Almost anyone can be affected by arthritis. Approximately 350 million people suffer from the condition worldwide. More than half of those with arthritis are under the age of 65 and nearly 60 percent are women.

Arthritis is the most common cause of disability in North America. More than 20 million individuals with arthritis have severe limitations in function on a daily basis. Absenteeism from work and school and frequent visits to the physician are common in individuals who have arthritis. Arthritis makes it very difficult for individuals to be physically active and many become home bound.

It is estimated that the total annual cost of arthritis cases is close to $100 billion of which nearly 50% is from lost earnings. Each year, arthritis results in nearly 1 million hospitalizations and close to 45 million outpatient visits to health care centers.

Arthritis can make it very difficult for the individual to remain physically active, contributing to an increased risk of obesity, high cholesterol or vulnerability to heart disease. Individuals with arthritis are also at increased risk of depression, which may be related to fear of worsening symptoms.

Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints. A joint is a place at which bones meet. The muscles surrounding a joint make the bones move by contracting and relaxing. The muscle is joined to the bone by a fibrous cord known as a tendon.

The ends of most bones have a layer of cartilage covering them. The cartilage is smooth and slippery and forms a cushion that absorbs shock and also prevents bones from rubbing against each other.

The joint itself is surrounded by a membrane called the synovium or synovial membrane. This membrane produces a thick fluid called synovial fluid that protects and lubricates the joint. The synovium is enclosed by the capsule which holds the joint together with its fibrous bands called ligaments.

There are more than 100 forms of arthritis. The two most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It can affect both the larger and the smaller joints of the body, including the hands, feet, back, spine, hip or knee. The joints most affected are the weight-bearing joints. Risk factors for osteoarthritis include: prior joint trauma or injury, obesity, inadequate nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle.

A healthy joint has a lining of smooth cartilage and is lubricated by synovial fluid. Osteoarthritis occurs when there is a breakdown of the protective cushion of cartilage which surrounds the ends of the bones in a joint. The cartilage becomes flaky and rough, and small pieces break off to form loose bodies in the synovial fluid. This causes inflammation and irritation of the synovial membrane. The loss of cartilage also leaves bones unprotected and vulnerable to damage. The bone then becomes misshapen, and produces spurs that causes sharp point in the bone. The end result of the loss of cartilage is that the two bones that form a joint begin to rub on each other. The capsule and ligaments also thicken slowly to try to stabilise the joint as it changes shape.

Overall, arthritis is a disease of inflammation. It can be caused by several different factors. These include: poor nutrition, heredity (it’s in your genes), by injury, wear and tear to the joints during one’s lifetime. Obesity puts excess pressure on the joints. However, in obesity, arthritis affects also non-weight-bearing joints, suggesting that fat-tissue produces chemicals and proteins that led to arthritis. A sedentary lifestyle also contributes to the development of arthritis. The synovial fluid that the joints produce to keep them lubricated is increased when we exercise.

What does not cause arthritis? Many people associate arthritis with aging. They assume that aches and pains occur when we get older, however, we do not develop arthritis as part of the natural aging process. It is actually a disease formed by what we do to our body through years of self-abuse. It is formed gradually over our entire lifespan.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disorder in which the body’s own immune system starts to attack the tissues in a person’s body. The attack is not only directed at the joint but to many other parts of the body. In rheumatoid arthritis, most damage occurs to the joint lining and cartilage which eventually results in erosion of the two opposing bones. Rheumatoid arthritis often affects joints in the fingers, wrists, knees and elbows. The disease is symmetrical (appears on both sides of the body) and can lead to severe deformity in a few years if not treated. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs mostly in people aged 20 and above. Often, it is not clear why the rheumatoid arthritis occurred, however nutrition tends to play a role in its formation.

