| Rheumatoid Arthritis is considered an autoimmune | | | | thought to be responsible for sustaining inflammation. |
| disease that affects nearly 1 in 100 people. Joints can | | | | People who suffer from RA often have elevated |
| become painfully inflamed, swollen, deformed and | | | | levels of this molecule in their joints. Recent studies are |
| destroyed by the disease. People diagnosed with | | | | focusing on controlling the molecular switch that |
| rheumatoid arthritis will be in lifelong treatment. Certain | | | | activates the immune system and sends it into attack |
| medications, diet, physical therapy, exercise and | | | | mode. Although there is no cure for RA at this time, |
| sometimes surgery can postpone the damaging | | | | researchers are optimistic about vitamin C's role in |
| effects of rheumatoid arthritis. | | | | preventing and treating the disease. |
| Doctors don't know exactly what causes rheumatoid | | | | Vitamin C plays a major role in collagen synthesis, |
| arthritis, but they believe that it is the body's immune | | | | which can help keep your joints healthy. Vitamin D, |
| system attacking healthy tissues instead of damaged | | | | calcium, and magnesium supplements also fight |
| ones. This is why it is considered to be an autoimmune | | | | inflammation, increase blood flow to joints, and can |
| disorder. It can strike at any age and is slightly more | | | | even relieve painful symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. |
| common in women than in men. There is not a known | | | | Keeping your joints as healthy as possible is the first |
| prevention of RA, but research has shown that people | | | | step in preventing and treating RA. One way to tell if |
| who are active, have a healthy diet high in vitamin C, | | | | your body is not producing enough collagen is to check |
| and who do not smoke are up to three times less | | | | your gums. This is the easiest place to check your |
| likely to develop RA. | | | | connective tissue health. If they are red, swollen, or |
| Nutrition plays several important roles in treating | | | | bleed when you floss or brush, then you may have |
| rheumatoid arthritis. Vitamin C in particular has received | | | | low levels of vitamin C, vitamin D, calcium or |
| a lot of attention in research on treating RA. This | | | | magnesium. Proper levels of these vitamins and |
| disease seems to be triggered by infection. The | | | | supplements support connective tissues, such as |
| immune system overreacts to the infection and starts | | | | bones, joints and gums, all over your body. |
| attacking joints. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that | | | | It is important to take care when supplementing with |
| calms and strengthens the immune system at the | | | | vitamins and supplements. Before you buy vitamins, |
| same time. It is believed that vitamin C, when kept at | | | | talk to your doctor about dosages that are right for |
| optimal levels, can control the onset of rheumatoid | | | | you and your condition. Higher or lower than normal |
| arthritis attacks. | | | | vitamin C levels can actually worsen symptoms in |
| Vitamin C is also a powerful tool for controlling | | | | osteoarthritis patients, so you will need to be monitored |
| inflammation. It specifically fights the tenascin-C | | | | by a physician if this is the case for you. When you |
| molecules that get into joints and trigger the immune | | | | buy vitamins, choose the best vitamin C that you can |
| system to activate. Tenascin-C molecules are also | | | | find to ensure proper absorption. |