| If you have joint pain due to rheumatoid arthritis, relief | | | | Then eliminate all nightshades for another few days, |
| may be closer than you think. | | | | and test another of the foods. |
| Many people see rheumatoid arthritis as a disease of | | | | You may be surprised by the results. You may find |
| aging, while others believe it "runs in the family". But | | | | that you can tolerate one particular food for several |
| often, arthritis symptoms can flare as a result of food | | | | days before developing symptoms, while another food |
| allergies. | | | | will cause symptoms almost immediately. Once you've |
| Nightshades in particular are well known to cause | | | | analyzed the results, you can plan to either avoid |
| flare-ups of arthritis pain. Potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, | | | | certain foods completely or control the portions and |
| peppers and eggplants are among the foods that can | | | | frequency of these foods in your diet. |
| trigger an allergic reaction causing joint pain and | | | | If you are taking prescription medication for your |
| swelling. Luckily, there's an easy way to find out if this | | | | arthritis, be sure you discuss your results and ask |
| family of plant foods is problematic for you. | | | | questions of your physician before stopping any meds; |
| If you have arthritis pain, finding out whether your | | | | they may have positive results beyond pain relief, and |
| symptoms are due to food allergies is a simple | | | | stopping them cold may have a negative effect. Also, |
| process. First, avoid all nightshades for several | | | | be sure to monitor your condition with your physician, |
| days--at least four. Then, add one particular food | | | | even if you manage to control the symptoms with diet. |
| item--potatoes, for instance--back into your diet. Eat a | | | | Arthritis is a complex auto-immune disease, and bears |
| portion daily for several days and note any symptoms. | | | | watching, whether you're symptom-free or not. |