Alkaline Arthritis - How to Avoid and Cure Arthritis by Alkalizing Your Body

Having arthritis is not very easy to handle, because it affects the way you move and thereby it affects your everyday work. The worse scenario is that you would not be able to work in the office or anywhere because of the aches and pains that you experience in your joints. Alkaline arthritis diet is a key to avoid and cure this illness.

Do you know that accumulation of too much acid forming foods in the body aggravates arthritis? It is because too much intake of red meat and alcohols lead to large production of uric acid which is a key to promoting gout that is an evidence of arthritis.

Therefore, to be able to prevent and cure it, the best way to do is to eat alkaline forming foods. These foods are the ones that we know that are good for our health. It includes fresh fruits and vegetables. Alkaline arthritis diet is really the best thing to follow.

Lemons are ones among the many alkaline fruits which are proven to be beneficial for arthritic people. It is due to the citric acid that they contain which dissolves uric acid, and this way, curing the unwanted illness.

Raw juices are also proven to be affective in curing arthritis. These juices are made from green leafy vegetables, which are known to be alkaline foods. Because they have alkaline effect on the body, these juices dissolve the accumulation of deposits around the joints and other tissues.

A fresh pineapple juice is also advisable to an arthritic patient because it contains bromelain which reduces swelling and inflammation in ostehoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

In addition, banana can be eaten in order to treat arthritis. It contains Vitamin B6 which helps treat the illness. Green gram soup and garlic are also other alternatives to be considered to cure it. These all fall under alkaline diet.

Alkaline water is also a great help to live a life free of aching joints. We should take half an ounce of water for every pound of body weight every day. This way, we will be able to easily and naturally diminish our cravings for junks, sweets and other acid forming foods.

Some of acid forming foods that are not good to arthritic person are red meat, dairy products, alcohol, coffee, frizzy drinks, highly processed food and junk foods. Some of the alkaline foods that can be taken in by our body to avoid and cure arthritis are mineral water, green tea, fruits, vegetables, raw oils and almonds.

Arthritis Sufferer's Should Definitely Treat These Foods With Caution

Arthritis is sometimes referred to as the 'cooked food disease'.

A high combined intake of cooked, sweet, processed and fatty food can be  characteristic in the development of arthritis.

Arthritis along with certain other serious diseases are more prevalent in western society.

Research shows that diseases such as arthritis, cancer, heart conditions are far less common in remote or more primitive areas of the world, the reason for this is not hard to see, our industrialised, modern environment is slowly killing us all.

The foods which cause the most confusion amongst nutritionists and arthritis professionals are those referred to as from the 'nightshade family',

The group of foods known as nightshade contain a substance called alkaloid which is known to have an impact on nerve and digestive function in humans and animals.

I personally use less of these foods than I used too and I would advise you to do the same. I found it beneficial to completely remove all nightshade foods to begin with and added them back into my diet slowly and one at a time.

If you add one of these caution foods at a time, it will become far more obvious which if any, are your personal triggers.

Potatoes (especially when green and sprouting),Tomatoes (especially when green), Hot peppers, Sweet peppers, Paprika, Eggplant,  Cayenne, Tobacco.

The amount of alkaloids contained in these foods is minimal, health problems arising from nightshade foods are rare and tend to only occur in individuals who are especially sensitive to these alkaloid substances, highly sensitive people are very likely to include arthritics.

While it is obvious that a healthy and nutritious food intake will indeed help the body repair itself, I also believe that for any arthritic to gain their best chance of reversing or curing their arthritis, they must tackle all elements of the disease at the earliest point.

Having said that diet could be a good place to start.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Herbal Medicine Treatment

Juniper

Juniper was a popular diuretic in the 17th century. At the time a Dutch physician created a medicinal alcoholic extract of the berry, which eventually became the basis for gin. It has been suggested that some of the benefit attributed to the gin and raisins remedy comes from the residue of juniper.

American Indians used juniper for arthritic conditions, and German physicians continue to prescribe it for this purpose as well as for indigestion. The German Commission E, the federal authority that regulates herbal medicines in Germany, suggests a dose of 2 to 10 grams of the dried fruit per day.

