Arthritis Newsletter Number Two-Natural Arthritis Solutions

Arthritis Newsletter Number Two - from Bill Ziese
It’s been a while since the last newsletter. I hope to increase the frequency of future editions.
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NUTRITION AND ARTHRITIS – eating the right foods can help

FRUITS & VEGETABLES – people with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupis, and other inflammatory conditions are susceptible to heart disease and stroke. Five to thirteen servings of fruits and vegetables can reduce these risks. Watch out for pesticides; eat organic whenever possible.

Apples
contain fiber, magnesium, and vitamins A and C. Magnesium has been shown to decrease pain for Fibromyalgia sufferers. A phytonutrient called quercetin, found in apples, decreases the risk for chronic diseases and lowers the mortality rate. Fiber intake should be increased gradually and drink plenty of water. Too much fiber can cause cramping, gas, diarrhea, and interfere with the absorption of some minerals and vitamins. A sudden overload of fiber can make Irritable Bowel Syndrome worse.

Berries – Blue, Black, Cran, Rasp, Straw, and Black Currents
contain fiber, folate, magnesium, potassium, and vitamin C. Natural oxidants found in berries reduce inflammation. The deep purple fruits and vegetables may block cancer and help prevent cardiovascular disease. Watch out again for pesticides. Strawberries usually contain the most pesticides of all fruits.

Cherries (tart cherries have the most melatonin)
contain fiber, melatonin, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamins A and C. Cherries, like Raspberries, contain anthocyanins. These plant pigments can reduce inflammation. Studies show that tart cherries may relieve pain up to ten times better than aspirin or ibuprofen. The melatonin helps relieve pain from Gout, Fibromyalgia, and other forms of Arthritis.

Citrus Fruits (includes Kiwi)
contain fiber, folate, magnesium, potassium, and vitamin C. Watch out for Grapefruit because it can increase the absorption of medication into the bloodstream and increase the side effects. Avoid large amounts of Grapefruit or Grapefruit Juice if you are taking Neoral, Lipitor, Zocor, Buspar, Xanax, Luvox, and Zoloft.

Alliums (Garlic, Onions, Scallions, and Leeks) – don’t forget our Gildameister Organic Garlic!
contain selenium, sulfur, and vitamin C. A book can be written (in fact many have been) about the health benefits of Alliums, especially Garlic. Chinese studies have shown that Alliums decreased the risk of Prostrate Cancer by 50% to 70%. Garlic’s allyl sulfides can inhibit cancer cell growth. Sulfur compounds also reduce inflammation.

Nightshade Vegetables (Eggplant, Tomatoes, Peppers, and Potatoes)
contain potassium, and vitamin B-6. Claims that nightshade vegetables are bad for Arthritis are unfounded. In addition, Tomatoes contain lycopene.

DAIRY FOODS – eating two to three servings per day helps you get Calcium, Vitamin B-12, and vitamin D. As for the claims that dairy foods trigger Arthritis, there is no evidence.

Cheese – the smellier, the better
contains calcium, folate, iron, magnesium, potassium, protein, riboflavin, zinc, and vitamins A, B-12, and D. Getting less than 5 mcg of vitamin D can lead to a higher risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis. If you are taking immune-suppressing medications you should avoid soft, blue-veined, and Mexican-style cheeses.

Milk (includes Ice Cream, Pudding, and Yogurt)
contains calcium, folate, magnesium, potassium, protein, riboflavin, zinc, and vitamins A, B-12, and D. If you are taking NSAIDs and/or Corticosteriods, taking them with milk can help avoid an upset stomach.

PROTEIN – amino acids repair tissue and keep the immune system healthy. Rheumatoid Arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, as well as aging, increase the need for protein.

Beans, Legumes & Soy
contain fiber, folate, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and lean protein. Be cautious with soy. Processed soy can be unhealthy, the fermented type – Miso, Tofu, etc. is the best form of soy. People taking Warfarin should avoid soy because it thins the blood further. Women taking estrogen-lowering medication for breast cancer should avoid soy because it mimics estrogen.

