If you are struggling with rheumatoid arthritis, you are not alone. Rheumatoid Arthritis is the second most common form of arthritis affecting about one in 100 Canadians. Arthritis is a medical term meaning inflammation of the joints. Inflammation usually involves pain, tenderness, swelling, redness and hotness.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system produces antibodies against healthy joint tissues causing inflammation and pain. Chronic, uncontrolled inflammation leads to damage and destruction of joint tissue and cartilage and the formation of scar tissue. This can lead to stiffness, joint deformities and reduced joint mobility.
Risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis include:
- Women are three times more susceptible than men
- Infection (viral or bacterial)
- Stress
- Food allergies
- Smoking
- Toxin exposure
Conventional medicine has little to offer and treatment is based on reducing pain and inflammation. The most commonly prescribed drugs for rheumatoid arthritis are the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAD).
These drugs can cause many threatening and life-threatening side effects including kidney and liver damage, stomach ulcers and bleeding. One class of these drugs (COX-2 inhibitors) has been linked to an increased risk of heart attacks. What’s even worse is that long term use of these drugs can worsen joint health by accelerating the breakdown of cartilage.
Fortunately holistic nutrition is a very effective alternative treatment for rheumatoid arthritis which has the power not only to relieve symptoms but to actually reverse them. Rheumatoid arthritis is also one of the forms of arthritis most affected by diet. It has been observed that populations such as the rural Chinese that eat lots of vegetables, fruits and unprocessed foods don’t get a lot of Rheumatoid arthritis.
Here are 3 simple holistic nutrition tips to help overcome your rheumatoid arthritis pains
1- Eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruits that are rich in antioxidant to support your immune system
2- Drink 3 cups of green tea daily as studies have found that antioxidants in green tea can reduce chronic joint pain and reduce cartilage breakdown.
3- Do some light activities such as swimming or yoga stretches to help improve joint mobility and reduce stiffness.
Consulting with a holistic nutritionist can be highly valuable to get to the root cause of the condition. A targeted nutrition and lifestyle plan can help markedly reduce your pains and stop disease progression and cartilage breakdown in rheumatoid arthritis. It is also important to make sure to replace any nutrient deficiencies that may be caused by pharmaceutical drugs.
Early holistic nutrition intervention in rheumatoid arthritis has been proven to improve the quality of life and prevent joint damage and loss of mobility.
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