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.

Traditional Home Remedies for Arthritis

There are a number of home remedies for arthritis that can be used for obtaining relief from inflamed and painful joints. Both patients who only resort to natural treatment and patients who are on arthritis medications can use these simple techniques to treat arthritis. It is, however, believed that these remedies are more effective for patients who do not use prescription drugs. As evidence suggests, arthritis drugs are not effective in the long run and cause serious damage to some organs. Also, some medications may interfere with the functioning of some natural ingredients.

One unanimous choice among popular home remedies for arthritis is heat therapy. Professionals believe that warmth increases blood flow and prevents the joints from becoming stiff by increasing the flexibility of the connective tissues. Patients with osteoarthritis have reportedly benefited from regular warm baths. Using a hot water bag or a heating pad in the winter months in particular is essential, as joint pains tend to increase during this time. Using warm water and two-three tablespoons of salt in a tub and soaking in the water for half an hour is known to work wonders for arthritis patients. For exactly this reason, a holiday to a seaside and bathing in warm saline water is often recommended to arthritis patients by many physicians.

Cayenne pepper also features in the list of home remedies for arthritis. This substance is known to contain capsaicin. Capsaicin is a natural pain-killing agent. Not only does it act as the external stimuli to divert pain signals from the joints, but it also initiates the release of endorphins (natural enzymes present in the body to fight pain). Although capsaicin is available as a cream and a lotion in the market, the most effective method of obtaining the benefits is preparing a home pack. Powdered cayenne pepper can be sprinkled in olive oil, coconut oil or any skin lotion for that matter, and massaged over the inflamed site. Both coconut oil and olive oil are popular among arthritis patients who use alternative medicines. Cayenne pepper is, however, known to cause mild local irritation.

Ginger is one of the most common medicinal herbs today, and arthritis is just one of the many ailments that can be treated with this root. Dietary supplements containing ginger extracts are available in the market, but if patients want to ensure safety and cure, it is best to stick to simple home remedies for arthritis. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis will greatly benefit from a few cups of ginger root tea each day. 4 grams of ginger is the optimum daily dosage for most. Green tea or black tea leaves and peeled and chopped pieces of ginger can be soaked in boiling water till it becomes lukewarm. It is best if no sugar is added. One teaspoon of honey works well. One essential point to be remembered is that ginger has blood thinning effects and should not be used by patients on medications like warfarin.

Curcumin is a naturally occurring compound that has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Turmeric is a great source of this compound. While most home remedies for arthritis apply to patients with osteoarthritis, this amazing herb is known to treat rheumatoid arthritis as well. Curcumin has been studied extensively, and scientific data supports that it inhibits the action of NF-KB, a substance necessary for activating the genes that trigger the disease. The optimum dosage of turmeric ranges between 400mg and 600mg. The active compound has blood thinning effects and should not be used along with pharmaceutical blood-thinners.

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