Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis has a nasty reputation because it can cause crippling joint deformity. Rheumatoid arthritis, an inflammatory type of arthritis, is an auto-immune disorder. An overactive immune system can be just as harmful as a weak one, so that the body improperly identifies the synovial membrane around the joints as foreign. The resulting inflammation results in damaged cartilage and tissue around the joints. It can be caused by bacterial, viral or fungal infection of a joint. The micro-organisms most commonly involved in this type of disorder are streptococci, staphylococci, gonocci, hemophils tubercle bacilli and fungi such as Candida albicans. Normally, the infecting organism travels through the bloodstream from an infection elsewhere in the body, but injury and even surgery can result in joint infection as well. Symptoms include redness, swelling pain, and tenderness in the affected joint often accompanied by systemic symptoms of infection such as fever, chills and body aches. It is common to have joint stiffness upon awakening that lasts an hour or longer: swelling in specific finger or wrist joints; swelling in the soft tissue around the joints; swelling on both sides of the joint. Swelling can occur with or without pain, and can worsen progressively or remain the same for years before progressing.
Recommendations
- Eat more sulphur-containing foods such as asparagus, eggs garlic and onions. Sulphur is needed for the repair and rebuilding of bone, cartilage and connective tissue, and it also aids in the absorption of calcium.
- Other beneficial foods include fresh vegetables (especially green leafy vegetables, which supply vitamin k), non acidic fruits, whole grains, oatmeal, brown rice, oily fish and avocados.
- Eat fresh pineapple frequently. Bromelain, an enzyme found in pineapple, is excellent for reducing inflammation. To be effective the pineapple should be fresh.
- Eat some form of fibre such as ground flaxseeds, oat bran or rice bran daily.
- Do not eat dairy products or red meat. Avoid caffeine, shellfish, citrus fruits, table salt, tobacco and anything containing sugar.
- Avoid the nightshade family (peppers, aubergines, potatoes, and tomatoes). Solanine interferes with enzymes in the muscles and may cause pain and discomfort.
- Take hot Dead Sea Salt baths to ease stiffness and relieve pain.