There is a great deal of debate in the medical world about the effects of overall diet on arthritis and using good nutrition toward alleviating the condition. Doctors have known for a long time that foods affect gout, a specific type of arthritic condition, however the jury remained out for a long time on other common types of arthritis such as rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. However, various foods and diets are now being recognized as being very important.
Arthritis Foods To Avoid
You may want to be tested for allergies. When the aggravating substances are greatly reduced or eliminated, the arthritis symptoms are usually relieved or even eliminated.
Listed below are some common food allergens of arthritis patients:
* Dairy products
* Beef
* Wheat (especially gluten)
* Yeast
* Eggs
* Oranges
* Sugar (especially sodapop)
* Nuts (especially peanuts)
* Corn
* Nightshades (eggplants, potatoes, green & red peppers, tomatoes, paprika, tobacco)
Acidic and Alkaline Foods
Arthritis sufferers commonly have a high level of acidity that increases the potential for developing inflammatory conditions. Acidity can be decreased by reducing your intake of acid-forming foods and increasing intake of alkaline-forming foods.
(Try to eat 75% of your foods alkaline)
Acid-forming foods (examples):
* Sugar (soda pop)
* Meat (beef, chicken, fish)
* Dairy products (milk, cheese, ice cream)
* Most common grains (wheat, oats, corn, rice and their flours)
* Coffee
* Alcohol
* Peanuts
* Chocolate
* Corn Oil
Also, avoid trans fats and hydrogenated fats as they can contribute to inflammation.
Read the food labels!
Alkaline-forming foods (examples):
*Most fresh vegetables (spinach, broccoli, celery, lettuce, carrots, cucumber, garlic)
* Most fresh fruits (apples, avocados, lemons, figs, oranges)
* Grains (millet, amaranth, buckwheat, quinoa, wild rice)
* Whey Protein powder
* Almonds
* Herb Teas
* Virgin Coconut Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Use organic products as much as possible.
pH Balance
According to Dr. Robert Young, author of “The pH Miracle”, maintaining proper pH levels in the body is crucial to health. An acidic body and lifestyle leads to disease.
Note: On a pH scale of 1 – 14
below 7 is acidic
(7 is neutral)
above 7 is alkaline
Our blood is ideally maintained at 7.365 pH. If the acid overload gets too great for the blood to balance, excess acid is dumped into the tissues for storage.
You can monitor your health by checking your urine with pH paper strips available at the health food store or from the Internet. Check your urine throughout the day. Alter your foods and see what a difference it can make. If you are consistently acidic, that is raising a warning signal and you should be eating more alkaline foods.
To learn more about preventing or overcoming arthritis, see our product here: Alternativehealthzone.com/products
