The best course of action to take sometimes isn't clear until
you've listed and considered ALL of your alternatives. The following paragraphs
should help clue you in to what changes the experts think are significant when
trying to control the pain of Arthritis..
Arthritis is one of the most prevalent health problems facing
today's aging population.
The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which
usually strikes weight-bearing joints such as the ankles, knees and hips. Pain
is caused by the gradual breakdown of cartilage, the soft "padding"
material that cushions the joints.
About 85% of adults who reach the age of 85 will have
osteoarthritis--unless they take a proactive approach to prevent it.
Exercise is very important. But what about diet?
For a long time, doctors doubted there could be any link
between diet and osteoarthritis. They saw the disease as a natural result of
wear and tear on the joints, something inevitable as we age.
But new research is making them reconsider that idea.
It now appears that nutrition plays a vital role in helping to
prevent or ease the effects of osteoarthritis. One key element is vitamin C.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, and may protect the joints
from the damaging effects of free radicals (unstable molecules that can cause
joint inflammation).
Recent research is showing that vitamin C can help prevent bone
loss and cartilage inadequacies associated with aging. Specifically, when your
joint has cartilage that needs to be repaired, vitamin C is needed for such
repairs. It helps to keep your cartilage "young".
The information about Arthritis presented here will do one of
two things: either it will reinforce what you know about Arthritis or it will
teach you something new. Both are good outcomes.
According to Dr. Timothy McAlindon of the Boston University
School of Medicine, "Vitamin C may also help generate collagen, which
enhances the body's ability to repair damage to the cartilage."
When scientists at the Boston University School of Medicine
studied the eating habits of people with osteoarthritis of the knee, they found
that those getting the most vitamin C--more than 200 milligrams a day--were
three times less likely to have the disease get worse than those who got the
least vitamin C (less than 120 milligrams a day).
Dr. McAlindon recommends that people get a least 120 milligrams
of vitamin C every day. "That's the amount in a couple of oranges,"
he says.
Dr. Michael F. Roizen and Dr. Mehmet C. Oz, co-authors of
"You: The Owner's Manual", recommend even more. "Shoot for 1200
milligrams of vitamin C a day--spread between your diet and supplements
throughout the day."
Be careful not to overdo it. Some data suggest that more than
2,500 milligrams a day can have the opposite effect and actually increase the
risk of osteoarthritis.
Dr. Eve Campanelli, a holistic family practitioner in Beverly
Hills, CA, recommends black cherry juice. She advises her patients to drink two
glasses, twice a day, of four ounces of the juice diluted with four ounces of
water.
Other fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C include oranges,
cantaloupe, broccoli, strawberries, peppers and cranberry juice.
A healthy diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, has been
recommended by nutritionists for years. Now there's another reason to pay
attention--it can help your joints to stay young!
Hopefully the sections above have contributed to your
understanding of Arthritis. Share your new understanding about Arthritis with
others. They'll thank you for it.
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