS supplies the body with the building blocks, called glycosaminoglycans (GAGS), needed to create the collagen and special proteins needed for the production of new cartilage. Many good formulas on the market also contain MSM (methyl sulfonyl methane) which, according to Dr. Earl L. Mindell, makes cells more permeable, enabling the body to flush out undesirable foreign particles, which can

help improve joint flexibility, reducing stiffness and pain. For rheumatoid arthritis, consider L-glutamine, which helps repair inflamed tissue in your digestive tract.

If you must use painkillers for arthritis, nutrition will help you address drug-induced nutrient deficiencies. If you’re on medication, consider taking a vitamin and mineral supplement (in a capsule form) in order to make up for the losses your body is experiencing. The rheumatoid arthritis drug, methrotrexate, attempts to prevent diseased cells from reproducing so that long term joint damage may be prevented. Unfortunately, it lowers the following nutrients: riboflavin (B2), methylcobalamin (B12), folic acid, calcium and zinc. Aspirin, which blocks COX-2, depletes you of folic acid, iron, potassium, and vitamin C.

 

When arthritis reaches a chronic severe stage, a doctor may recommend knee or hip replacement. Natural medicine will help speed recovery after surgery. Surgery becomes necessary if the joints become too deformed and your quality of life has decreased. Prior to the procedure, eliminate blood-thinning foods and supplements like vitamin E and flax seeds 14 days before the surgery to prevent excess bleeding. Increase foods rich in vitamin K like broccoli, lettuce, parsley, spinach, asparagus and avocado. These foods will maintain tissue integrity and prevent excess bleeding during the surgery. After surgery, consider taking vitamin C, as it is crucial for collagen repair.

 

Many natural strategies can be combined to protect your joints. Think about putting out the fire with anti-inflammatory foods like omega 3 fats and ginger. Rebuild tissue with glucosamine sulfate and MSM. Prevent a chronic problem by supporting a balanced immune system. With time dedicated to an active holistic approach you are likely to have a spring in your step that you have not felt in years.