This month, we are focusing on rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, with an article by Applied Health's nutritionist, Stephanie Jenkins. Last week, a report was released in the January 27th issue of "The Lancet", which stated that patients with osteoarthritis have shown significant improvement in their symptoms after long-term use of glucosamine sulfate.

The doctor referring to the study on the nightly news seemed quite surprised by this "out-of-the-blue" miracle supplement. Obviously, it is not such a surprise for those people more familiar with non-traditional healing practices. An article referring to the report can be found at the following site:

http://www.medscape.com/reuters/prof/2001/01/01.26/20010125clin004.html

Though I prefer not to use the "Editor's Note" for promoting our specific products, I cannot pass up this opportunity without referring to our own "miracle supplement" for arthritis . . . "CellRenew". Numerous testimonies have been shared by our customers, who have experienced dramatic improvements in their arthritic symptoms, after taking "CellRenew" for both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis.

Last week, I got to see first hand one of our "miracle" customers in action. This woman had been in and out of wheelchairs for the last eight years, due to arthritic knees. Previous to that, she had enjoyed performing on stage, but had to give it up because of the pain. She has been taking "CellRenew" for about a year. Not only is she out of wheelchairs, she is back on stage - singing and dancing. She did a great job! I expect someday there will be a report on Collagen Type II, and it too will be considered an "out-of-the-blue" miracle supplement.

I get so very excited about this product that I want everyone to know about it, so for those of you who do not know anything about "CellRenew" -

"CellRenew" is a patented product, containing the natural balance of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates, in proper proportions with the other naturally occurring, supportive nutrients found in chicken sternal Collagen Type II. It has been shown to have an 89.9% effectiveness rate for diminishing the symptoms of arthritis. We are so confident of its positive benefits that we offer a 60-day money back guarantee for anyone interested in trying the product. Check the following web pages for more information on Applied Health's CellRenew, and other arthritis care products: http://www.appliedhealth.com/cellrenew.html http://www.appliedhealth.com/healthsuphd.html

For your good health. . . .

Tamara

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This month I am going to begin our Applied Health Solution feature article with a question. What disease am I referring to when I state the following?

• Over 50 million Americans suffer from this disorder.
• The disease can strike any age and it is a general term for more than 100 health conditions.
• It restricts activity more often than cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes.
• Over time, if left untreated, the pressure this disease can have on the nerves can cause permanent damage and even paralysis may result, as well as other life threatening problems.

If "arthritis" was your answer, you were correct. Arthritis simply defined means "inflammation of the joints". There are many different types of arthritis, but the two predominating forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, with osteoarthritis being the most common of all.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the deterioration of joint cartilage. In a healthy joint, the ends of the bones are lined with a spongy substance called cartilage, which acts as a shock absorber and prevents the bones from being in direct contact with each other. Lining the joint space is the synovial membrane, which secretes a lubricant (synovial fluid) lessening friction during movement. When all structures are in good shape, the joint should function correctly.

Osteoarthritis is caused by the breakdown or loss of cartilage and can be triggered by abusive, repetitive motion, or even a single injury. However, cartilage most often breaks down due to wear and tear of the joint, through years of use. Although, osteoarthritis rarely develops before the age of 40, almost everyone has some degree of this disease in their weight bearing joints by age 75.

Some factors that increase the risk of getting osteoarthritis:

1. Being 45 years or older
2. Being female
3. Hereditary conditions, including malformed joints or defective cartilage
4. Obesity
5. Joint injuries caused by physical labor, sports, or trauma
6. Diseases that change the normal structure of cartilage
7. People who have overactive thyroids, prolonged lack of estrogen, or chronic liver disease
8. People who have used corticosteriods for prolonged periods

Once believed that osteoarthritis affected cartilage only, scientists now know that it damages the entire joint. When there is too much damage to cartilage, the bones begin to rub against each other. Abnormal growths called bone spurs form as the damaged bones try to repair themselves. These bone spurs can break off into the joint area and cause swelling and irritation, along with damaging the bone, soft tissue, and nearby muscles.

