Dietary Supplements For Treatment of Arthritis From the Cleveland Clinic

WebMD Medical Reference provided in collaboration with The Cleveland Clinic

Many people with arthritis -- especially osteoarthritis -- use supplements to ease the pain of arthritis. Glucosamine and chondroitin are the most well known and best tested. Methyl sulfonylmethane, or MSM, is another supplement used to ease the pain of arthritis, but it has not been through as much rigorous scientific testing.

What Are Glucosamine and Chondroitin?

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are components of normal cartilage. In the body, they are the building blocks for cartilage and appear to stimulate the body to make more cartilage.
There are conflicting studies on glucosamine and chondroitin, some demonstrating a beneficial effect on osteoarthritis pain. Others, including the NIH-sponsored multicenter

Glucosamine/Chrondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT), did not show benefit for the primary outcome measure of osteoarthritis pain measured by WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMacster Universities). However, a smaller subgroup of study participants with moderate to severe pain did show significant relief. Due to the small size of this subgroup, these findings should be confirmed in larger studies.

The supplements, which are available in pharmacies and health food stores without a prescription, are well tolerated and appear to be safe. However, there are no long-term studies to confirm their long-term safety and effectiveness. Many physicians may still recommend a trial of glucosamine at this point, and if there is not apparent improvement by 3 months, it would reasonable to stop the treatment.

It is important to check with your doctor before starting any new treatments. Your doctor can review the other medications you are taking and help you decide whether or not these arthritis supplements are right for you. In addition, always follow the instructions on the medication label. Do not take more of the supplements than is recommended. Continue Reading ...

All About Osteoarthritis and Women

By Jeanie Lerche Davis

WebMD Feature

Reviewed By Charlotte Mathis, MD

If you've just been diagnosed with osteoarthritisosteoarthritis (OA), you're not alone. Many women past age 50 discover OA is the reason for their creaking knees, aching backs, and sore fingers. Suddenly life is all about osteoarthritis -- but luckily, arthritisarthritis doesn't have to take control.

Arthritis is "the most common form of disability. It's also a natural part of aging," says Primal Kaur, MD, director of the Osteoporosis Clinic at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia.

In the U.S., one in five adults has osteoarthritis -- 24 million women and 17 million men, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Continue Reading ...

The New Face of Smoothies

Smoothies have taken on a healthier and tastier flare!

By Star Lawrence WebMD Feature

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

This year, Americans will guzzle down $6 million worth of commercially blended smoothies and countless vats of homemade snacks and meals contained in a single glass.

Smoothies have jumped out of the health food stores and into tony cafes, duking it out with specialty coffees as the "grande" drink of choice. The chalky powders and additives with the funny aftertaste are gone. Even the humblest street vendor is offering upscale jolts like wheatgrass and whey.

What role does this popular drink have in a healthy diet?

Pat Crocker, a home economist, culinary herbalist, and author of The Smoothie Bible, tells WebMD that smoothies are a valuable way to get the recommended daily intake of 5-10 fruits and veggies. Smoothies are filling, portable, and quick -- all pluses in this busy society.

Basics of Smoothie Construction

Crocker recommends each smoothie contain at least half a cup of liquid. Possibilities include:

Water
Orange juice (could be juice concentrate diluted as directed)
Apple juice
Yogurt (unflavored or natural is best)
Kefir (enzyme-enriched yogurt-like milk product)
Soda water (this creates "sparklers," especially delicious with veggies)
Ice chips
Since smoothies are soft, often sweet, and milkshake-like, what about ice cream? "Not if you are interested in healthy smoothies!" Larrian Gillespie, MD, author of The Menopause Diet, exclaims to WebMD.
Once the liquid is in the blender, it is time to add the fun stuff. Gillespie reels off a produce department of yummy ingredients you could try:
Bananas (almost a must in smoothies because they thicken the mixture. Crocker says to cut into 4 sections -- she includes almost all peels, except banana peels)
Grapes
Strawberries
Blueberries or other berries
Oranges and citrus (skip the yogurt with these)
Raw or cooked veggies (cooked are fine, don't forget those)
Papaya
Apples (the pectin can carry off toxins, Crocker says)
Nuts
Flaxseed
Kelp
Split peas
Tofu
Goat cheese

Continue reading ....

