Seven Insider Food Secrets That Help You Beat
Arthritis By Nathan Wei
The term "arthritis" is derived from the Greek
- "arthron" meaning joint and "it
is" meaning inflammation. Most types of arthritis are
associated with inflammation. Inflammation is a defense mechanism
the body employs to fight infection, tumors, and other foreign
invaders. The mediator of this inflammatory response is the
immune system.
Picture an army of warriors - the immune response- which is ready
and eager to take on the task of protecting you against enemies.
Inflammation is regulated so that under normal circumstances,
once the problem is taken care of, inflammation stops.
Unfortunately, inflammation can escape this control mechanism and
become chronic. Chronic inflammation, it is believed, is the
underlying basis for the development of diseases such as
arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease.
So is there a way to manipulate the diet so that arthritis damage
caused by inappropriate inflammation can be controlled? Recent
research has suggested that diets that contain omega-3 fatty
acids that combat inflammation may be useful. Also, the
elimination of foods containing omega-6 fatty acids which promote
inflammation is also helpful.
Here is a list of seven "insider secrets" that
you should know about.
Secret #1: Make cold water fish part of your diet at least two to
three times a week. Examples include cold water salmon (not farm
raised), sardines, herring, cod, and trout. The reason? These
types of fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. If fish is
something you don’t enjoy, consider flax seed, walnuts, or
dietary fish supplements -
all of which also contain significant amounts of omega-3.
(Note: If you are a blood thinner, consult your doctor before
taking a dietary supplements with omega-3 since your drug dose
may need to be adjusted.)
Secret #2: Reduce the amount of certain oils such as corn oil,
sunflower oil, and safflower oil. These contain large amounts of
omega-6 fatty acids that promote inflammation. Use olive oil or
canola oil instead.
Secret # 3: Go for veggies and fruits. Many vegetables and fruits
are high in antioxidants that fight inflammation. Berries such as
blueberries and cherries are excellent and tasty sources of
anti-inflammatory ingredients. Pineapple is a good source of
bromelain, an excellent anti-oxidant.
Secret # 4: Avoid the white poisons. Often ingredients like
refined sugar, refined flour and salt are used in the production
of processed foods such as white bread, sugary cereals, candies,
and pastries. These white poisons promote inflammation and should
be avoided.
Secret # 5: Reduce the amount of red meat in your diet: Animal
protein contains large amounts of pro-inflammatory fatty
acids.
Secret #6: Reduce the amount of trans fat in your diet. Trans
fats, which are present in fried foods, cakes, pies, cookies, and
other baked goods, increase low density cholesterol (LDL). This
is the bad cholesterol that is pro-inflammatory.
Secret # 7: Use more spices: Spices such as curcumin, garlic,
ginger, contain ingredients which have been shown in some
well-controlled studies to reduce the inflammation of
arthritis.
Some people have claimed that dairy products and nightshade
vegetables such as eggplant, potatoes, and tomatoes, cause their
arthritis to get worse. There may be some individual food
sensitivities/ allergies that do aggravate arthritis. However, a
blanket statement about the role of dairy products and nightshade
plants is not warranted. At our center we do suggest the use of
food allergy testing in individuals who have arthritic symptoms
that are troublesome and appear to be food-induced. For more
information about food allergy testing, call us at (301)
694-5800.
Finally, dietary manipulation should not be used as a substitute
for proper and aggressive conventional medical care. A
rheumatologist should be consulted.
About the Author: Nathan Wei, MD FACP FACR is a rheumatologist
and Director of the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of
Maryland. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the
University of Maryland School of Medicine.For more info:
Arthritis Treatment
Source: www.isnare.com
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