Diet as a Natural Treatment for Arthritis

Alarmed by the magnitude of the side effects that accompany arthritis medications, many patients are now looking for a natural treatment for arthritis. Researchers and professionals have been studying various herbs and other natural remedies that are associated with this disease, and while not every traditional and natural treatment for arthritis is 100% effective, most of them have been known to cure or prevent the occurrence of this dreaded disorder when used as intended.

There is a difference between curing arthritis and treating the inflammation and pain associated with it. There are plenty of natural products that will provide relief from arthritis pain. Since this disorder involves damage and wear and tear in the cartilage surrounding the joints, muscle dehydration, stiffening of joints and inflammation, natural products that address the root cause and restore normalcy are considered to be most effective.

Diet plays an important role in the natural treatment for arthritis. The following foods help reduce the pain related to arthritis to a great extent:

• Including vegetables like carrots, spinach, ginger, garlic, pumpkin, zucchini and squash in the diet regularly is beneficial. All of these can be boiled in water with salt and consumed. Boiled vegetables are preferred as steaming/boiling does not destroy any essential nutrients and is free of oil, which is harmful for arthritis patients. Legumes like soybean, black beans, kidney beans and chickpeas are beneficial for arthritis patients too.
• Fennel seeds, turmeric, coriander, cumin, asafetida and iodized salt are some of the essential spices and seasonings that should be generously used by arthritis patients.
• Raw vegetable juices are good for arthritis pain. The darker the vegetable, the more potential for it has for curing arthritis. Some popular choices in the natural treatment of arthritis include beetroot, carrot, spinach and cucumber.
• Coconut water makes for an excellent drink for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
• Fruits rich in antioxidants not only reduce inflammation and flush out toxins, but also repair and restore the connective tissue around the joints. Some of the most widely used fruits that treat arthritis are cherries, avocado, blackberries, prunes, papaya, apples, grapes and oranges.
• Vitamin C is considered to be one of the most effective and essential nutrients in the natural treatment of arthritis. Its primary function is to aid the generation of collagen, the main component that makes up a cartilage.

It often becomes necessary to abstain from certain food items to balance the effect and compound the activities of the required nutrients. For example, tomatoes and peppers inhibit the process of cartilage repair by vitamin C. It is best that arthritics avoid fatty and oily foods, foods containing excessive amounts of uric acid, starchy vegetables, and foods high in refined sugar and simple carbohydrates.

However, arthritis cannot be fought with diet alone. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle which involves adequate sleep and mild forms of exercise is essential for patients. Glucosamine sulphate (a naturally occurring compound) and chondroitin sulphate supplements, when combined with a recommended lifestyle program, are considered very effective in the natural treatment of arthritis.