October 23, 2007

Doctor Wei… Tell Me About Foods And Diets For Arthritis.

Arthritis is the disease process most often associated with disability and affects between 50 and 70 million Americans (depending on the estimates used). There are more than 100 different kinds of arthritis and each is treated differently.
While effective medical remedies are available for most forms of arthritis, many people are curious as to the role of food in either helping or making arthritis worse.
When it comes to food there are two major issues. The first is the mechanical effect and the second is the inflammatory effect.
The mechanical effect refers to the problems that can occur with excess stress on the musculoskeletal system. This happens when people weigh too much. Every extra pound translates to five extra pounds the weight-bearing joints transmit. So if you0re 30 pounds overweight, that0s about 150 extra pounds of stress on your low back or hips or knees.
Obviously, the less weight you have to lug around, the better. In addition, having extra body fat also contributes to the second major issue… that of inflammation. Substantial evidence links abnormal metabolic processes in fat with increased inflammation. So extra weight is a double whammy.
Inflammation can also occur via another food avenue. Some types of arthritis such as gout […]