Regardless of the type of arthritis, the common symptoms for all arthritis disorders include varied levels of joint and muscle pain, swelling, enlarged bones in the joints, joint stiffness and loss of flexibility, and sometimes a constant ache around the joint(s), poor sleep, and fatigue. These symptoms are a result of the inflammation and the damage which has occurred in the joint.  Initially arthritis starts with minor pain while walking or using certain joints, but soon the pain can be continuous and even occur at night, affecting one’s sleep. Secondary symptoms because of lack of physical activity due to pain result in muscle weakness and decreased physical fitness. These changes also impact one’s ability to enjoy life.

The medical community has determined that there is no cure for arthritis. The disease can only be managed by treatment, in order to prevent further damage, and to decrease pain and inflammation. Conventional treatments which people use are medications such as pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs, many with side effects that cause other problems. Surgery to replace damaged joints is also common nowadays. These treatments only focus on managing the symptoms of arthritis. They do not address the actual causes of arthritis.

Because arthritis is a disease of inflammation, preventing inflammation will decrease the risk of arthritis, and can also treat arthritis once it occurs. There are several causes of inflammation in our body. Free radicals, which are a product of environmental toxins and also natural processes of the body, cause inflammation. Break-down of cartilage produces inflammation. Also, inflammation of the synovial fluid causes damage to joints.

Arthritis can be prevented with lifestyle changes that should occur at an early age and continue throughout one’s lifetime. Even after arthritis develops, further damage can be prevented with lifestyle changes. Joints become inflamed when they are stressed.

To decrease the stress in your joints you need to have regular exercise to strengthen and improve the flexion of joints. Try to get at least 30 minutes of activity daily.  Exercise also builds your muscles and your muscles support your joints.  Weak muscles don’t offer the support your joints need but strong muscles will keep them healthy. A sedentary lifestyle makes for weak muscles and increases the odds of developing arthritis. People with arthritis benefit from physical therapy to strengthen muscles and joints. Stretching exercises and swimming are two of the best ways to keep your joints happy and stress-free and your muscles in top working condition.

Stress is also caused by abusing your joints by overusing them. When home, at work, or at play, pay closer attention to what you put your joints through.  Find ways to lessen lifting and carrying activities.  Avoid things that put excess stress on your hips and knees. If your job calls for you to make repetitive motions on a consistent basis, make it a point to find ways to take some of the pressure off of your joints.

We need to maintain an ideal weight, and avoid becoming obese. Weight loss will also reduce stress on joints. Drink plenty of water to hydrate your joints and to flush toxins from your body. Certain herbs and supplements can also prevent arthritis.

And finally, we need to ensure proper nutrition. The foods that we eat can increase inflammation in our body. Therefore, to prevent inflammation, we need to avoid foods that cause inflammation, and eat foods that decrease inflammation.

Despite agencies such as the Arthritis Society, which claim that nutrition does not play a role in arthritis, hundreds of scientific studies prove otherwise. Another agency, the Arthritis Foundation boldly declares in their literature that there is no special diet for arthritis and that food has nothing to do with causing it. However, studies prove that changes in diet have been proven to improve symptoms, and minimize and even prevent flare-ups of arthritis. Complete recoveries from arthritis have even been reported.

Certain foods increase our risk for arthritis. This includes foods high in saturated fats and trans-fats, which cause plaque build-up in our arteries. Plaque decreases the blood flow in our vessels, which decreases the oxygen in our body. This results in decreased oxygen to our joints. Our joints have a sensitive blood supply, easily susceptible to blood vessel disease and impaired circulation. Reduced oxygenation of the joints interferes with the normal repair of bone that is ongoing throughout life. When the bone tissue is unable to repair itself properly (in an environment of inadequate nutrition) it develops tiny structural imperfections, which set the stage for joint degeneration and pain as we get older. The joint cartilage and articulating bone receive their nourishment and oxygen from both joint capsule fluid and small blood vessels. This delicate supply of blood can be easily impaired by smoking or a diet rich in saturated fat and deficient in micronutrients. Avoiding these foods can also prevent weight gain and obesity.