Osteoarthritis can be deceptive. The first signs are usually mild aches and soreness in one or a few joints. Discomfort and tenderness may be experienced when doing a simple task or even just walking up stairs. As the disease progresses, pain and stiffness get worse. Unless unusual stress has been placed on a joint, or injury has occurred, it is uncommon for osteoarthritis to affect the elbows, wrists, ankles, jaw or shoulders. More typically affected are the fingers, spine, and weight bearing joints (knees and hips).

Osteoarthritis is considered an active condition, which knocks the natural healing process out of balance. Even subtle changes, such as a bone in the joint being slightly out of place can contribute to osteoarthritis. If you do have osteoarthritis, you need to protect your joints as much as possible. Small changes in how the body is used can reduce stress on the joints. Be aware and concentrate on moving with minimal strain to the afflicted areas.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is classified as an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks its own tissue.

Dr. Braly says, "A primary cause of most rheumatoid arthritis appears to be delayed food allergy and the often related problem of abnormal permeability of the intestinal wall."

According to Dr. Braly, "This abnormal permeability allows incompletely digested food particles to pass through the walls of the digestive tract and into the bloodstream, where if not cleared, they are eventually deposited in the tissues. There, they can cause an inflammatory reaction, and because the body is allergic to the deposited food particles, an autoimmune disturbance occurs, in which the body's own immune system begins to attack the tissue around the joints."

Among other causes of rheumatoid arthritis are genetic susceptibility, lifestyle factors, nutritional factors and microorganisms. There may also be an association between abnormal bowel function and rheumatoid arthritis. This disease is a chronic, progressive disorder. It most commonly arises between the ages of 30 and 40 and effects women more often than men. Rheumatoid arthritis does not only affect the deterioration of the joints, but it also involves most major organ systems. Because conventional treatments of RA cause serious side effects, consideration of alternative healing therapy is essential for improving the immune system and achieving more positive results. The following suggestions can help lessen arthritis symptoms.

Exercise -

Even with arthritis, exercise is essential. However, it is necessary to be sensitive, and listen to your body along with the advice of your physician. It may be necessary to have a health care practitioner prescribe various range of motion exercises to help delay the loss of joint function. A mild, low-impact exercise program can aid in carrying blood and oxygen, along with much needed nutrients, to the afflicted areas - in addition, help ease the pain and avoid disability. High impact activities such as jogging and basketball may put too much stress on joints and aggravate arthritic symptoms. Low impact activities such as yoga, brisk walking, swimming or biking are more advisable.

As the exercise program is developed, remember the importance of proper breathing, because holding the breath tires the muscles by depriving them of oxygen. Avoid exercising tender, injured or inflamed joints. Physical activities should be broken into smaller time segments; while reducing the intensity and changing the movements into a slower, steadier rhythm.

Water consumption -

It is necessary to consume plenty of water ("purified" - not "tap") to flush and detoxify the body. Chronic pains may indicate chronic dehydration, since the body has no water storage system for times of need. The parts of the body that will suffer the most from a shortage of water are those without direct vascular circulation, especially the joint cartilages in fingers, knees, and vertebrae. Often, when the signs of water deficiency in our joints are not recognized for what they are, and painkillers are prescribed, dependence on addictive medication and possible permanent damage to cartilage separation of the joints and bones, due to dehydration, may occur.

Nutrition -

For years, medical researchers refused to acknowledge that nutrition, diet, and food allergies could play a role in immune function and arthritis. However, it is now more widely understood that proper nutrition and diet are believed to be key elements in the prevention of all diseases, including arthritis.

An important step in treating arthritis lies in maintaining normal body weight. This is because excess weight adds stress to the weight-bearing joints affected with arthritis, thus aggravating the condition. A diet full of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains is recommended for maximum nutritional benefit.

