How to Manage Arthritis with Nutrition

By Carolyn Schropp BS, NC, Functional Nutritional Consultant and Educator at HealthWalk™

Arthritis affects millions of Americans each year. It is one of the leading causes of disability in the United States. Arthritis causes damage to the joints within the body. As a result there is joint pain, loss of mobility, stiffness and swelling. The pattern of symptoms will differ between the different types of arthritis and the individual. Arthritis can occur from a number of factors such as infection, trauma and auto-immune disorders.

There are several types of arthritis and related inflammatory joint diseases. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis; a degenerative joint disease as the bones and cartilage that make up the joints deteriorate in this illness. The second most common type of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, is an inflammatory disease which affects the lining of multiple joints, especially in the hands and feet. Rheumatoid arthritis, although it affects less people than osteoarthritis, is often more debilitating. Other rheumatic diseases, gout, pseudogout, ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, enteropathic arthritis, and infectious arthritis — are also characterized by inflammation.

For many years traditional western medicine practitioners believed people with arthritis had to live with it and they were prescribed Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) to reduce the pain and inflammation often with significant side effects. Now many people and medical and health practitioners are taking a more holistic approach and use and recommend appropriate diet and lifestyle changes to reduce pain and inflammation which then provide a better quality of life.

Arthritis suffers should focus on reducing or eliminating foods that enhance inflammation such as white sugar, white flour, processed and most packaged foods. Sugar and other highly processed foods increases inflammation and also affect the proper functioning of the immune system.

High quality whole foods are essential for healing and vitality. Quality foods consist of organic fruits and vegetables, organic whole grains, an abundance of fresh organic greens, and wild fish such as salmon. Drink pure clean filtered water (use the HydroMag water treatment system for increased benefit) throughout the day instead of sodas, coffee and other non- nutritious sugar or artificially sweetened beverages.

Clinical studies have found people with arthritis have less pain when given omega-3 supplements. The two most important omega-3 fatty acids are DHA and EPA, these are the vital anti-inflammatory ingredients. Most American diets have too little omega-3 fats and far too many of the omega-6 fatty acids found in most popular vegetable oils such as soybean oil, corn oil, cottonseed safflower oil and more. The ideal ratio for our bodies of omega-3 to omega-6 is 1:1 or up to 1:4, but the average American diet ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 ranges from 1:20 to 1:50. Flaxseed and walnut oil are good sources of omega-3, and scientists agree that fish/krill oil is a richer source of omega-3 and is more available to the body. Fish and krill contain a high amount of omega-3 fatty acids.

Omega-3 has been known to reduce inflammation, enhance neural functioning and memory, balance moods and supports healthy cell growth and pregnancy. Unfortunately oftentimes the fish and shellfish we eat also contain a large amount of mercury and other toxins (especially PCB) the fish have ingested from the pollutants in the water. To reduce the amount of such contamination, eat wild small fish and minimize/eliminate the consumption of large fish (Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish) and avoid farm raised fish.

Nutritional supplements are important when it comes to improving your health. HealthWalk’s ReGenesys™ aids in reducing inflammation and helps with metabolic function and proper cell communication. HealthWalk carries an array of quality supplements for you to enjoy the optimal nutritional support needed for vibrant health. Our functional nutritional consultant will work with you on how to make sound choices and customize a plan that works for you.

One important lifestyle change to help manage arthritis is to maintain a healthy body weight. If you are overweight, the extra pounds add additional pressure on the joints causing arthritis pain to increase. For every one pound of weight lost, there is a four pound reduction in the load exerted on the knee for each step taken during daily activities. Losing as little as 11 pounds can cut the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis by 50 percent for some women. Lose and keep weight off with a sensible eating plan. HealthWalk offers personalized nutritional support based on individual needs.

The processing and packaging of foods with added preservatives and chemicals to preserve, prolong and modify the natural food cycle are congesting to our organs and causes improper communication within the body’s systems. Many people are experiencing the onset of the destructive cascade of inflammation and all its ill effects at a much younger age than before because of the heavy consumption of processed foods. Reduce or avoid processed and packaged foods and the body will have an opportunity to repair some of the damage.

Exercise is important to your physical and mental well-being, is beneficial for your overall health and also promotes the healing process. Swimming, walking and yoga are good low impact exercises to help loosen up those joints with minimal stress and strengthens the muscles and increase flexibility around the joints to give extra support. With stronger muscles and more flexibility, the discomfort and pain from arthritis is lessened and alleviated. A couple of good programs for alleviating pain and helping flexibility are the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program or Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program.

Don’t panic if you have been diagnosed with arthritis. At HealthWalk Integrated Health Center we offer a holistic and integrated approach that will support your path to better health and healing.

You can find out more at www.HealthWalk.com, we are here to support you on your path to vibrant health.