Ra Risk 4 Times Greater In Non
In the study, which was published online in the journal Rheumatology, 873 people with rheumatoid arthritis and 1,004 people without the disease were asked to recall their alcohol consumption during the previous month.
Participants were also given X-rays and blood tests to measure inflammation and other markers of joint damage and disease progression.
The researchers found that non-drinkers were roughly four times as likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis as people who drank alcohol more than 10 days a month. This was true for both men and women.
Patients who drank alcohol more than 10 times a month also had fewer and less severe symptoms than non-drinkers or people who drank less frequently. They also showed less damage to joints on X-rays, and blood tests showed lower levels of inflammation.
One limitation of the study, however, was that the researchers did not know how much alcohol people actually drank when they imbibed. In addition, the patients in the study tended to be older than the non-patients, which could affect the results.
Maxwell says alcohol may lessen the severity of arthritis symptoms by reducing inflammation or by acting as an analgesic.
He says a study that more directly measures alcohol consumption and follows patients over time could help clarify the role of alcohol, if any, in reducing pain and other symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
âThis finding hasnât been shown before, but I would urge caution,â he says. âMore study is definitely needed.â
Arthritis And Dehydration: Cause And Effect
Science often fails to look at the causes of diseases. So many are blamed on genes or given the “unknown ideology” label. According to Dr. Batmanghelidj, many of these unknown cause diseases are the result of a lack of proper hydration. This is even more obvious in the case of arthritis since there is no direct circulation in the cartilage. How else can it get there other than consuming the proper amount of fluid and electrolytes.
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The Great Salt DebateHere is the Science
We are not promoting increased salt intake. We are suggesting taking salt in amounts appropriate to your bodies needs, based on water needs. Our needs are not one size fits all.
Note: Do you have CHF or Kidney Disease? Then….. THIS IS NOT FOR YOU.
Does Salt Raise Blood Pressure?
Water For Arthritis Relief
There is no such thing as a magical elixir to drink to keep us healthy. But if there was, it would be water. Hydration is vital for flushing toxins out of your body, reducing inflammation, soothing damaged joints, regenerating damaged cells, and providing relief from pain. Adequate hydration levels can help keep your joints well lubricated and offer additional protection against damage. Unless you have an underlying condition that makes it necessary, most experts agree fancy waters with added minerals and electrolytes are a waste of money.
To learn more, give our pain management clinic a call and let our team of pain relief experts help you find the arthritis relief you need!
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Best Grains For Arthritis
Making smarter choices in the bread and pasta aisles might reduce inflammation.
Choosing which type of pasta to cook for dinner or what bread or cereal to have with breakfast doesnt seem like a big decision, until you consider the effect certain grains can have on your body. Eating the wrong types can aggravate inflammation, potentially making your joints hurt more than they already do.
Pro-Inflammatory Grains
When contemplating your options in the bread, cereal and pasta aisles, youll want to avoid refined grains. Not only are these highly processed grains limited in nutrition, but they can also worsen inflammation throughout the body.
Grains are made up of three parts: The bran is the outer skin of the grain kernel, the germ is the innermost part that grows into a new plant, and the endosperm is the center part that provides food for the plant. Whole grains contain all three parts. Refined grains have removed the bran and germ, where most of the vitamins, minerals and protein are centered.
Examples of food made with refined grains are white bread, white rice, cookies and cakes. Because of their simple structure, these carbs break down in the body rapidly. The body turns them into sugar more quickly and sugar is highly inflammatory, says Barbara Olendzki, nutrition program director of the Center for Applied Nutrition at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester.
Should You Avoid All Grains?
Better Grain Choices
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How Water Impacts Your Health

When there are proper levels of fluid in the body, then the natural systems can work to deliver nutrients to the cells. Additionally, hydration is important for protecting vital organs and tissues throughout the body. Good hydration affects blood volume and circulation, which can help to reduce recovery times.
Since the body is constantly using fluid resources, it means that your internal supply is always being depleted. So, it is important to drink water throughout the day to stay ahead of your hydration needs.
Also, keep in mind that dehydration increases the risk of chronic inflammation. Water is essential for flushing out the waste, which keeps your body in optimal condition to fight off chronic health issues.
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How Can Water Reduce Joint Pain
Now that we have an understanding of how important water is in keeping the joints lubricated, it is worth examining how water can work to reduce specific types of joint pain, ranging from osteoarthritis to gout.
This is not to say that simply drinking more fluids will cause all your symptoms to diminish, but it will almost certainly help to improve the health of your joints and may work to lessen some of the pain you are feeling.
