Foods for Curing Arthritis

A true cure for the damage caused by arthritis may not be possible with diet. But, relief from the symptoms and prevention of further damage are possible if you're willing to change your eating habits. Additionally, food cures and herbal remedies don't, often, have the potential side effects of some drugs.

• Fresh fruits and vegetables help arthritis in many different ways.

Types

• Arthritis isn't one disease but several different diseases with different causes. Even though there are over 100 types of arthritis, the most commonly occurring forms are rheumatoid arthritis, gout and osteoarthritis. Arthritis causes inflammation of the joints. The body produces inflammation that causes swelling, stiffness or pain as a reaction to injury or disease. It also may produce the painful inflammation as a reaction to specific foods. After repeated assault by inflammation, damage to the tissue becomes permanent.

Gout

• Uric acid is the culprit that triggers gout. Foods that contain purines trigger the production of uric acid. If you want to use diet to cure your gout, start with foods to avoid. Avoid wild game, rich organ meats, scallops, mackerel, herring, sardines, hot dogs, fried foods, roasted nuts, rich desserts and anchovies. Reduce the amount of meat, fish poultry, mushrooms, beer, black tea, asparagus, dried beans, cauliflower and spinach to one serving per day, particularly if you're having an attack.

  Ginger is particularly good for reducing the inflammation, as is cherry juice. Fresh red-blue berries, celery, bananas, tomatoes, leafy vegetables, pineapples, red cabbage, tangerines, oranges, tuna, flaxseed, nuts and tofu instead of red meat provide relief from the build up of the uric acid.

Osteoarthritis

• While there are few foods that point to a cure for osteoarthritis, scientists know some factors that contribute to osteoarthritis. Obesity is a factor in the disease. Obesity leads to extra stress on the joints and encourages the breakdown of the cartilage. While there is no evidence that eating fresh fruits and vegetables cure the disease, but they can be valuable to aiding weight loss.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

• As with the cause of gout, a link exists to certain foods and rheumatoid arthritis. In the book "Fit for Life" written by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond, they suggest that to cure the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis the patient should give up all dairy products. In some cases, rheumatoid arthritis may come from intolerance or allergy to milk that sets off the autoimmune reaction. One alternative to traditional dairy is goat milk products that don't produce the same reactions as cow's milk. There are dried goat milk supplements touted as a cure for rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases. The cure may come, not from the goat milk product, but the removal of cow's milk from the diet.

Water

• Pure clean water is one aid in reducing arthritis by flushing the system of contaminants. You'll find that once you get in the habit of drinking water instead of coffee or carbonated drinks, you'll feel better in a number of ways. It may seem simple but often those changes cause big improvement. Exercise is also important in reducing the damage of arthritis and relieving stiffness.

Sulfur and Boron

• Garlic, asparagus and onions all contain sulfur. While calcium and magnesium are the base elements of cartilage, sulfur increases the effectiveness to rebuild. In the November 1994 issue of "Environmental Health Perspective," Rex E. Newnham wrote of the importance of boron for making new joint and bone tissue.

Herbs

• Besides ginger, other herbs and supplements like unrefined primrose oil may offer anti-inflammatory relief. Vitamin D which can be produced by spending 15 minutes in the sun can help to build strong bones. Select foods high in vitamin C also, according to an article in the Journal of American Podiatry Medical Association dated August 1990. Liquid glucosamine is also effective in reducing the pain and helps in rebuilding damaged cartilage.