A guide to allievating arthritis through diet

Arthritis is a common disease that can be incredibly painful. Here's what you need to know about the role diet plays in alleviating arthritis.

About one in seven North Americans suffers from some type of arthritis, any of more than 100 disorders characterized by joint inflammation, stiffness, swelling and pain.

• Doctors do not understand why some individuals develop arthritis and others don't, but a combination of factors plays a role.
• Until recently, doctors generally dismissed dietary treatments for arthritis as quackery; new research shows, however, that for some pa­tients, diet can make a difference.
• Some evidence indicates that a small percentage of people with arthritis have food allergies that exacerbate joint symptoms.
• Common offenders include shellfish, soy, wheat, corn, alcohol, coffee and possibly certain food additives.
• Researchers have found that, for these people, removing the allergy-causing foods from the diet has resulted in less pain.
• If you think a certain food is triggering your pain, remove it from your diet for two weeks and pay attention to any symptom changes. Then add it back, and see if your symptoms worsen.

• Obesity greatly increases the risk and severity of osteoarthritis. Even a little extra weight strains the knees and hips. Losing weight and increasing exercise often improves symptoms.
• Patients with rheumatoid arthritis often have the opposite problem; they may be too thin due to a lack of appetite, chronic pain or depression. A doctor may recommend calorie and nutrient enriched liquid supplements.

Be wary of alternative treatments.

• Because arthritis has no cure, sufferers often turn to alternative therapies.
• Some may help; others are worthless, often costly and sometimes dangerous.
• Bee venom injections do nothing for arthritis.
• Chelation, used to remove toxic metals from the body, has been touted in a series of 20 to 30 intravenous treatments as a remedy for RA, but there is no scientific evidence that it is effective.
• Herbal treatments, such as Chinese black balls, have been found to contain the anti anxiety drug diazepam.

While it's not a foolproof solution, slight alterations to your diet can help alleviate arthritis. Keep this guide in mind and remember to contact your doctor before making any dietary changes.