Foods from animal products including meat and dairy, which are high in saturated fats can cause inflammation. Because animal proteins closely resemble proteins in the human body, our body’s immune system response to these proteins can also attack our own tissues. These animal proteins create an inflammatory environment and, hence, immune dysfunction. Plant proteins are less likely to cause this reaction because they bear little resemblance to human proteins.

Trans fats—found in some baked goods, fast-food items, processed snack foods, and most stick margarines—are thought to be at least as damaging (and maybe even worse) as saturated fats in terms of inflammation.

Refined carbohydrates are found in anything baked with white flour, such as white bread, rolls, crackers, and most baked goods—as well as white rice and processed cereals. They are all made by milling whole grains and removing the bran and germ—the two parts of the grain that contain the most nutrients. Refined carbohydrates produce a state of inflammation in the body, which makes arthritis worse. Switch to much healthier whole-grain options.

Simple sugars—found in foods like cookies, fruit juice, soft drinks, and candy—are also refined carbohydrates; they send your blood-sugar levels soaring and set off an inflammatory response in the body, making arthritis and its symptoms worse.

Certain foods decrease our risk of developing arthritis. Micronutrients such as Vitamin C, D, and E. Olive oil is a healthy fat; it also is high in the anti-oxidants known as polyphenols. Anti-oxidants prevent the build-up of free radicals in our body, which cause inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids, in foods such as flaxseeds, actually work to decrease inflammation by suppressing the production of enzymes that erode cartilage. Foods high in beta carotene (vitamin A) have an antioxidant effect on cells, also neutralizing free radicals. Foods high in carotene include orange fruits and vegetables. Vitamin C is responsible for the health of collagen, which is a building-block for cartilage. Calcium is the main component of bone. Many people are calcium deficient, which leads to bones that break down more readily. This is a clear link to our diet as a cause of arthritis. Vitamin D is vital because it assists our body to absorb calcium. Vitamin E protects against muscle-wasting and helps the body to remove toxins that cause inflammation. Vitamin E, like the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used for arthritis, inhibits the chemicals that play a role in pain. Arthritis sufferers report less pain when consuming foods high in Vitamin E.

Many of the phytochemicals contained in fruits and vegetables are also powerful antioxidants. Phytochemicals are linked to the colour of the food. To ensure a good variety of phytochemicals, ensure a variety of different colours of fruits and vegetables in your diet.

Low levels of the mineral selenium are related to osteoarthritis severity. People who ate very few selenium-rich foods were nearly twice as likely to have severe arthritis compared with those who ate a selenium-rich diet.  One Brazil nut a day will provide you with an adequate amount of selenium.

There are studies that show that a vegan diet may reduce arthritis symptoms.  Vegans have diets that contain less saturated fats, and have more of a variety of whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Osteoarthritis is a disease that can be prevented and helped via nutritional excellence. It is never too early to protect yourself with nutritional excellence. The same dietary indiscretions that allow both our brain and heart to age prematurely and that allow our blood pressure to rise with age, lead to the deterioration of our joints.

However we may take care of our joint throughout our lifetime, it is still possible to develop arthritis. Natural, non-drug treatments are available to for pain control, to decrease inflammation and to rid the body of toxins.

If you suffer from arthritis, natural treatments can assist in pain control. These include: heat therapy and Epsom salts. Heat therapy soothes and relaxes over-worked muscles and joints.

Herbal teas such as mint, wild yam, yarrow, yucca are also effective. Poultices of cayenne pepper, rosemary, chamomile, thyme, horseradish, fenugreek and mustard, placed on the arthritic joints will decrease pain. Arnica cream is also beneficial. Supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM improve the health of joints.

Inflammation can be treated in several ways. Herbs such as chamomile, elderberry, feverfew, golden seal, nettle, yarrow, alfalfa, and black cohosh are good anti-inflammatory treatments. Certain herbs can flush toxins from the body. These include dandelion, parsley, horsetail, goldenrod, and burdock. Juices from lemon and pineapple also decrease inflammation.

We do not need to suffer from arthritis; prevention is possible. Good health habits and proper nutrition will ensure that our joints will remain healthy, well into our old age.