How Does the Food We Eat Affect Our Arthritis?

Does the Food You Eat Affect Arthritis Symptoms?investigated and in desperation people will continue to
We are bombarded with so much health informationtry all methods available for pain relief. In Arthritis
nowadays that sometimes it is hard to know what toToday an e-newsletter produced by the the Arthritis
believe. With arthritis you hear about food that helpFoundation, recently reported that researchers in
such as, fish oils, ginger and cayenne pepper and thenNorway found preliminary evidence that intestinal fluids
we have the other side that people have reportedof people with RA have above average levels of
being detrimental for their disease such as redantibodies for certain foods-such as cow's milk, eggs,
meat,deadly night-shade vegetables, such as potatoeswheat and pork and antibodies involved in allergic
and tomatoes. However, I've concluded from recentreactions can cause inflammation throughout the body.
research, there is no real answer between theGiven that there is some evidence to support a
relationship of food and arthritis. There is no scientificconnection between food allergies and arthritic
evidence that eating certain foods will cure orinflammation and some people choose to try an
aggravate arthritis and even rheumatologists will notelimination diet.
agree that there is a case to confirm a link.Let's say you suspect that milk is aggravating your
Sometimes people will experience a remission ofsymptoms, eliminate milk and other dairy products from
arthritic symptoms while they are trying out a new dietyour diet for three weeks and observe what happens.
approach. However, experts say this probably is not aThen slowly reintroduce the dairy products into your
cure but only a coincidence. Apparently spontaneousdiet, one at a time and note the reaction. To know for
remissions can occur for 30% of arthritis patientssure whether there is a direct relationship between the
whether permanent or temporary happen, without anyfood and any changes in symptoms, you need to
special foods or supplements. Another phenomenonrepeat this experiment a few times. Some people
that scientists caution us about is the "placebo effect"choose a full elimination diet, starting with a fast, if you
or "mind-over-matter "effect, where you belief that aare thinking about this type of plan, consult with a
certain food will cure you or relieve arthritis symptoms.health professional first. Although your diet might not
Pain may reduce, but if the underlying disease has notprovide a cure, there are benefits to good nutrition plan,
been cured, it will eventually return, practitioners arehelping to keep stress levels down as well as a
convinced there is not a cure and the only relief is ahealthy weight not to put extra weight on your already
continual trial and error of medication. In saying thisswollen joints and tissue.
holistic practitioners have a very different view andRemember, there are so many types of arthritis and
believe the link to food does contribute to the disease,people with arthritis are so unique, we have to look into
not only the food but the contaminants in the foodwhat may or not work for us. By taking some
itself, such as pesticides and additives, So what canresponsibility for our care we may feel we have some
we do for ourselves when there is such conflict?control and contribution towards improving our
We have nothing to loose in eating the very best wewellness, we cannot rely on medical information we
can, even if it is not a cure, good food in high quality willare given alone, everything in the medical field as in
contribute to our well being in other ways. By removingmost areas of life is just trial and error, even in the well
or eating less of processed and chemical laden toxinsmeaning medical field. Check out alternative health
will increase the immune system and overall wellness.practitioners and gather all of the information you can
Maybe this is the increase in wellness or pain reliefand see what works for you. You are an individual
people experience when they are talking about a foodperson with a disease, that may although falls under a
link or special diet.common name is a disease unique to you.
However, the allergy theory will continue to be