An alternative is to bruise a teaspoon of juniper berries, place them in a cup of boiling water for fifteen minutes, and drink this infusion. One to two cups of teas a day are recommended, but you shouldn't take it for longer than 6 weeks.

Turmeric and Frankincense

These 2 are ayurvedic herbs. Ayurvedic herbs have a reputation for successful treatment of arthritic conditions that stretches back centuries. Two of the most respected are turmeric (curcumin) and frankincense (boswellin). They have been used individually and together for both esteo- and rheumatoid arthritis.

Turmeric has demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity and therefore would be expected to provide relief from a variety of arthritic conditions.

Turmeric appears quite safe since it is a principal ingredient in curries and has been used by Indian cooks for thousands of years. People taking anticoagulants like Coumadin (warfarin) should probably avoid this remedy, however, as turmeric may add to the anticlotting effect.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Natural Treatment

Whilst many people take medication for rheumatoid arthritis natural treatment is often a very effective solution. Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common forms of this disease, and is where the lining of the joints becomes inflamed. The condition can become very painful, and lead to the sufferer being unable to perform certain functions. It can also become severely debilitating as the condition worsens.

There are a number of medications that are available on prescription to ease the symptoms of this type of arthritis, and these are taken to bring down inflammation so that the joints are more flexible. However, there are also natural treatments that can be used for the treatment of this problem, and these can be effective because they also offer anti-inflammatory benefits, but often without the side effects of prescription medication.

Some natural and herbal treatments for rheumatoid arthritis

There are a number of natural and herbal remedies that can help to ease the symptoms and pain that is associated with this problem, and without causing the variety of side effects that traditional medication can cause. This is why many people think that in order to treat rheumatoid arthritis natural treatment is the best option.

Some of the herbs that are used in natural remedies for the treatment of this form of arthritis include:

Celery seeds: These can help to clear uric acid from around the joints of sufferers

Chinese Skullcap: Rich in antioxidants, Chinese Skullcap is said to offer valuable anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory benefits, similar to those offered by some prescription drugs. However, this comes without the toxic side effects that prescribed medication can cause.

Dandelion: This is a valuable natural remedy that can help sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis in a number of ways. This includes dispelling uric acid, strengthening connective tissue, and reducing the level and frequency of pain.

Devil's Claw: This root is used to reduce inflammation and it does this through effectively dispelling uric acid in sufferers.

Ginger: Ginger is something that many people use regularly in their diets due to its health benefits. Studies have shown that ginger can effectively help to reduce both pain and swelling, and can be taken in different forms including as a drink (such as ginger tea) or even as a compress.

Turmeric: It is claimed that the yellow pigment in turmeric offers valuable anti-inflammatory benefits, and is also said to benefit the function of the liver.

How stretching can assist sufferers of this arthritis

It is not just herbs and plants that can help to ease the symptoms of this form of arthritis. Stretching is something that sufferers can do to help themselves. Whilst joints that are acutely inflamed should be rested, it is possible to help maintain increased mobility in non-inflamed joints through stretching.

You Can Cure Arthritis Naturally

More than fifty million Americans suffer from arthritis, the inflammation of one or more joints. This condition affects the body's movable joints, or synovial, joints. Joints of the body are found at the knees, wrists, elbows, fingers, toes, hips, and shoulders. The neck and back also have joints between the bones of the spine. Osteoarthritis is usually caused by a number an injury or defect in the protein that makes up the cartilage surrounding the ends of the bones. It is associated with the wear and tear of aging. This form of arthritis usually occurs in people 40 years of age or older. Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder in which the body improperly identifies the synovial membrane and attacks it, replacing the damaged tissue with scar tissue. This form of arthritis frequently occurs in people under forty, including young children. While Osteoarthritis affects individual joints, Rheumatoid Arthritis affects all of the joints in the body. Infectious Arthritis can be caused bacterial/viral/fungal infection of a joint. Usually, the infecting organism travels through the bloodstream to the joint from an infection elsewhere in the body.

