Arthritis - Symptom, Types, Diet and Pain Relief

What is arthritis?

The word 'arthritis' essentially implies an inflammation of joints.



The origin of the term comes from two Greek words, ‘athron’ meaning joints and ‘itis’ meaning inflammation. This disease is a chronic ailment. Arthritis at a nascent stage usually envelops the whole body leaving one or two joints in a deformed state thus weakening the patients physical ability and creating a handicap.

Inflammation is the main feature of arthritis, which is caused as a reaction of the joint tissues to some form of damage or injury. To fathom arthritis better we need to first understand the key elements that fall as victims: The Joints.

Classification of Joints:

1 Synarthrosis (those which do not move very much and do not have a cavity)

• Found in the head and spinal column
  

2 Diarthrosis ( those which move freely and have a joint cavity).

• Found in the shoulders, elbows, wrists, fingers, knees, ankles and toes.
• Most frequently affected by arthritis
  
  

Various forms of Arthritis:

There exists various forms of Arthritis, the most common among them being osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis:

Osteoarthritis is a common ailment among the old age group. This occurs as a result from structural changes in the particular cartilage in the joints, usually those that are prone to bearing heavy weight such as the spine and knees. Interestingly, this degenerative joint disease is more common among women as compared to men. Structural changes in the joints could be attributed to malnutrition, continuous physical stress, obesity, glandular insufficiency, calcium deficiency and shortage of hydrochloric acid. How do we know Osteoarthritis is at your heels??

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis:

1.



Acute pain and stiffness in the joints.

2. If pain tends to increase after any form of physical exertion.

3. Eyes tend to get watery.

4. Leg cramps, allergies, arteriosclerosis, hindrances in the functioning of the gall bladder and liver trouble are common symptoms associated with Osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis:

This degenerative form of arthritis gradually envelops one or two joints over several months with continuous pain and stiffness. This state progresses by slowly gnawing the whole body to succumb to Rheumatoid Arthritis. Women are among the most commonly affected by this disease as compared to men in a ratio of 3:1.Rheumatoid Arthritis usually appears between 25-50 years of age but the slow progression is initiated right from childhood or later stages in the lifecycle.

Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis:

Rheumatoid Arthritis occurs as a result of an inflammation of the synovium or lining of the joints accompanied by swelling and could lead to deformity. It impacts: the joints of the fingers, wrists, hips, knees, feet and also the muscles, tendons and other tissues of the body.



The common causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis include: hormonal imbalance, physical and emotional stress, infection, severe fright, shock and injury. Hereditary could also be responsible for passing on this ailment.
How do we know Rheumatoid Arthritis is at work in our body?? Check for the following warning signals: anaemia, colitis, constipation, gall bladder disturbances, low blood pressure or deformed hands and feet.

Diet for Arthritis :

Although the modern medical profession prophesizes no cure for arthritis Naturopathy, has a remedy. Overall, the diet for an arthritis prone or affected patient must include adequate amounts of vitamins, calcium, phosphorus and iron. Arthritis affected persons are prone to heavy which obviously is not advisable as heavy intake could lead to accumulation of toxins and aggravate the inflammation of joints. So you are nowhere towards recovery!!. Watch what you eat and maintain a low caloric diet consisting about 2000 calories comprising a minimum carbohydrate content.

Vitamin A and D play are crucial vitamins in warding off infections, thereby preventing arthritis. Oranges, papayas, carrots, whole milk and butter, all green leafy vegetables, tomatoes and raw bananas are rich in Vitamin A. Vitamin D is chiefly obtained from exposing the skin to sunshine. Sunlight is an important factor in the prevention of arthritis.

Vegetables:

Take your pick, and relish your way to a healthy diet. Bear in mind that your diet needs to be alkaline in nature so include fruits and vegetables for protection and proteins and carbohydrates for energy. Combine a couple of fresh raw vegetables in the form of salads and consider consuming at least two cooked vegetables.

Cabbage, carrot, celery, cucumber, lettuce, onion, radish, tomato and watercress may be used for raw salad. The cooked vegetables may include asparagus, beets, cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, celery, brinjal, mushroom, onions, peas, beans, spinach, tomatoes and turnips.

Fruits:

Fruits considered beneficial to prevent arthritis and keep the ailment at bay includes: apples, lemons, oranges, bananas, pears, the various berries, apricots, pineapples, plums and melons.

Juices:

In extreme cases, vegetable juice therapy for about a week is considered to be beneficial. So here is your choice. All of the following are beneficial:

1. Green juice extracted from any green leafy vegetable mixed with carrot, celery and red beet juice is known to benefit the condition of arthritis. How?? The alkaline action of raw juices dissolves the accumulation of deposits around the joints and in other tissue!

2. Fresh pineapple juice is also valuable as the enzyme in fresh pineapple juice, bromelain, reduces swelling and inflammation in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

3. The raw potato juice therapy is considered one of the most successful biological treatments for rheumatic and arthritic conditions.

Method 1:

The old method of preparing potato juice was to cut the potato into thin slices without peeling the skin and place overnight in a large glass filled with cold water. The water should be drunk in the morning on an empty stomach.

Method 2:

Fresh juice can also be extracted from potatoes and drunk diluted with water 50:50 first thing in the morning.

Avoid:

As is the case for every ailment, a healthy diet ONLY requires a small effort to control the intake of certain foods that have the potential to aggravate your condition. So a small step in curtailing ones desire can help tackle a degenerative disease forever.

Here is a list of food consumables that must be most certainly avoided:

1. Aerated waters of any kind

2. All cheese except cottage cheese,

3. Bacon, ham, sausages and preserved meats and all soups made from meat stock

4.



Confectionery and Baked items: pastries, cakes, pies, sweet buns, candy, sweetmeats, sugar, and ice cream.

5. Rice and white flour products including white bread

6. All salad dressings,

7. Condiments, tea and coffee should also be avoided.

Exercise:

A light exercise such as walking is beneficial in:

8. Avoiding constipation –

Constipation poisons the system and adds to the irritation and inflammation of the joints.

9. Maintaining a normal body weight plays a crucial role in preventing arthritis. Obesity places excess stress on weight-bearing joints and hinders the smooth functioning of tendons, ligaments and muscles.

10. The body should be kept warm at all times.

Care for the joints:

One should take care that the joints are not be bandaged tightly as a solution to the pain as this limits movement and interferes with the free circulation of blood. There should also be plenty of ventilation in the bedroom. Excess physical activity by those prone to arthritis or affected by arthritis can be most certainly avoided.