Have you been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis? Are you concerned about taking strong drugs that have serious side effects? The drugs used to treat this condition are mainly anti-inflammatory or immune suppressants. None of these drugs can ‘cure’ this disease they can only suppress the symptoms. Drugs, also, create unhealthy side effects that put even more stress on an already compromised system. Natural solutions can help you regain health by giving your body the foods, herbs and vitamins it needs to fight back.

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an inflammatory condition that affects your entire body as well as yourjoints. This type of arthritis differs from the more commonly known Osteoarthritis, which is caused by bone deterioration. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that triggers the body to attack and destroy its own joint tissues instead of harmful cells like bacteria or viruses. Factors that contribute to development of this disease are:

• genetic predisposition,
• environmental factors and
• abnormal bowel function

Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis include:

• Joint pain and stiffness
• Inflammation
• Low grade fever
• Fatigue
• Weight loss

Self help for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Diet plays a big part in helping to reduce the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).  Some foods are known to cause inflammation so eliminating them will decrease your symptoms. It is also important to increase both your gut or intestinal flora and your intake of Vitamin D. Both of these are compromised with RA.

• Make organic fruits, vegetables and cold-water fish, such as salmon, a priority in your everyday diet.
• Reduce your consumption of red meat.
• Eat unprocessed or raw foods as much as possible.
• Add fermented foods like yoghurt and fermented vegetables to your diet. These foods improve and support Gut flora.
• Limit your intake of grains like wheat and corn. Choose brown rice or Quinoa instead.
• Reduce or eliminate your consumption of cow milk products. Try goat or sheep milk and cheese.
• Increase your fiber intake by eating fibrous vegetables such as carrots, celery and kale. Add some oat bran to your morning breakfast.
• Cut down on white sugar, coffee, tea and soda. Sugar can increase inflammation. Coffee and tea are diuretics that can deplete your body’s water and electrolytes.

Add water for better health Drink up to 2 litres of water each day for optimal health. Water helps hydrate your tissues and joints allowing them to function better. Decrease your intake of vegetables from the Nightshade family

• Potatoes
• Eggplant
• Tomatoes
• Peppers

Exercise more Even though movement can cause pain low impact exercise such as walking, Tai Chi, or swimming can help reduce overall pain, strengthen joints, muscles and improve movement.

Natural support for Rheumatoid arthritis

• Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids from Fish or Krill Oil
• Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamin Sulfate
• Vitamin C, E, B complex
• Vitamin D3 - The results of a recent Vitamin D3 trial published and recorded in PubMed.org in January 2013 concluded that "Severe deficiency of 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) (25-OH-D (3)) is associated with high disease activity of Rheumatoid Arthritis."  Experts are now recommending that keeping your serum D3 level closer to 50 ng/ml as opposed to 30 ng/ml the current recommendation, may result in overall better health.
• Probiotics
• Digestive enzymes: Bromelain, or Pancreatin

Helpful herbs

• Cucurmin, present in Turmeric
• Ginger
• Boswellia
• Licorice

'Ask a naturopath' at Mr Vitamins for a personally structured program of diet, vitamins, minerals and herbs tailored to your unique needs.