Arthritis Hands

Causes And Treatment of Arthritis Problem

Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints, which results in pain, swelling, stiffness, and limited movement. There are two different types of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis:
Rheumatoid arthritis is understood in part to be a pro-inflammatory auto-immune disorder. The immune system should be the body's main line of defense against external foreign invaders like bacteria or viruses. When a person has rheumatoid arthritis, their immune system specifically attacks cartilage and tissue in and around the joints of the body. This creates pain, stiffness and swelling.

Osteoarthritis:
This type of arthritis is characterized by a progressive degeneration of the body cartilage which cushions and surrounds the joints - mostly the load bearing joints: hips, knees, spine and hands. Osteoarthritis can be triggered by a joint injury, sports and exercise which place excessive pressure on the joint, as well as obesity. This creates inflammation, so both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are pro-inflammatory conditions.
- Diet high in fat and sugar and wheat, and low in fruit and vegetables
- Diet high in acidifying artificial beverages
- Sedentary lifestyle and obesity
- Insufficient sleep
- Micro nutrient deficiency (i.e. of vitamins and minerals) caused by eating non-organic, processed and refined foods
- Lack of adequate sunlight or dietary sources of vitamin D
- High intake or highly starchy carbohydrates such as potatoes and white flour products which promote overgrowth of bad bacteria in the gut
- Stressful work or home environments promote hormone imbalances and may increase gut permeability leading to pain and inflammation

Alternative treatment for arthritis:
- Protein such as fish, seeds and nuts to help maintain balanced insulin levels; imbalanced insulin leads to inflammation
- Whole fruits, such as apples, cherries, pineapple, grapes, oranges, bananas, kiwi, blueberries, blackberries, contain many anti-oxidants and alkalizing minerals which protect the body against damage from acidity and inflammation
- Vegetables: mixed greens, kale, chard, cucumbers, and carrots as they provide alkalizing minerals to reverse acidity in the body which can create pain and inflammation
- Don't cook with oil as they can create free radical stress on the body
- Eat plenty of foods high in omega 3 oils which are very anti-inflammatory: walnuts, herring, mackerel, flax oil and seeds, tuna, salmon, sardines and anchovies
- Eat plenty of foods high in quality omega 6, including most nuts and seeds which are also anti-inflammatory
- Eat plenty of foods containing vitamin D as deficiency can cause chronic musculoskeletal pain and Inflammation; foods include cod liver oil, most oily fish.
- Use turmeric, cayenne pepper and rosemary to spice foods as these are all anti-inflammatory
- Use rice, soy or almond milk as dairy alternatives

We all know Arthritis is an extremely common illness characterized by inflammation in the joints. Many of the drugs used to treat arthritis cause terrible side effects. Fortunately, making some changes in lifestyle can prevent the issue and alleviate the symptoms.