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Osteoarthritis
Natural, safe, and effective relief

Approximately 20.7 million people - 12.1% of the United States adult population - suffer from osteoarthritis, according to the National Instutes of Health. Also known as degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis is the second most common diagnosis, after chronic heartdisease, that calls for Social Security disability payments due to long-term absence from work.

Stephen I. Katz, MD., PhD., director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), states, "Arthritis is a leading cause of disability. With the aging of the population, it will increasingly burden individuals as well as the economy."

When you suffer from osteoarthritis, routine activities such as climbing stairs, driving, shopping, or even writing a letter become increasingly difficult.

Even worse, conventional medicine has all but ignored this growing epidemic, offering only drugs to mask the symptoms and surgery to replace damaged joints. The most commonly prescribed drugs for arthritis are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen and asprin. Sadly, studies have shown that NSAIDs exacerbate the problem by blocking cartilage repair and speeding up cartiledge destruction (Newman NM, Long RSM: Acetabular bone destruction related to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The Lancet II:11-13, 1985). Although NSAIDs can provide immediate relief, they actually make arthritis worse. A vicious cycle of constant NSAID usage ensues.

Defining osteoarthritis.

Over 100 arthritic conditions exist, including rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, gout, polymyalgia rheumatica, spondylaropathies, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis IJRA), and scleroderma.

Osteoarthrritis is the most wide-spread arthritic ailment. It occurs when cartilage in the joints becomes worn or damaged. This painful condition affects women more than men, and virtually everyone over the age of 75.

Causes of osteoarthritis include a family history of this condition, nutritional deficiencies, injuries to the joints, obesity, or simple aging. Years of use can lead to the wear and tear of the joint structure, specifically joint cartilage, resulting in osteoarthritis. In addition, researchers believe that as we age, the body's ability to repair joint cartilage decreases, and joint erosion increases.

Key symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

  • Stiffness and swelling in one or more joints;
  • Deep, aching pain in a joint;
  • Tenderness, warmth, or redness in afflicted joints; and
  • Fever, weight loss, or fatigue that accompanies joint pain.

    Since osteoarthritis frequently affects the spine, back pain is another symptom. In addition, the joints of the fingers, base of the thumbs, neck, big toes, hips, and knees are commonly afflicted.

    If osteoarthritis takes hold, there are steps you can take to alleviate the pain and help restore joint movement without using NSAIDs.

    Improve diet

    Diet can help you prevent and treat osteoarthritis. Choose foods thatare rich in nutrients and fiber. Ruth Bar-Shalom, N.D>, and David Soileau, N.D., of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, recommend the following dietary guidelines:

  • Eat a diet rich in complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains. Every day, eat at least one cupof whole grains, such as brown rice, oatmeal, or millet.
  • Get plenty of fiber. Include in your daily diet at least one of the following: one salad, one cup of cooked leafy green vegetables, or one tablespoon of wheat or oat bran.
  • Drink at least eight cups of fluids per day.
  • Avoid processes or prepackaged foods, such as breakfast cereals, unless you are certain they are free of additives and and made only from whole foods.
  • Limit your use of cooking oil, butter, margarine, and other saturated fats.
  • An allergic reaction to vegetables from the nightshade family may exacerbate arthritic symptoms. Avoid these foods, which include tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant and green pepers, for at least two months. After that, re-introduce the foods, one at a time, and watch for the return of symptoms. That can help you identify the allergy-producing food(s).
  • Eating 1/2 pound or more per day of cherries, blueberries, and other dark red or blue berries can promote the repair and maintenance of cartilage.
  • Avoid caffeine found in coffee, sodas, tea, chocolate, and many pain relievers.

    "Restrict your consumption of processed, high-calorie, high-sugar, high-fat foods," advises medical research writer Ray Sahelian, M.D. Instead, substitute a variety of fresh fruits, grains, legumes, and vegetables to obtain the hundreds of carotenoids and flavonoids that act as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents."

    A successful "anti-arthritis" diet also features ways to maintain a healthy weight. Obesity may be a major factor in the development of osteoarthritis. Researchers at the University of Michigan found that people who were 20% or more overweight were also three times more likely than slimmer people to have arthritis of the hands, and their arthritis symptoms were more severe.

    Importance of Exercise

    Consistent exercise is an essential component of any successful anti-arthritis strategy. Stretching, strengthening, and postural exercises can support healthy cartilage, increasing a joint's range of motion, and build surrounding muscles so they absorb shock more effectively.

    The American Institute of Preventive Medicine recommends moderate, low-impact exercise. They point out that inactivity leads to loss of muscle tone and bone deterioration, while too much exercise can worsen pain.

    Hydrotherapy - exercise done in water - is effective and soothing. It puts less stress on the joints, because the water supports almost all the body weight.

    The American Institute of Preventive Medicine provides the following exercise guidelines:

  • Choose exercise routines that use all affected joints.
  • Keep movements gradual, slow, and gentle.
  • If a joint is inflamed, don't exercise it.
  • Don't overdo it. Allow yourself sufficient rest.
  • Concentrate on freedom of movement, especially in the water, and be patient.

    Free yourself from arthritis pain!

    Arthritis is a painful condition. Fortunately, with proper dietary and lifestyle changes, supplements that contain glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, as well as other nutrients and herbs, you can protect against and even reverse osteoarthritis.

    Don't let arthritis pain get the best of you. Take back your life! Climb those stairs, walk in the sunshine, write those letters, and even play a round of golf - without a cart. By taking the right steps, you can free yourself from arthritis misery.
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