Fatty Fish – Salmon, Halibut, Mahi Mahi, Trout, Tuna
contain Omega-3-Fatty Acids, iron, protein, and vitamins A and D. Omega-3-FA helps relieve joint pain and stiffness and is anti-inflammatory. Stay away from farmed Salmon, Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, and White (albacore) Tuna – they are high in mercury, PCBs, and other nasties. Generally, the higher up on the food chain, the more contamination. The biggest fish eat the smaller fish, which eat even smaller fish, etc. so the pollution is cumulative.

Nuts – Brazil , Almonds, Walnuts, Hazelnuts, Macadamia, Pecans, Cashews, and Pistachios
contain folate, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, vitamin E, and zinc. Stay away from heavily salted nuts. Selenium helps limits the oxidative damage in Arthritis. One ounce of Brazil nuts offers 544 mcg of selenium; one ounce of Walnuts offers only 5 mcg. Other good sources of selenium include beef, turkey, chicken, eggs, and brown rice.

Poultry and Pork
contains B vitamins, iron, phosphorus, protein, and Vitamin A. White meat (including pork-the other white meat) contributes retinol which is anti-inflammatory and maintains the immune system.

Red Meat – limit your intake
contains iron, magnesium, potassium, and protein. Animal proteins contain all the essential amino acids your body needs. Animal protein is digested slower than other foods, so it could reduce hunger, which could help with weight loss, which helps joints. Early studies show a link between a lot of red meat and Arthritis. If you have hemochromatosis, the iron in red meat can increase joint pain.

Shellfish –Shrimp, Lobster, Oysters, Clams, Mussels, Conch, and Crab
contains B vitamins, chondroitin, glucosamine, copper, omega-3-FA, protein, and zinc. Extreme benefits for Arthritis sufferers. If you have a predisposition to Gout, avoid eating a lot of shellfish. See more about Gout below.

WHOLE GRAINS – Whole Wheat, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, and Whole Grain Cereal
contain B vitamins, carbs, copper, fiber, iron, magnesium, vitamin E, selenium, and zinc. The fiber helps flush out bad cholesterol which helps reduce inflammation. The antioxidants (vitamin E and selenium) reduce oxidative stress to reduce inflammation.

FATS & OILS – Olive Oil, Walnut Oil, Flaxseed Oil, Fish Oil, and Coconut Oil
Contain vitamins, natural anti-oxidants, omega-3-FA, and omega-6-FA. Coconut Oil contains C-12 fatty acids-yes we offer Organic Coconut Oil). Oils and fats help the body absorb oil-soluble vitamins and carotenoids. They also help cut down on inflammation.

I would stay away from corn oil, soybean oil, and canola. And I don’t care what they say about butter – I always eat butter and never eat margarine (or “healthy” spreads). There are naturally occurring components in butter and butter products that can’t be found anywhere else.

We will be offering Krill Oil in the near future. This extraordinary marine oil is naturally contaminant-free and has so many advantages over fish oil.

ABOUT GOUT

Purines in certain foods metabolize into uric acid which build up in soft tissue and joints. This causes the pain and swelling known as Gout. Some of the contributors to Gout are excessive consumption of shellfish, red meat, and alcohol. On the other hand, two glasses of skim milk a day can cut the risk of Gout in half.

If you have Gout:

limit these foods – asparagus, cauliflower, legumes, red meat, mushrooms, nuts, peas, pork, poultry, seafood, caffeine, whole-grain breads and cereals.

And eat a lot of these foods – bananas, berries, cherries (especially cherry juice), celery, refined carbohydrates, citrus and other fruits high in vitamin C, low-fat dairy products, leafy green vegetables, pineapple, flaxseed, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, tomatoes, and tofu.

- adapted from Arthritis Today

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Our Arthritis newsletter will appear on our new web page <www.greenmusselfactor.com>. We will eventually be adding most of our other products to our new web page.

Our regular newsletter will appear on our other web page <www.flushitsolutions.com>.