12th October2016- World Arthritis Day

The theme for this year’s World Arthritis Day is ‘The future is in your hands, take action’.  We must encourage arthritic patients to take action daily and to live their life to the fullest, in the healthiest way that they possibly can.

Living with rheumatoid arthritis and other musculoskeletal diseases is not easy and can be physically and mentally crippling. The symptoms of arthritis include pain and limited function of joints. Arthritic joint inflammation causes joint stiffness, swelling, tenderness, redness and warmth in the affected area.

Regular exercise with the help of a physiotherapist, a healthy diet and the strong support of a family/friend group will go a long way in helping the patient enjoy a good quality of life and have better self-worth.

Improved medications now ensure that there is no longer as much joint damage, especially to the hands…something that would previously alert everyone that a person had arthritis. However, everyday tasks like opening a dabba of ghee, or buttoning a shirt, climbing a flight of stairs or even opening a strip of medicine can be challenging.

Unfortunately, there is no dietary CURE for arthritis….but you can add certain foods to your diet to ease the pain, fight the inflammation, strengthen your bones, boost your immunity and make you feel better.

You could try adding the following to your daily diet:-

- Haldi powder….add 1 tsp to your juice shot, smoothie, dal etc

- Amba halad.…grate and add to salads, chutneys, gravies etc

- Garlic….decreases the amount of cartilage-damaging enzymes present in the cells.

- Olive oil and coconut oil….extra virgin, cold pressed….1 tbsp of each

- Precursors to vit D like dark green leafy veggies, dairy foods, eggs….to increase your bone  strength, enable the absorption of calcium and also boost immunity.

- Vit C-rich foods like oranges and lemons….prevent inflammation and maintain healthy joints and  cartilage.

- Soy protein….will prevent inflammation, Avoid if you have a hypothyroid condition.

- Fish….another anti-inflammatory food.

- Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower….apart from vit K and vit C, they also have a  compound called sulforaphane which prevents the progression of osteoarthritis. Avoid if you have a  hypothyroid condition.

- Cherries and cranberries….for their anti-inflammatory effect, especially for those with gout and  high uric acid levels.

- Nuts and seeds like walnuts, almonds, pine nuts, sunflowers seeds, pumpkin seeds, melon seeds,  sesame seeds, chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp etc….for their mineral content.

- Green tea….loaded with polyphenols and antioxidants, it can reduce inflammation and slow    cartilage destruction.

Stay blessed with good health….always !!!

Warm regards,

Charmaine D’Souza