Natural Remedies for Arthritis:  The Power of Food!

Would you consider trying natural remedies for arthritis? Medical treatments can help relieve some of the symptoms, but over time the treatments will not stop the progression of the condition.

Some doctors know that certain foods will contribute to the start of arthritis. It would be best to find a practitioner that understands that natural remedies for arthritis can work, and that food can be (and probably is) the main culprit when dealing with this condition.

There is an elimination test that can be administered by the doctor, or it is easy enough that you can just do it yourself.

The Elimination Test

This simple test will help to identify foods that are causing the problem. 

First of all you will eliminate all of the problem foods listed in Table 1 and eat only foods listed on Table 2. Foods that do not appear on any list can also be consumed. This part of the test is carried out over a 4 week period to see if there are benefits.

You need to make sure that even trace amounts of the banned foods are not present since results may be skewed to show that the eating plan was ineffective when actually it was working. After the 4 week period and symptoms have disappeared or lessened, it's time to add back in the foods that are associated with the arthritis symptoms. You will do this one at a time every 2 days. 

You may have more that one food that will start the symptoms. After eliminating the food or foods that cause the problem, you should be clear of the symptoms for two weeks before retesting the problem food again, just to make sure.

The following Tables are from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine:

Table 1: Foods that virtually never trigger joint pains...

• Brown Rice
• Cooked or dried fruits: cherries, cranberries, pears, prunes (but not citrus fruits, bananas, peaches, or tomatoes)
• Cooked green, yellow, and orange vegetables: artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, chard, collards, lettuce, spinach, string beans, summer or winter squash, sweet potatoes, tapioca, and taro (poi)
• Water: plain water or carbonated forms
• Condiments: modest amounts of salt, maple syrup and vanilla extract

Table 2: Common arthritis triggers...

Additional foods...

Some foods have sparked symptoms in individuals, but are not known to do so in large numbers of people. These include alcoholic beverages, bananas, chocolate, malt, nitrates, onions, soy products, cane sugar, and spices (cardamom, coriander, and mint).

If this natural remedy for arthritis does not uncover the offending elements, you may have to try the same procedures to eliminate foods that are not on either list. This may take longer since you are exploring the unknown.

Some people seem to be aided by supplementing with essential fatty acids. One tablespoon twice a day of flaxseed oil with 500 mg of black currant oil may help. Make sure you check with your healthcare professional before doing this. He/she may have other potions that work well.

Natural Remedies for Arthritis Can Really Work!

In 1999, when I started the Hallelujah Diet for my cancer, Barbara had arthritis really bad in her hands and it was getting worse. She was growing concerned since she was a full time church organist and pianist.

She joined me in this new adventure of a whole food plant-based diet. She made fabulous tasting foods with her creative approach to fixing only plants to eat. As a result, her arthritis disappeared in a short period of time and she remains free of that condition today.

I hope that you will find the answer to the pains of arthritis and by making the necessary changes continue in good health with natural remedies for arthritis. Just like "a rising tide will raise all boats," staying with mostly a whole food plant-based diet and lifestyle will also solve most any health problem that you might have.

         >Food As Medicine

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