Читать книгу Arthritis: Over 60 Recipes and a Self-Treatment Plan to Transform Your Life - Marguerite O.B.E. Patten - Страница 25

The past ten years have seen a considerable increase in the number of medications available to treat all forms of arthritis. (The more frequently used of these are discussed here.) Although many people find these a primary avenue of relief from arthritis, they all carry some risk of side effects. The NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can irritate the lining of the stomach and in some cases can cause ulcers when used over a long period. Commonly used NSAIDS include aspirin and ibuprofen. Treating arthritic symptoms by altering your dietary habits carries none of these risks.

The following dietary supplements have been shown to have special healing properties that counter the effects of both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis:

Vitamin E is one of the most powerful natural antioxidants identified to date. It works best when combined with vitamin C and the mineral selenium, both of which are well known for their antioxidant properties. Scientific studies have shown that people with rheumatoid arthritis have lower blood levels of antioxidants than others, and there is growing interest in what this means for the treatment of the disease. In a controlled study of osteoarthritis patients with knee and hip joint problems, 400mg of vitamin E was shown to be as effective in controlling symptoms as 50mg of Diclofenac, a medication classified as an NSAID. The effects of the NSAID were faster, but it produced more side effects than vitamin E. As pain relief over time was comparable, vitamin E was thought to be the treatment of choice.

Another study showed that rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with vitamin E had less pain and improved symptoms when treated over a three-month period. Vitamin E can be taken in large quantities with little risk of side effects.

Fish oil supplements are an important source of omega-3 essential fatty acids, and part of the Eat to Beat Arthritis Diet. You can read more about this subject here. If you are a vegetarian, or cannot tolerate fish oil, try flaxseed oil instead. This is another rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, although they are in their original plant form, and have not been through the metabolic processes that produce the DHA and EPA fatty acids known to be deposited in the flesh of oily fish. These specific fatty acids are necessary for the body’s production of small hormone-like molecules with strong anti-inflammatory properties, known as prostaglandins. Many people suffering from inflammatory illnesses experience dramatic effects when they supplement their diets with a fish or flaxseed oil supplement. For maximum benefit:

Do not mix fish oil and other fatty acid supplements. Take omega-6 supplements (evening primrose oil or borage oil) at a different time of day.

Make sure you take a vitamin E supplement, as this protects the omega-acids.

Keep any opened bottles of supplements in the refrigerator or other cool place.

Note: there is a difference between fish oil and fish liver oil. Liver oils contain substantial quantities of vitamin A, which is stored in your liver and can be toxic if taken in large amounts. If you are setting out on this diet, it is recommended that you use fish oil supplements.

Flaxseed oil is the richest known source of omega-3 fatty acids, and also contains substantial amounts of omega-6 fatty acids. It also contains plant chemicals known as lignins, which are plant estrogens that help control the body’s estrogen level. Lignins are also believed to have other biological effects, including anti-viral and anti-bacterial activities.

Glucosamine and chondroitin are naturally occurring substances in the body that act as a building block in many tissues. Of the two, better curative effects have been demonstrated by glucosamine than by chondroitin, so it is suggested that this is the supplement of choice. Sometimes called the ‘basement membrane builder’, glucosamine is an essential substance in manufacturing and maintaining the ligaments, tendons, cartilage and synovial fluid found in joints. More detailed information on glucosamine and how it is thought to work can be found on page here.