DIETARY AND JUICE CURE
For osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and backache dietary modifications and juice cure are helpful.
OSTEOARTHRITIS
Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis affecting the bones and joints. It is characterized by mild early-morning stiffness, stiffness after rest periods, pain worse when the joint is used and loss of joint function. Symptoms can range from local tenderness, swelling of soft tissues, bony swelling and restricted mobility to cracking of joints in movement. Osteoarthritis is divided into two categories—primary and secondary. Primary osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition brought about by wear and tear on the body. Secondary osteoarthritis is brought about by predisposing factors such as trauma or previous inflammatory disease of the joint.
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
Osteoarthritis sufferers should achieve and maintain average body weight. Excess weight places an added strain on the weight-bearing joints. For some individuals, symptoms disappear entirely after weight loss.
DIETARY MODIFICATIONS
Try eliminating the nightshade family-tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, eggplant and tobacco. If symptoms improve even slightly, continue to avoid these foods. Though not proven, there is a theory that long-term low-level consumption of the solanum.
Alkaloids found in this family inhibit regular collagen repair in the joints or encourages inflammatory degeneration of the joints.
• Avoid citrus family—lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruits. Like the nightshade family, this family is thought to contribute to joint swelling.
• Avoid all refined foods such as white flour, white sugar and preserved and processed foods. Eat a nutritious diet emphasising whole grains, legumes (beans, split peas and lentils), seeds, nuts, vegetables, and fruits, including only a small portion of low-fat animal products.
• Significantly decrease your consumption of sweets and alcohol.
• Consider testing for food allergies.
• Check for hydrochloric acid deficiency. Seek medical advice in this regard.
• Try a juice fast, which is very helpful for arthritis.
NUTRIENTS THAT HELP
Niacinamide may bring a noticeable improvement within two to six weeks. This nutrient is considered especially beneficial for degenerative arthritis of the knee.
Warning: Niacinamide supplements may affect the liver or cause nausea.
• Pantothenic acid may be helpful, as a deficiency of this
nutrient has been associated with osteoarthritis.
• Vitamin C may be beneficial.
• Vitamin E may produce effects similar to those of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Methionine is Important in cartilage structures.
• Superoxide dismutase may have therapeutic benefits.
• Copper may be helpful, as a deficiency of this nutrient has been associated with osteoma.
• Bioflavonoids are beneficial.
• Bromelain has anti-inflammatory properties.
BENEFICIAL JUICES
• Broccoli and kale—sources of pantothenic acid.
• Kale, parsley and spinach—sources of Vitamin C.
• Spinach and carrot—sources of Vitamin E.
• Carrot, ginger root and apple—sources of copper.
• Cherry and blueberry—sources of bioflavonoids.
• Pineapple—the only source of bromelain.
SUGGESTED JUICE RECIPES
Digestive Special
Handful spinach Bunch up spinach and push
4-5 carrots, greens removed through hopper with carrots
Brocoli-Garlic Special
Three broccoli flowerets Push broccoli and garlic
1 garlic clove through the hopper with carrots
4-5 carrots or two tomatoes or tomatoes. Follow with
Two stalks of celery and green pepper. ½ green pepper
Blueberry-Grape Special
1-quart blueberries Push blueberries through
One medium bunch grapes hopper, followed by grapes
1/4-inch slice of ginger root and ginger. Pour juice into
Sparkling water ice-filled glass. Fill the glass to the top with sparkling water.
Pineapple-Ginger Special
1/4 pineapple with skin. Push apple through the hopper.
1/4-inch slice of ginger root Push ginger through a hopper
4-5 carrots, greens removed with carrots and apple. 1/2 apple, seeded
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease characterized by inflammatory changes in joints and related structures. Its symptoms include fatigue, low-grade fever, weakness, joint stiffness and pain. There is often severe joint pain, with increased inflammation beginning in small joints and progressively affecting all joints. Evidence exists that rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune reaction in which antibodies develop against components of joint tissues.
DIETARY MODIFICATIONS
• Consume a low-fat, low-calorie diet excluding most animal sources (meat, dairy products). Studies have shown that patients following this type of diet experienced remission of joint symptoms. A vegetarian diet, excluding all animal sources but fish, is very beneficial.
• Increase your consumption of cold-water fish, e.g., mackerel, salmon, tuna, and sardines. Cod-liver oil may also be beneficial.
• Exclude refined sugar, wheat flour, cornflour, salt, strong spices, alcohol, tea and coffee from your diet.
• Identify food allergies.
• Check for low stomach acid (hydrochloric acid). See your doctor for testing.
• One folk remedy calls for drinking basil as a tea. Basil has been used to ease rheumatoid pain.
• Try a Juice fast, which has been shown to help arthritis.
NUTRIENTS THAT HELP
• Vitamin C has anti-inflammatory action.
• Vitamin E has anti-inflammatory action.
• Vitamin may stabilize the membranes and cells of rheumatoid tissue.
• Pantothenic acid may be helpful, as deficiencies of this nutrient be directly related to symptoms.
• Copper has anti-inflammatory action.
• Iron may be helpful, as an iron deficiency may be involved. (Supplementation is controversial. Food is the best source.)
• Manganese may have therapeutic benefits.
• Selenium may be helpful, as a deficiency may be involved.
