What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is the number one debilitating disorder in the United States that can affect people of all ages. There are over 40 million Americans living with arthritis (about 20% of the population); up to 80% of the population over the age of 50 suffer with this condition. This number is predicted to double in the next 20 years.

The term arthritis (joint inflammation) refers to over 100 different disorders. Arthritis affects the quality of life, making otherwise simple/everyday activities painful, difficult, or even impossible. Arthritis primarily affects joints and connective tissue, but can also affect blood vessels, kidneys, the immune system, skin, eyes, and the brain. Symptoms of arthritis include: degeneration of joint tissue, joint pain and extreme tenderness, joint swelling, muscular atrophy, bone loss, distortion of joints, joint stiffness and muscle contraction, overgrowth of bone with hard nodules, and the skin over affected joints may be swollen, red, and hot.

Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, is a “wear and tear” disorder that may occur in any joint that is overused. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system creates an inflammatory response in and around the joints, resulting in an attack of the body’s natural tissue. Inflammation is a natural reaction of the body’s immune system used to repair disturbed tissue. Chronic inflammation is the body’s normal response that has been unable to shut itself off, resulting in the overproduction of free radicals, which worsens the inflammatory process. This inflammation causes the release of chemicals into the joint tissue that damage the cartilage, synovial membrane, and bone.

The joints are a complex system that includes two bones with ends covered in cartilage inside a joint capsule. The inner side of the capsule is the synovial membrane that excretes a lubricating fluid called synovial fluid to promote movement of the bones. Essentially, the bones are cushioned inside the joint capsule to prevent friction from the bones rubbing against each other. With time, abuse, and the lack of renewing nutrients, this cushioning deteriorates and the bones are allowed to rub together creating friction. This friction creates pain and discomfort, which can lead to joint stiffness. Joint stiffness might occur because the body is using other joints and muscles to compensate for the ones that bring pain; these painful joints are no longer used as frequently, and might become stiff.

Arthritis may be caused by a number of factors; the most familiar are injury, disease, and/or aging. Arthritis may be also be due to a complex of nutritional imbalances, free radical damage, body toxicity, hormonal imbalance, underlying predispositions in the body’s structural tissues, food allergies, leaky gut syndrome, candida overgrowth, genetic sensitivity, heightened mercury levels, stress, psychological distress, environmental toxicity, etc. Conventional medicines may include aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs, both of which can have a side effect of joint deterioration. There is good evidence that diet and supplementation can help reduce inflammation, pain, and rebuild cartilage.

Healthy eating habits are imperative for preventing and/or reducing arthritis. Attempt to eat several small meals of: organic foods, whole unprocessed foods, raw or lightly cooked vegetables, lean protein, cultured foods, seaweeds, raw nuts & seeds, anti-inflammatory foods, anti-fungal foods, and super foods (a green drink, gogi berries, noni, acai, cacao, etc). Try to avoid sugar, hypoallergenic foods, sodium, processed foods, white flour, refined carbohydrates, polyunsaturated and saturated fats and oils, animal products (except oily fish), chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco. Juicing is also helpful for providing the diet with the essential nutrients it needs for proper tissue re-growth. Black cherry juice can help clear uric acid from the body (acid in the joints can promote inflammation). Pineapple Juice is an excellent source of the enzyme bromelain, which can help reduce inflammation. Since the joints are 85-90% water, drinking water can help restore healthy joint tissue and relieve symptoms. Supplementing the diet with a whole food multi vitamin and mineral, antioxidants, vitamin C with bioflavonoids, MSM, glucosamine, chondroitin, essential fatty acids, herbs, homeopathics, enzymes, probiotics, essential oils, hyalauronic acid, and SAM-e may help rebuild joint tissue, reduce pain, decrease inflammation, and/or promote proper detoxification. Since all bodies are different, please talk to a qualified wellness counselor to establish a program that works with the individual person.

Exercise is crucial for arthritic sufferers because it can decrease total body weight (taking weight off painful joints), improve muscle strength, improve bone density, decrease pain, and increase joint mobility. Stretching, yoga, and water exercises have been found the most beneficial for people with arthritis. Many also wear magnet jewelry, because magnetic therapy can reduce inflammation by stimulating the body’s production of endorphins (pain-reducing chemicals).