Eliminating Nightshade Foods Will Reduce Inflammation in Arthritis and Chronic Illness!

I received an email this week from a new friend in our Arthritis Support Group asking more about certain foods that cause inflamation and pain. She told me after eating some eggplant she experienced an increase in her pain level. Knowing that one of our group topics was about the "No-Nightshades Diet" she asked for more information. Here is my reply to her:

Thanks or the email and I am so sorry you hurt after eating an eggplant sub-sandwich! Maybe the Nightshades Diet will be good for you too. I have been on this "food plan" for almost a year and it has really helped me (I don't use the nasty word "diet"... yuk!). Reduction of inflamation / chronic pain can occur by eliminating the NightShades food group for many people.

Certain foods can help us stay healthy - but they can also create problems with Chronic Illnesses such as Arthritis each day.

The Nightshades food group includes:

Tomatoes
Potatoes
Peppers (except black pepper – it’s O.K.)
Eggplant (as you probably found out L)

Use Hellman’s Mayonnaise because it doesn’t have paprika in it.
Hot dogs are out because they have paprika in them.
No more spicy foods that have peppers in them (boo).

I find it helpful to bring my own foods to parties and make special requests in restaurants. On airlines plan ahead and order a special diet plate too.

Several of our Arthritis support group members have purchased and started using the recipes in a No-Nightshades cook book called: Arthritis-Free Cooking by Joan Vogel and Pat Claudio.

Here are some web pages and attachments above that I hope will help you with your new journey in Arthritis and learning about eliminating foods that are called Nightshades:

Nightshades Research Foundation

I personally do NOT believe the Nightshades food group causes arthritis or takes it away. I take everything I learn about Arthritis and chronic pain with a "grain-of-salt", use what helps me and I don’t believe all that I hear from others. Be cautious. There are some insane websites and false cures out in the real world that are myths and filled with quackery.

When it comes to chronic pain I really believe we can live a more comfortable and less painful life by watching what we eat, include vitamins and supplements, choose open minded doctors, find medical treatments and therapies that help us as individuals. Be careful to NOT do what everyone else is doing – it could be a quack or a fad for the moment. Also exercise whenever we can. This is a healthy journey I would prefer to take for my OA, FMS, CFS, SS, DDD. Yes, chronic pain is also a pain in the a$$ (butt) too! A sense of humor helps a lot… LOL!

I do realize you are a busy woman with work, being a college student and a single mom. I want to share with you that at times I have to re-evaluate my life and clear my plate off occasionally by putting some goals on the "back burner" for awhile. That is to say ~ NOT ‘quit’ but maybe return to those plans later when I am feeling better.

For instance, I do love reading, college and sculpture (I am a frustrated artist) but I am not able to do all of them right now. After 5 years of adjusting to my life's new journey - I am just starting to read books again and I joined a book club this fall. I am going to return to my other goals at later dates. I have seen other people with Arthritis do the same. This keeps ‘hope’ in our lives by not dashing our dreams but still keeping them in sight for the future. I also want to learn to scuba dive! Of course with a little help because of my disabilities. I will sign up for a scuba diving class next summer, God willing. :-)

Sometimes we are doing too much at the initial onset of our Arthritis / Chronic Pain and need to simplify our life until we settle in with our new journey. Oh, yes… I know it is NOT at all pleasant initially when painful diseases land on our doorstep and refuse to leave. That’s the GRIEF process we will need to go through. Maybe Arthritis / Chronic Pain support groups could consider having a special guest speaker attend their meetings and discuss the grieving process for people with chronic pain. It is a life process that can not be ignored in order to gain a healthy balance in our lives again. This has been proved over and over gain.

Hope this information helps lift yor spirits, friend. All that I share is from my personal experience and researching Chronic Pain for many years. Our Arthritis Support Group of South Lake County in Clermont, FL, is a vital part of my healing process and getting on with my journey in life. All of the group members spiritually inspire me every month that we meet and for that I thank them dearly. See you December 1st, Friday, at our next monthly Arthritis Support Group meeting.

Until then,my friend ...

Warm Thoughts and Breezes,
Meg King
Volunteer Support Group Leader
Arthritis Support Group of South Lake County, FL