How to Cope With Arthritis - So Some Simple Diet Changes Could Help Me?
Arthritis is the inflammation of one or more of the joints.
The condition causes pain, swelling and stiffness.
•Osteoarthritis can result from sporting injuries, wear and tear of genetic factors.
It occurs in nearly everyone older than 60.
•Rheumatoid arthritis is less common, affecting about one per cent of the population.
It can progress from joint to joint with severe pain.
Its cause is unknown.
It can affect people from all ages, even babies.
How is it treated? •Common paracetamol works well.
It was used first for osteoarthritis.
•If you have other ailments, consult your doctor.
He could prescribe the right medicine for you.
•Don't buy over-the-counter arthritis medicines that are not prescribed by your doctor.
It could do you more harm than good.
Does exercise work? A rheumatologist says the mainstay of treatment for osteoarthritis involves exercise to: •maintain the strength of muscles around the joint.
•maintain the range of movement of joints.
•improve cardiovascular fitness.
Osteoarthritis of the knee is common.
To ease the problem, one doctor recommends standing up with your leg straight.
Tense the muscles of your thigh, count to 10 then relax.
Repeat 10 times or more, morning and night.
This is ideal to do while cooking or standing in the shower.
Another health expert believes exercise plays a vital role in keeping arthritis sufferers supple.
The following are recommended ways to do it: •simple stretching exercises •yoga •walking to tone the body •swimming (limbs are supported by water) •alternating hot and cold showers to relieve stiffness Does food play a part in controlling arthritis? You can control arthritis through your diet.
Jasmine was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in her spine 17 years ago.
She experimented with recipes and found her crippling pain was reduced by avoiding certain foods.
Thanks to her rigid diet, Jasmine has been pain-free for the past 14 years.
But a medical expert says the jury is still out on diet as a treatment.
"We strongly recommend a balanced diet, just as we would for any other chronic disease," he says.
Here is a diet plan for arthritis sufferers: "Yes" foods •sardines •vegetables, including avocados •vegetable oils •margarine free of milk solids •egg whites •honey •nuts, sunflower seeds •soybean products, including tofu (check label for additives) •rice •bread (check nothing from the no list has been added) •tea and coffee, including herbal (free from fruit, fruit peels, lemon-grass, lactose) •soda and mineral water •herbs •garlic •salt •small quantities of sugar "No" foods •red meat, including stock •fruit, including tomatoes •dairy products •vinegar or any other acid •pepper •spices •chocolate •dry-roasted nuts (the processing uses Mono Sodium Glutamate) •alcohol (a little red wine, sherry or bourbon allowed) •soft drinks •all additives, chemicals, preservatives, except lecithin in margarine "Perhaps" foods Introduce these into your menu occasionally and monitor your reaction •chicken and its stock •noodles or pasta (buy egg-free where possible)
The condition causes pain, swelling and stiffness.
•Osteoarthritis can result from sporting injuries, wear and tear of genetic factors.
It occurs in nearly everyone older than 60.
•Rheumatoid arthritis is less common, affecting about one per cent of the population.
It can progress from joint to joint with severe pain.
Its cause is unknown.
It can affect people from all ages, even babies.
How is it treated? •Common paracetamol works well.
It was used first for osteoarthritis.
•If you have other ailments, consult your doctor.
He could prescribe the right medicine for you.
•Don't buy over-the-counter arthritis medicines that are not prescribed by your doctor.
It could do you more harm than good.
Does exercise work? A rheumatologist says the mainstay of treatment for osteoarthritis involves exercise to: •maintain the strength of muscles around the joint.
•maintain the range of movement of joints.
•improve cardiovascular fitness.
Osteoarthritis of the knee is common.
To ease the problem, one doctor recommends standing up with your leg straight.
Tense the muscles of your thigh, count to 10 then relax.
Repeat 10 times or more, morning and night.
This is ideal to do while cooking or standing in the shower.
Another health expert believes exercise plays a vital role in keeping arthritis sufferers supple.
The following are recommended ways to do it: •simple stretching exercises •yoga •walking to tone the body •swimming (limbs are supported by water) •alternating hot and cold showers to relieve stiffness Does food play a part in controlling arthritis? You can control arthritis through your diet.
Jasmine was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in her spine 17 years ago.
She experimented with recipes and found her crippling pain was reduced by avoiding certain foods.
Thanks to her rigid diet, Jasmine has been pain-free for the past 14 years.
But a medical expert says the jury is still out on diet as a treatment.
"We strongly recommend a balanced diet, just as we would for any other chronic disease," he says.
Here is a diet plan for arthritis sufferers: "Yes" foods •sardines •vegetables, including avocados •vegetable oils •margarine free of milk solids •egg whites •honey •nuts, sunflower seeds •soybean products, including tofu (check label for additives) •rice •bread (check nothing from the no list has been added) •tea and coffee, including herbal (free from fruit, fruit peels, lemon-grass, lactose) •soda and mineral water •herbs •garlic •salt •small quantities of sugar "No" foods •red meat, including stock •fruit, including tomatoes •dairy products •vinegar or any other acid •pepper •spices •chocolate •dry-roasted nuts (the processing uses Mono Sodium Glutamate) •alcohol (a little red wine, sherry or bourbon allowed) •soft drinks •all additives, chemicals, preservatives, except lecithin in margarine "Perhaps" foods Introduce these into your menu occasionally and monitor your reaction •chicken and its stock •noodles or pasta (buy egg-free where possible)
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