Symptoms include: redness, swelling, pain, and tenderness in the affected joint accompanied by systemic symptoms of infection such as fever, chills, and body aches. High protein foods (Animal Foods- meat and dairy) are generally high in purines, which are the primary building blocks of our genetic code material , DNA and RNA. Proteins break down to form uric acid (not urea). Too much protein intake (60 grams or above daily) leads to the collection of uric acid in the joints which leads to arthritis. Also, if the blood is too acidic, this may cause the cartilage in the joints to dissolve, the joints lose their normal smooth sliding motion, the bones rub together, the joints become inflamed and this causes pain. Blood acidity is most often caused by excess protein from animal foods.

Recommendations:

• Eat more sulfur containing foods such as asparagus, garlic and onions. Sulfur is needed for the repair and rebuilding of bone, cartilage, connective tissue and aids in the absorption of calcium.


• Boron can be of great benefit; supplementation of boron led to significatnt improvements inpatients suffering from arthritis. Envirn Health Perspect, 102 (Suppl 7), Novemember 1994, p.83-85.


• Consume organic (if available), unrefined primrose oil to supply essential fatty acids that increase the production of anti-inflammatory prostaglandins.


• Get regular, moderate exercise as this is essential for reducing pain and retarding joint deterioration. Bicycle riding, walking and water exercise are good choices.


• Vitamin D is needed for proper bone formation. Spend time outdoors for fresh air and sunshine and take VITAFORCE daily.


• The treatment with a daily dose of 150 mg of Vitamin C over a period of 20 days reduced arthritic swelling, increased pain tolerance... Journal of American Podiatry Medical Association, 80(8), August 1990, p. 414-418.) For an all natural whole food source of Vitamin C, take two servings of VITAFORCE daily.

Things to Avoid:

• All animal foods (dairy, meat, fish, etc...) as this may cause the cartilage in the joints to dissolve, the joints lose their normal smooth sliding motion, the bones rub together, the joints become inflamed and this causes pain.


• Caffeine, salt, tobacco, fried foods, junk foods, and sugar.


• Do not take iron supplements or a multi-vitamin containing iron. Iron is supected of being involved in pain, swelling, and joint destruction. Good sources of iron include blackstrap molasses, dark leafy greens, wheatgrass, broccoli, and peas.

References: 1) James F. Balch, M.D, Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C, "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," (1997)

2) (R.H. Davis, et al., "Vitamin C influence on Localized Adjuvant Arthritis," Journal of American Podiatry Medical Association, 80(8), August 1990, p. 414-418.)

3) R.E. Newnham, "Essential of Boron for healthy Bones and Joints," Envirn Health Perspect, 102 (Suppl 7), Novemember 1994, p.83-85

4) E. Bien, "The Relation of Dietary Nitrogen Consumption to the Rate of Uric Acid Synthesis in the Normal and Gouty Men," Journal of Clinicaal Invest (1953):778

Stem Cell Treatment For Osteoarthritis - What is it All About?

While many new and amazing therapies for rheumatoid arthritis have been developed in recent years, very little progress has been made in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and affects approximately 30 million Americans. OA is a disease of articular cartilage, the gristle that caps the ends of long bones. Cartilage has both gliding as well as shock absorbing properties.

It is this flexibility of function that enables a joint to work properly.

Normal cartilage is composed of cells called chondrocytes that sit inside a matrix consisting of collagen and glycosaminoglycans... much like grapes inside Jello.

Osteoarthritis develops when the chondrocyte begins to malfunction and starts to produce destructive enzymes. At the same time water content inside the matrix changes making it more susceptible to stress. Small cracks, called "fissures" develop. Also, local inflammation involving the lining of the joint- called the synovium- begins. The end result is a gradual and premature wearing away of cartilage.

This process is most apparent in weight-bearing areas such as the neck, low back, hips, and knees.

Current approaches to the treatment of OA involve the use of analgesics (pain-relieving medicines), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), physical therapy, proper weight management, exercises, injections of steroids, injections of viscosupplements (lubricants), and surgery.