• Sulphur may be helpful, as a deficiency may be involved.
• Zinc may be helpful, as a deficiency may be involved.
• Bromelain has anti-inflammatory properties.
• Omega-3 fatty acids have therapeutic benefits.
• Superoxide dismutase has anti-inflammatory properties.
BENEFICIAL JUICES
• Parsley, broccoli and spinach—sources of Vitamin C.
• Spinach, carrot and tomato—sources of Vitamin E.
• Broccoli, lettuce and cabbage—sources of Vitamin K.
• Broccoli and kale—sources of pantothenic acid.
• Carrot, ginger root and apple—sources of copper.
• Parsley, beet greens and broccoli—sources of iron.
• Spinach, beet greens, carrot, turnip, orange and sources of manganese.
• Ginger root, parsley and carrot—sources of selenium.
• Cabbage and kale—sources of sulphur.
• Ginger root, parsley, garlic and carrot—sources of zinc.
• Pineapple—the only source of bromelain.
• Dark green vegetables—sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
SUGGESTED JUICE RECIPES
Spinach-Carrot Special
Small handful of spinach Bunch up spinach and push
4-5 carrots, greens removed through hopper with carrots
½ apple, seed and apple.
Garden Salad Special
Three broccoli flowerets Push broccoli and garlic
One garlic clove through the hopper with carrots
4-5 carrots or two tomatoes or tomatoes. Follow with
Two stalks of celery and green pepper. Bromelain green pepper
Ginger-Carrot Special
1/4-inch slice of ginger root Push ginger through a hopper
4-5 carrots, greens removed with carrots and apple. ¼ apple seeded
Pineapple Special
1/4 pineapple, with skin Push pineapple through
½ apple, seeded hopper with apple and ginger.
1/4-inch slice of ginger root
Ginger-Berry Special
1-quart blueberries Push blueberries through
One medium bunch grapes hopper, followed by grapes
Winch slice ginger root and ginger. Pour juice into
Sparkling water ice field glass. Fill the glass to the top with sparkling water.
Potassium Broth
Handful parsley Bunch up parsley and
Handful spinach leaves, and push
4-5 carrots, greens removed through the hopper with carrots, two stalks celery and celery.
Cleansing Cocktail
1/4-inch slice of ginger root Push ginger, beet and apple
One beet through the hopper with carrots.
¼ apple, seeded
Four carrots, greens removed
BACKACHE
Backache is a common syndrome characterized by muscle pain and tenderness or the muscle’s attachments to other regions, such as the sacroiliac. Back pain is a signal that something is wrong in the body. It can be caused by infection, vertebral column disorders, or several other conditions, including stress. Back pain is a sign to take action and seek professional medical advice. You can do some things in addition to helping the healing process.
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
From a psychological standpoint, much can be done to help control back pain. For example, focusing, relaxation methods and bio feed back can be beneficial. In addition, physical therapy, massage and acupuncture have provided therapeutic benefits. Diet may not influence how one perceives back pain much, but it can be essential in healing. An exception would be specific herbal remedies used throughout history in treating pain, such as red pepper, clove oil, German chamomile, and wintergreen oil. Traditionally, chestnuts also have been used to relieve backache.
DIETARY MODIFICATIONS
• Reduce your consumption of animal fats. By decreasing your consumption of these fats, you will decrease your arachidonic acid intake, which contributes to the inflammatory process.
• Eat more fatty cold-water fish, such as mackerel, herring,
and salmon. These fish contain a substance that has anti-inflammatory properties.
• Avoid instant coffee. A study has shown that instant coffee
blocks specific receptor sites in the brain that naturally help
the body control pain.
The body is more susceptible to pain when these receptor sites are blocked.
• Follow one of the cleansing diets. Many people have
experienced pain relief and healing from injuries during and
after a cleansing diet.
NUTRIENTS THAT HELP
• Vitamin K has shown promising pain management results in studies not yet published.
• Copper deficiency can contribute to pain perception.
• D-phenylalanine, an amino acid, may effectively ease chronic
pain even when medications offer no relief. Speak to your
doctor about supplementation.
BENEFICIAL JUICES
• Turnip greens, broccoli, lettuce, cabbage and spinach— sources of Vitamin K.
• Carrot, garlic, and ginger root—sources of copper.
SUGGESTED JUICE RECIPES
Vegetables-Apple Special
Two lettuce leaves Bunch up lettuce leaves and
One small wedge of cabbage push through the hopper with
4-5 carrots, greens remove cabbage, carrots, broccoli,
Three broccoli flowerets and apples.
½ apple, seeded
Ginger-Carrot Special
¼ inch slice of ginger root Push ginger through a hopper
4-5 carrots, greens removed with carrots and apple.
½ apple, seeded
Ginger-Apple Special
1/4-inch slice of ginger root Push ginger through a hopper
One apple, seeded with apple. Pour juice into
Sparkling water ice-filled glass. Fill glass to
top with sparkling water.
Potassium Special
Handful parsley Bunch up parsley and
Handful spinach leaves, and push
4-5 carrots, greens removed through hopper with carrots
Two stalks, celery and celery.
Digestive Special
Handful spinach Bunch up spinach and push
4-5 carrots, greens removed through hopper with carrots.