Drinking Water Is Good For Arthritis
We lose water throughout the day due to breathing, sweating, urinating and various other means. When we do not replace the fluids we have lost it cause the balance of fluids in our bodies to become unbalanced. Without sufficient water our bodies cannot function correctly, as every single cell in the human body depends on water.
Read Also: How To Deal With Arthritis
Can Drinking Water Help Joint Pain
Joint pain can be an extremely debilitating and distressing experience, punctuated by pain, discomfort and restricted mobility. Whether you have been suffering from an autoimmune condition like rheumatoid arthritis or have sustained an injury, the chances are that youve been prescribed a variety of pain medications from your doctor, which may or may not be relieving your symptoms.
However, you might also be overlooking a simple but essential factor in the management of joint pain – water.
Most of us are probably aware of the overall benefits of drinking water it can prevent kidney infections, it keeps our skin cells strong, it supports our immune system and generally keeps things ticking over. On average, we should be drinking about 8-10 glasses of plain water a day, depending on our gender and lifestyle. What we’re perhaps not so knowledgeable about, however, is how water can directly impact our sensitivity to joint pain.
In order to understand this, we first have to understand the function of cartilage. The cartilage is a connective tissue that lines the surface of the joints and acts as a cushion between the bones, absorbing shock and easing friction. Cartilage is kept lubricated by a gel-like liquid known as synovial fluid, which is formed by glycosaminoglycan bonding with sulphur compounds.
Benefits Of Hydrogen Water
There are different ways to consume molecular hydrogen. But drinking hydrogen-rich water the method used in this study offers some unique benefits. What makes this method unique?
First of all, drinking hydrogen-rich water prevents dehydration. Drinking water can also help cut consumption of unhealthy things, like sugary sodas and artificially flavored juice drinks.
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Can Water Temperature Affect Arthritis
Can washing your hands in different temperatures of water contribute to arthritis? I work for a catering company, and one of the ladies refuses to do dishes. We have three sinks of water, a wash, rinse, and sanitize. She says putting her hands in all three sinks is bad for arthritis. Do you know of any legitimate basis for this?
In actuality, moist heat and cold compresses have been used to alleviate pain of the hands and other joints in certain types of arthritis, mainly rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis . However, there are other rheumatic disorders that your coworker may be suffering from.
For people with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, moist heat in the form of warm compresses or paraffin dips can help reduce the pain when hand inflammation is mild to average. Paraffin is a waxy substance derived from petroleum. It melts when heated to about 120°F to 130°F. The hands are dipped several times so that a film of paraffin forms that keeps the temperature warm for about ten to 15 minutes. This modality is usually done at occupational-therapy centers, but home kits are also available. Care should be taken to avoid temperatures over 130°F, or burns may occur. An alternative is a microwavable gel pack or a heating pad wrapped in a towel. The heat treatment should be applied for ten to 15 minutes.
Care has to be taken with two other rheumatic problems that can involve the hands: Raynaud’s phenomenon and hand vasculitis.
How To Tell If You Have Knee Osteoarthritis
With the progression of osteoarthritis of the knee, there is obvious joint inflammation which causes frequent pain when walking, running, squatting, extending or kneeling. Along with joint stiffness after sitting for long or when waking up in the morning, there may be popping or snapping sounds when walking.
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Get The Facts On Alkaline Water
When you live with the pain of arthritis, youll try anything to feel better. So, your interest may be piqued by the marketing of a healthier water. Alkaline water is touted as providing health through hydration, but does it really help? Minerals in water determine its pH. Some contend that water treated to have a pH of 8 to 10 reduces the bodys acid load, which allegedly improves bone and immune system health, among other benefits.
These claims, though, dont square with the scientific evidence or basic biology. Drinking alkaline water doesnt affect blood pH, which the kidney, lungs and liver keep steady at a normal and healthy pH of 7.4. Experts break down some popular claims:
CLAIM: Alkaline water hydrates the body better. A 2016 trial found alkaline water consumers had lower blood viscosity compared with those who drank standard water.
FACTS: Blood viscosity isnt a well accepted measure for hydration. And in this study, body weight change and the concentration of dissolved particles in blood better-accepted measures as well as several other measures, revealed no differences, says registered dietitian Tanis Fenton, an epidemiologist at the University of Calgarys Cumming School of Medicine in Canada.
CLAIM: Alkaline water keeps the body from pulling calcium from bones to neutralize the acidic diet Americans eat, and this lowers osteoporosis risk.
