Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet Tips
Millions of people suffer from painful and swollen joints associated with rheumatoid arthritis. In the past, many doctors told arthritis patients that dietary changes would not help them. However, this conclusion was based on older research with diets that included dairy products, oil, poultry, or meat. New research shows that foods may be a more frequent contributor to arthritis than is commonly recognized. It is clear that, at least for some people, a healthier menu is the answer.
Rheumatoid arthritis is more severe than osteoarthritis, is most common in the hands and feet, and is characterized by swelling of joints. Since this type of joint pain can be a symptom of a food allergy, dietary change sometimes has a profound effect.
Treatment for arthritis that relieves symptoms in a large percentage of patients is based on the theory that most arthritic symptoms are allergic reactions.
Certain foods trigger the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, and eliminating these foods sometimes causes even long- standing symptoms to improve or even remit entirely. It is important to avoid the problem foods completely, as even a small amount can cause symptoms.
Tip # 1: Eat Omega-3 fats
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are essential to the health of humans. Aspects of some diseases and clinical conditions can be alleviated by the supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids.
Omega-3 fats seem to primarily work through reducing inflammation in our bodies. Inflammation is turning out to be at the base of many health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, some types of cancers and rheumatoid arthritis. Omega-3’s also help prevent the blood clots which cause many strokes.
In the past, meat and poultry products were from animals that ate insects and/or plants that were available naturally in their environment. Plants and insects have high levels of omega-3 fats, so the animals eating them are going to be high in omega-3 fats too. Today though, most commercially raised meat, poultry, eggs, and even farm-raised fish, are fed primarily grain – which is high in omega-6 fats, not omega-3’s, so the meat, eggs, and fish are also high in omega-6. This combined with our own tendency to eat a lot of grain-based foods has led to a dramatic shift in the ratio of fats in our diets.
When we eat animals that eat omega-6 rich foods (grain fed animals) and when we eat plant oils rich in omega-6 (corn, safflower, sunflower, canola, soy) our bodies convert those fatty acids into hormone-like substances (called eicosanoids or prostaglandin’s) that control inflammation… they control inflammation to increase it. The omega-3 fatty acid is converted to eicosanoids that reduce inflammation.
A superior source of omega-3 is fish
Thanks to continuous findings about the benefits of omega-3s, people with rheumatoid arthritis are flocking to eat fish.
Fishery produce is the major source of omega-3 fatty acids in the human diet and the public have become more aware of the health benefits associated with consuming more fish.
As world fisheries are declining the demands upon the aquiculture industry to supply consumers with fishery produce are increasing. An important area of research in aquiculture is the development of diets that are both cost effective and produce adequate growth in fish. Preserving the omega-3 fatty acids content of the final fishery product is an additional pressure when designing these diets.
But the new findings suggest that many are making unhealthful choices, unwittingly.
The news flows from a revealing – and disturbing – new analysis of the fats found in four cheap, popular, farm-raised fish: Tilapia, Catfish, Salmon, and Trout.
The US Department of Agriculture … reports that farm-raised Atlantic Salmon contains more than 1g dietary [omega-6] arachidonic acid per 100g fish. If this is correct,farmed Salmon is by far the richest source of [omega-6] arachidonic acid in most Western diets and raises important questions regarding its consumption, especially by vulnerable populations.
The concentrations of omega-6 in farmed tilapia and catfish are very high. In fact, these fish contain some of the highest levels of omega-6 arachidonic acid found in human beings’ food chain.
There was considerable variation in the omega-6 content of Tilapia raised in different places, but the tests of Tilapia samples from Central America – a major US source – showed more than 300 mg of omega-6 arachidonic acid per 100 gram (3.5 oz) serving.
In contrast, the same size portion of hamburger (80% lean) contains about one-tenth that level of arachidonic acid (only 34 mg).
And at 191 mg, even a same-size piece of pork bacon contains much less omega-6 than some Tilapia does!
As the authors wrote, “For individuals who are eating fish as a method to control inflammatory diseases such as heart disease, it is clear from these numbers that Tilapia is not a good choice. All other nutritional content aside, the inflammatory potential of hamburger and pork bacon is lower than the average serving of farmed Tilapia.” (Weaver KL et al. 2008)
Sadly, the “vulnerable populations” they cite include most Americans, whose diets are already awash in omega-6s and sorely lacking in omega-3s.
An additional health hazard of farmed fish is Contamination.
Several independent studies have found concentrations of PCBs and other contaminants at levels of up to 10 times higher in farmed salmon. In Europe, there have even been situations where farmed fished tested at high levels of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium. These contaminants seem to be getting to the fish through the feed, which become concentrated in the oil of the salmon.
Due to the above mentioned facts is quite obvious that farmed fish should be avoided at all costs.
Better sources of Omega-3 fatty acids are Cod liver oil & fish oils
A recent study has shown that cod liver oil helps to relieve pain and suffering in many people with rheumatoid arthritis.
In this study, 43 patients with rheumatoid arthritis took 1 gram of cod liver oil daily for three months. Fifty-two percent had less morning stiffness, 42 percent had less pain, and 49 percent had less swelling, Sixty-five percent felt that the cod liver oil helped relieve their pain, and 98 percent felt that they could take it in spite of its awful odor.
It is important to purchase fish oils from companies that have a reputation for purity and safety. This is due to the many studies that have shown that many brands of fish oil are contaminated with high levels of toxins that are ingested by the fish.
Furthermore, many brands of fish oil have very low concentrations of the all-important omega-3 acids. For example, standard cod liver oil has the lowest amount of omega-3, and contains the highest amounts of contaminants of any fish oil. Therefore, it is important to use a supply that is pharmaceutical grade.
Tip # 2: Avoid dairy products
There is a colossal amount of information and many studies linking the consumption of milk to rheumatoid arthritis.
The worst thing that triggers arthritis flares in many patients is casein (the protein found in milk). Ice cream, sour cream, and cream cheese.
Try raw milk
Raw milk is not associated with any of the health problems surrounding pasteurized milk such as rheumatoid arthritis, skin rashes, diarrhea and cramps. Even people who have been allergic to pasteurized milk for many years can typically tolerate and even thrive on raw milk.
Click on http://www.notmilk.com/forum/798.html to learn more.