While many of the above treatments help relieve pain, they do nothing to prevent cartilage loss... and more importantly, they do nothing to restore cartilage.

Orthopedic techniques such as chondrocyte transplantation and cartilage plug surgery are helpful for discrete, relatively small areas of cartilage loss but are generally reserved for younger people who have had traumatic injuries to cartilage. But what about the older person who suffers from osteoarthritis?

In recent years there has been much interest in the role of regenerative techniques to rebuild cartilage.

The topic of much study are stem cells. Stem cells are pluripotential cells, meaning they are cells that can become any kind of tissue, given the right stimulus. Stem cells can be obtained from embryonic tissue, which is a source of much controversy. Or they can be obtained from adults. The adult body has a small number of stem cells in many tissues. They are activated by injury or illness. Adult stem cells, as a rule, do not have the ability to differentiate as well as embryonic stem cells.

However, in recent years, techniques have been developed to harvest mesenchymal stem cells- stem cells found in the bone marrow. These mesenchymal stem cells cells, when properly prepared and concentrated, have the ability to differentiate into cartilage and bone.

Stem cells are harvested from the the patient's iliac crest bone marrow using local anesthetic and a special type of biopsy needle. The stem cells are then specially concentrated.

After the stem cells are prepared, the physician, using ultrasound guidance and local anesthetic, finds the area of arthritis involvement and irritates the area using a special large needle. This irritation is important because it initiates an inflammatory reaction which is the prelude to healing and regeneration. The areas that are irritated include the capsule, tendon insertions, pericapsular soft tissue, as well as cartilage.

Blood is drawn from the patient and spun in a special centrifuge in order to obtain platelet rich plasma. Platelets are blood cells that contain multiple growth and healing factors.

Once the irritation has been completed, stem cells as well as the platelet rich plasma are injected into the prepared area.

The growth factors within the platelet rich plasma act on receptors found on the surface of stem cells and cause the stem cells to differentiate and multiply.

The end result is cartilage regeneration as well as lessening of pain. While the data is preliminary, the early results appear to be very promising.

Can A Diet Or Specific Food List Help Relieve Rheumatoid Arthritis?

There is a discussion going on for years now, doctors against patients, scientist against believers in alternative health and so on. Because it is never been scientifically proven that a diet or a list of foods that you should or should not eat can help against rheumatoid arthritis, doctors will almost never advise this. But many patients believe that there are certain known foods that help with there rheumatoid arthritis. So who should you believe?

There are many kinds of illnesses where a diet can help. Diets seem to be part of a healthy life, you need proper nourishment before you can function. For the many years this discussion is going on there is in fact no prove for either of the sides. It can't be proved and it can't be denied.

There has been done research that suggest that oranges, fish oils and green tea are some of the foods that can help with this disease but it hasn't been proven, yet. You can also eliminate all kinds of foods that might worsen it in your body, but you need to be aware that this can result in an unbalanced diet. It is better to remove specific foods that you have experienced to be a trigger for your pain than eradicating everything that is under that same type of food.

A diet or food that help with your rheumatoid arthritis can probably give you relief but it is no cure, but the regular medical treatments for it is also almost never a cure, so the best thing you can do in our opinion is to try it for yourself, if you can reduce the amount of pain killers it is already worth the trouble. When you look for this kind of alternative treatment online you will find out that there are lists available with foods that could be helpful or should be avoided, just try one tip at a time for a couple of weeks, if it works keep it, if it doesn't put it aside.

In general, most lists recommend more fresh fruits and vegetables, increasing your daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) and a reduction of coffee, alcohol, processed foods, and fried foods. And whatever it does for your rheumatoid arthritis this advise can't do any harm. You probably will lose some weight and this is also a good thing to relief the pain from this disease. There are many studies that have shown that even a small amount of extra weight can have a dramatic effect on it.

We now know that a diet or a list of foods will not cure you from rheumatoid arthritis but it is also clear that it can help you to live a healthier life and that is always a first step to a better condition. And when you do experience less pain and less stiffness in your joints take note of your diet and try it again and again and share it with others online.