Foods rich in sources of essential fatty acids (such as coldwater fish) are valuable for the prevention of arthritis, because of their anti-inflammatory characteristics. Coldwater fish (such as mackerel, herring, sardines and salmon) are strongly suggested because they are believed to significantly reduce inflammatory/allergic response. Supplementing arthritis patients with cod liver oil and evening primrose oil has also resulted in major improvement in reducing the inflammatory process.

Robert Bingham M.D., medical director at the Desert Arthritis Clinic in California, reports that approximately one-third of those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis are sensitive to nightshade plants (potatoes, paprika, eggplant, tomatoes, and peppers). It may be necessary to eliminate these foods from the diet. The following foods should also be eaten as often as possible to help reduce joint inflammation: cabbage, celery, turnips, and lemons.

Fatty meats, eggs, shortening, margarine and other dairy products should be dramatically lessened or removed completely from the diet. Caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, preservatives and sugar should also be eliminated. If you would like a complete list of foods to avoid, and nourishing foods to consume, refer back to our newsletter of May 2000 on "The Lasting Solution To Weight-loss: Part II" (at: http://www.appliedhealth.com/archive.html ).

A proper balance of vitamins and minerals is essential for the treatment of arthritis. Larger quantities of Vitamin C are recommended, along with vitamins A, B, B-6, E, and Niacin. Other dietary supplements, which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects for prevention and treatment of arthritis include: zinc, boron, selenium, manganese, panothenic acid, proteolytic enzymes (enzymes that catalyze oxidative reactions), flavonoids, L-phenylanine, sulfur (cysteine) and tryptophan.

Calcium (citrate) and magnesium are vital nutrients to take as well. Be sure that you have the best quality calcium. Because of poor assimilation, inferior quality calcium can actually leave deposits on joints, thus aggravating and even encouraging the onset of osteoarthritis. It is a good idea to check with a recommended holistic healthcare professional, who will assist you in balancing all the needed nutrients.

Copper is an essential trace mineral and is important for the production of collagen, which is responsible for the health of our bones, cartilage and skin. Copper is an antioxidant mineral, which protects against free radical damage. Some rheumatoid arthritis sufferers have reported that copper bracelets reduce pain and inflammation associated with the condition. This is most likely because traces of the mineral are absorbed by the skin and enter the bloodstream.

Magnesium is also an important nutrient for the arthritis sufferer. Magnesium is a mineral that is absolutely essential for our metabolism and every biochemical process, which takes place in our bodies including the synthesis of nucleic acids and protein. Magnesium is required to form the synovial fluid, which surrounds the joints, and an adequate intake can encourage joint health.

Apple cider or ginger root baths can help reduce symptoms and encourage healing. Herbs that work to help heal arthritis are feverfew, celery seed, white willow, meadowsweet, bladder wrack, and Siberian ginseng (especially for rheumatoid arthritis). Ginger, coriander, and aloe vera can be used to treat arthritis, as well.

In addition, an anti-yeast diet has been shown to be very beneficial for the rheumatoid arthritis sufferer who may have an overgrowth of candida. Dietary recommendations may be found in the AHSJ October and November 2000 articles on "Chronic Candida Syndrome". These articles are available for viewing at the following website: http://www.appliedhealth.com/archive.html

Other aids for arthritis symptoms include Bee pollen, royal jelly, glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate.

Finally, if you or someone you know suffers from arthritis, check out our website for information on "CellRenew" and the other arthritis products from Applied Health Solutions at: http://www.appliedhealth.com/healthsuphd.html

References

1. http:www.mayoheath.org/mayo/9406/htm/osteoart.htm
2. http://healthmonitor.com/articles.asp.2center=familyandarticle=arth070300CS
3. Alternative Medicine Compiled by The Burton Goldberg Group
   Copyright 1993 1994 1995 by Future Medicine
   Publishing, Inc.
4. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Healing Remedies
   
5. Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D
   Element Books Inc., 1998 USA

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