Drinking water regularly throughout the day is another essential step towards reducing the arthritic pain.Drinking water regularly throughout the day is another essential step towards reducing the arthritic pain.

I am sure many of us know someone with arthritis, we probably have it ourselves. Arthritis is a common, chronic disease that results in inflammation of the joints, particularly the lining of the joint capsules. It affects over 10 million people in the UK and over 52 million people in the US.

It is more common in adults over the age of 65. However, it can be present at any age. According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, arthritis is more common in women (26 per cent) than in men (19 per cent).

However, the term arthritis covers a multitude of condi-tions. It actually applies to more than 100 different rheumatic (joint) diseases and condi-tions. The two most common ones are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease with a strong correlation with genetics and family history. It results from the body attacking and damaging joint tissues, which causes joint degeneration and deformation.

It is more likely to start in someone aged between 40 and 45. Women are three times more likely to be affect than men. Those with rheumatoid arthritis can also develop problems with other tissues and organs in their body.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form. Joints are inflamed, often triggering progressive degenerative changes in the joint tissues and capsule. Common symptoms of inflammation are pain, heat, redness and swelling. Those suffering from inflammation generally have elevated levels of the stress hormone, cortisol.

This condition is most common in the knees, hips and small joints of the hands. These areas make everyday life difficult for sufferers. Osteoarthritis is the result of a variety of physical factors and is heavily influenced by diet and lifestyle factors in general.

Nearly one third of obese people are affected by arthritis, which means that using movement or light exercise becomes a challenge as the condition limits physical activity in sufferers

Nearly one third of obese people are affected by arthritis, which means that using movement or light exercise becomes a challenge as the condition limits physical activity in sufferers. Issues with ascending stairs, walking short distances or general everyday lifting all become apparent.

In this two-part article we are going to look at exercise, diet and the clearing of unwanted parasites in the body. All have been researched in relation to easing or even eliminating arthritis in the body.

Today we will start with diet. Meat consumption has an interesting link to some sufferers. Eating more meat, fish or ‘flesh foods’ than your body needs or can digest can accelerate joint pain. The pain produced in joints comes from the accumulation of uric acid. Many people can limit or eliminate the pain simply by either cutting out meat completely or experimenting with a chicken and fish-only diet.

Fluid is required by the body. Drinking water regularly throughout the day is another essential step towards reducing the arthritic pain and creating a beneficial environment in which the body can respond well to exercise.

Gluten (the protein in many grains) and human synovial tissue (which lines and lubricates the joints) share a common gene sequence. This can result in a person’s immune system attacking its own synovial tissue which triggers an inflammatory response. Therefore, removing all grains related to gluten from the diet is essential for optimal healing.

Those grains with gluten include wheat (all varieties including spelt, bulgur and kamut), barley, rye and oats. The issue with oats is that they are inherently gluten free. However, they are often contaminated due to the processing facilities where gluten containing grains are also processed.

The gluten-free grains are corn, buckwheat, millet, quinoa, rice and wild rice. Food intolerances and food allergies are common sources of inflammation which spread from the gut to the rest of the body. When the small intestine isn’t able to effectively control the barrier between food coming and going due to the inflammation-damaged cells, the detox systems of the body become overwhelmed.

As a result the undigested food particles (antigens) make their way into general circulation to settle in the small vessels that form the microcirculation around the joints. When this happens, the immune system attacks food antigens with antibodies, resulting in even more inflammation.

Before beginning an exercise programme that the arthritic body can cope with, it is important to have sorted out the diet. If, as described above, the diet is causing inflammation then too much exercise will only exacerbate the inflammation.

However, a newly started exercise programme will always feel uncomfortable initially. The joints will not like the extra movement. They will feel stiff and painful.

Importantly the synovial fluid surrounding the joints will require stimulating to ‘oil’ the joints. As this occurs exercise will become more bearable and ultimately result in pain-free movement. For exercise to be beneficial in the long-term, it is crucial to reduce overall levels of inflammation and stress in the body.

Some exercise guidelines

Begin with small amounts of exercise at low intensities, always monitoring your body’s response. For example if you choose walking as your exercise, increase the time and intensity gradually. If walking is new to you then start with 10-15 minutes.

Monitor your body’s response on the second day before increasing the time. It is common sense to decrease the time and intensity if you are experiencing increasing levels of pain or stiffness.

Next week we will continue with exercise guidelines and look at the effect parasites in the body can have on arthritis in general.

kathryn@maltanet.net

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