Four Winning Ways to Attack Arthritis

• Get plenty of antioxidants. Arthritis may have powerful enemy in antioxidants. One study in Boston found that people with osteoarthritis of the knee who had a high intake of antioxidants were less likely to have the disease progress any further. The people who had the highest intake of vitamin C, a major antioxidant, were three times less likely to have their arthritis get worse. Vitamin C helps build and repair all the connective tissues in your body. This includes the ligaments, tendons, and cartilage that surround and cushion your bones. In some forms of arthritis, the cartilage between your joints becomes frayed and worn, leaving a painful bone-grinding connection. Vitamin C may help keep your joints comfortably cushioned.

The antioxidants vitamin E and beta-carotene also helped, though not as much as vitamin C. Another study found that people with low levels of vitamin E, beta-carotene, and selenium were more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis.

Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables every day to get lots of anti-arthritis antioxidants.

• Add some B vitamins. A recent study found that people who received a daily supplement containing 6,400 mcg of folic acid (B9) and 20 mcg of cobalamin (B12) has as much gripping power in their hands as people who used NSAIDS like aspirin and ibuprofen. They also had fewer tender joints.

               To get the most effective dose of these pain-killing B vitamins, ask your doctor for a prescription. You’ll pay less for them, and your doctor will be able to monitor any side effects.

• Delight in some D vitamin. Vitamin D is vital to building healthy bones. That may explain why one large study found that some people with osteoarthritis were three times less likely than others to have their disease get worse. These people took in at least twice as much vitamin D as the study participants who were getting less than the recommended daily allowance. If you think you are not getting enough vitamin D, go soak up some sunshine or eat plenty of vitamin D-rich foods like milk and eggs.

• Check your iron. Your body needs iron to build healthy blood, but some people have trouble maintaining a healthy iron level. If you have arthritis, you may not have enough of this important mineral. Arthritis sufferers who take aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatories on a regular basis may have a tendency to bleed more freely. This loss of blood can lead to iron deficiency, anemia, a condition that can usually be corrected easily with supplements or iron-rich foods like meat, poultry, fish and eggs.

Let your doctor decide if you need iron supplements. Taking too much iron can cause iron overload, a serious condition that can damage your liver.

Medical Sources:

Arthritis Today (10,1:51; 10,3:34; and 10,5:48)