Arthritis - The Dietary Connection
It used to be thought that what you eat really has no effect on the pain and inflammation of arthritis. However, there is now dramatic evidence that diet does, in fact, affect compounds in our body, which can either stimulate or suppress inflammation. The pain associated with arthritis is really the result of this inflammation. Inflammation in the body is mediated or caused by compounds such as prostaglandins and cytokines. What diet enables us to do is provide a balance between the
Bringing Back The Balance
So how do you get the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids back into proper balance? First, you should exchange most vegetable oils for olive oil. (Olive oil is high in the non-inflammatory omega-9 fatty acid.) By removing processed foods from your diet, along with tossing a salad with olive oil, steaming your vegetables and baking your chicken, you will be well on your way to restoring the balance.
If you are fighting arthritis, you need specific nutrients and herbs, such as glucosamine and boswellia. The imbalance, however, exists deep within your body cells. Therefore, the quickest way to restore balance is with supplements. I recommend immediately adding a daily supplement to decrease inflammation in your body and restore the omega-6 to omega-3 balance. If you are fighting arthritis, you should also consider nutrients and herbs, such as glucosamine and boswellia. However, I recommend that everyone adopt a program of daily supplements that fight inflammation. These include the following:
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Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids – These are the omega-3s (EPA, DHA and alpha-linolenic acid) found in fish oil and flax seed oil. They help stop the COX-2 enzyme and block the inflammatory prostaglandins while promoting the non-inflammatory prostaglandins.
Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA) – Though technically an omega-6 fatty acid, GLA is a unique, non-inflammatory type that can help reduce arthritic symptoms when taken daily.
Tocopherols and Tocotrienols – We used to just recommend that people take vitamin E, but we now have more evidence that the whole family of vitamin E compounds is beneficial. Natural d-alpha tocopherol is the form of vitamin E we should take daily. Vitamin E will counter the effects of COX-2 and prostaglandin E2, which promote inflammation. Vitamin E, however, is part of a family of compounds and should be used in combination with natural mixed tocopherols and tocotrienols. In nature, tocopherols and tocotrienols always occur together and they work best when taken together in a supplement. One study found that arthritic patients taking supplements of natural vitamin E for four months had a 50 percent reduction in joint pain.
Vitamin C – Vitamin C will always be high on the list of compounds that fight inflammation. It also protects cells from the free-radical damage caused by inflammation.
Polyphenols and Flavonoids – I recommend that patients take polyphenols daily because they also help control the inflammatory process. Green tea is an excellent source of these polyphenols. Another important compound is the flavonoid, quercetin, which blocks inflammation. All these work well when combined with grape seed and grape skin extracts.
If you make the dietary changes noted here and combine them with a daily supplement that includes these important compounds, you can help your body overcome arthritis and other types of inflammatory conditions. My Joint Support formula has all the important nutrients and herbs essential for joint health. Taken together, in conjunction with a healthy diet, they can keep your body's omega-6 to omega-3 ratio in balance, which is crucial to preventing inflammation that can lead to so many distressing diseases.
