Understanding Osteoarthritis
“Osteo” means bone, “arthritis” is joint inflammation. Osteoarthritis is one of the most common form of degenerative arthritis of our times. It is the degeneration of the cartilage in the joints. Cartilage is the gel-like substance between bones that act as a cushion or a ‘shock absorber’.
Osteoarthritis affects more men under the age of 40, women between ages 40 and 70, and equally between both sexes above 70.
Although osteoarthritis affects more elderly people, it now affects even younger people. The cause is not simply because of wear and tear.
Our body is continually going through the process of building up and breaking down. We need to build up the cartilage at the same rate that it’s wearing down in order to keep the joints healthy.
When the cartilage is wearing out, it either means that the breakdown rate is faster, or that the building-up rate is slower. What breaks and what builds?
Symptoms of Osteoarthritis
This condition usually affects only one or a few joints at first, mostly at the joints of fingers, big toes, neck, lower back and more commonly at the knees. In some people, the early symptoms are stiffness in the joints after sleep, which subsides when the joints are moved.
When these joints are stressed, the body attempts to repair the cartilage which leads to new growth of the cartilage and tissue around it. This causes enlargement at the joints or bone spurs forming as a result.
Osteoarthritis often affects the spine, neck or lower back. When the overgrowth of bones press on the nerves, it causes pain. As in other forms of arthritis, like gout, osteoarthritis pain usually attacks when the affected
parts are cold, especially during rainy days or at night while sleeping, or early in the morning.
If left untreated, osteoarthritis can be crippling and lose its range of motion. Eventually, the joints may not be able to straighten out or bend.
I have just been going through my juicing books...Juicing for Life, it says some dietary modifications and some suggested juicing recipes.
Dietary Modifications
1. Eliminating the nightshade family - tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, eggplants, and tobacco.
2. Avoid the citrus family - lemons, oranges, and grapefruits.
3. void all refined food such as white sugar/flour/rice, and preserved and processed foods.
4. Significantly decrease your consumption of sweets and alcohol.
5. Consider testing for food allergies.
6. Check for hydrocholric acid deficiency.
7. Try a juicegast, which has been shown to be very helpful for arthritis.
Beneficial Juices
Broccoli & Kale - sources of panthothenic acid
Kale, Parsley, spinach - sources of Vit C
Spinach and Carrot - Sources of Vit E
Carrot, Ginger Root and Apple (one of my favorite juices) - source of copper
Cherry and blueberry (bioglavonoids)
Pineapple (bromelaine)
Juice Recipes
Garden Salad Special
3 broccoli flowerets, 1 garlic
clove, 4-5 carrots, 2 stalks celery, 1/2 green pepper, (Push broccoli an dgarli
through hopper with carrots. Follow with celeery and green pepper)
Digestive Special
Handful spinace, 4-5 carrots
greens removed)
Bromelain Special
1/4 pineapple
with skinn
Ginger Hopper
1/4 inch slice ginger
root, 4-5 carrots (no greens), 1/2 apple seeded
Gingerberry
Fizz
1 qt blueberries, 1 med bunch grapes, 1/4 in slice ginger
root, sparkling water.Push blueberries, followed by grapes and ginger. Pour into
ice filled glass, top with sparkling water.
“Osteo” means bone, “arthritis” is joint inflammation. Osteoarthritis is one of the most common form of degenerative arthritis of our times. It is the degeneration of the cartilage in the joints. Cartilage is the gel-like substance between bones that act as a cushion or a ‘shock absorber’.
Osteoarthritis affects more men under the age of 40, women between ages 40 and 70, and equally between both sexes above 70.
Although osteoarthritis affects more elderly people, it now affects even younger people. The cause is not simply because of wear and tear.
Our body is continually going through the process of building up and breaking down. We need to build up the cartilage at the same rate that it’s wearing down in order to keep the joints healthy.
When the cartilage is wearing out, it either means that the breakdown rate is faster, or that the building-up rate is slower. What breaks and what builds?
Symptoms of Osteoarthritis
This condition usually affects only one or a few joints at first, mostly at the joints of fingers, big toes, neck, lower back and more commonly at the knees. In some people, the early symptoms are stiffness in the joints after sleep, which subsides when the joints are moved.
When these joints are stressed, the body attempts to repair the cartilage which leads to new growth of the cartilage and tissue around it. This causes enlargement at the joints or bone spurs forming as a result.
Osteoarthritis often affects the spine, neck or lower back. When the overgrowth of bones press on the nerves, it causes pain. As in other forms of arthritis, like gout, osteoarthritis pain usually attacks when the affected
parts are cold, especially during rainy days or at night while sleeping, or early in the morning.
If left untreated, osteoarthritis can be crippling and lose its range of motion. Eventually, the joints may not be able to straighten out or bend.
I have just been going through my juicing books...Juicing for Life, it says some dietary modifications and some suggested juicing recipes.
Dietary Modifications
1. Eliminating the nightshade family - tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, eggplants, and tobacco.
2. Avoid the citrus family - lemons, oranges, and grapefruits.
3. void all refined food such as white sugar/flour/rice, and preserved and processed foods.
4. Significantly decrease your consumption of sweets and alcohol.
5. Consider testing for food allergies.
6. Check for hydrocholric acid deficiency.
7. Try a juicegast, which has been shown to be very helpful for arthritis.
Beneficial Juices
Broccoli & Kale - sources of panthothenic acid
Kale, Parsley, spinach - sources of Vit C
Spinach and Carrot - Sources of Vit E
Carrot, Ginger Root and Apple (one of my favorite juices) - source of copper
Cherry and blueberry (bioglavonoids)
Pineapple (bromelaine)
Juice Recipes
Garden Salad Special
3 broccoli flowerets, 1 garlic
clove, 4-5 carrots, 2 stalks celery, 1/2 green pepper, (Push broccoli an dgarli
through hopper with carrots. Follow with celeery and green pepper)
Digestive Special
Handful spinace, 4-5 carrots
greens removed)
Bromelain Special
1/4 pineapple
with skinn
Ginger Hopper
1/4 inch slice ginger
root, 4-5 carrots (no greens), 1/2 apple seeded
Gingerberry
Fizz
1 qt blueberries, 1 med bunch grapes, 1/4 in slice ginger
root, sparkling water.Push blueberries, followed by grapes and ginger. Pour into
ice filled glass, top with sparkling water.
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