CLAIM: Having less acid to clear gives the liver and kidneys more bandwidth to remove toxins from the body.
Measurements Of Urinary 8

The defined marker for oxidative stress, urinary 8-OHdG, which reflects 8-hydroxyguanine in DNA, was measured according to the procedure based on the ELISA method . The assay was performed at Mitsubishi Chemical Medience Inc. , using the test kit New 8-OHdG Check ELISA . ACPAs in the serum samples were assayed at SRL Inc. using the ELISA kit .
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Study: Alcohol Helps Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
But Expert Calls Findings ‘Weak Science’
Earlier research has shown that compared to teetotalers, alcohol drinkers are less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis, a progressive and often disabling inflammatory disease that attacks the joints.
But the study is the first to suggest drinking alcohol can lessen the severity of symptoms in people who already have the disease.
Patients in the study who drank at least 10 alcoholic beverages a month had 20% to 30% less pain and inflammation than patients who didnât drink alcohol, rheumatologist and study co-author James Maxwell of England’s University of Sheffield tells WebMD.
While he acknowledges more study is needed to confirm the association, Maxwell says the evidence is mounting that moderate alcohol consumption reduces both the risk and severity of rheumatoid arthritis.
âGenerally speaking, it appears that drinking alcohol in moderation may benefit patients with rheumatoid arthritis.â
Best Foods For Arthritis
Although there is no diet cure for arthritis, certain foods have been shown to fight inflammation, strengthen bones and boost the immune system. Adding these foods to your balanced diet may help ease the symptoms of your arthritis. Find out how.
Fuel Up on Fish
Because certain types of fish are packed with inflammation-fighting omega-3 fatty acids, experts recommend at least 3 to 4 ounces of fish, twice a week. Omega-3-rich fish include salmon, tuna, mackerel and herring.Great for: rheumatoid arthritis
Step Up to Soy
Not a fan of fish but still want the inflammation-busting benefits of omega-3 fatty acids? Try heart-healthy soybeans . Soybeans are also low in fat, high in protein and fiber and an all-around good-for-you food.Great for: rheumatoid arthritis
Opt for Oils
Extra virgin olive oil is loaded with heart-healthy fats, as well as oleocanthal, which has properties similar to non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs. But its not the only oil with health benefits. Avocado and safflower oils have shown cholesterol-lowering properties, while walnut oil has 10 times the omega-3s that olive oil has. Great for: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis
Check Out Cherries
Studies have shown cherries help reduce the frequency of gout attacks. Research has shown that the anthocyanins found in cherries have an anti-inflammatory effect. Anthocyanins can also be found in other red and purple fruits like strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries.Great for: gout
Go Green
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How To Use Baking Soda
How much baking soda you should use likely varies from person to person.
In her blog, Julie Hand, a certified holistic health and nutrition counselor, recommends starting with one-eighth of a teaspoon in a regular size glass of water and then build up to a fourth of a teaspoon.
She warns that if you feel short of breath or your heart starts racing, then youve overdone it.
People who are in danger of alkalosis wouldnt benefit from ingesting sodium bicarbonate or further alkalizing their bodys pH levels.
This potentially could be an inexpensive, safe, accessible, and effective way to treat conditions such as RA and other autoimmune diseases. You should always talk to your doctor before starting a regimen like this.
Its potentially a really safe way to treat inflammatory disease, OConnor said in a statement.
Thats not all it has been shown to do, either.
Baking soda has also been used to treat acid reflux. Its even been
Why Does This Story Matter
The rheumatic condition can lead to pain, swelling in joints, and stiffness.Arthritis pain can trigger due to a number of factors such as injury, infections, genes, and immune system dysfunction.Notably, the condition is more common in people aged over 65 years but can impact any age group.Here are a few tips to tackle it.
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Properties And Health Benefits
Lemon is a citrus fruit that’s rich in vitamin C and citric acid. Lemon water is simply water that contains at least a few drops of lemon juice. A standard-sized lemon yields about 3.5 tablespoons or 50 grams of lemon juice. A cup of lemon water containing the juice of a whole lemon provides around 20% of your recommended daily dose of vitamin C.
You can drink lemon water hot or cold, and some people choose to add mint or cucumber slices to their lemon water for a little extra nutrition and flavor.
Lemon water may help reduce some symptoms of arthritis when consumed alongside your normal medicine routine.
Vitamin C specifically helps arthritis in the following ways:
- Promoting collagen synthesis and tendon repair.
- Aids in maintaining the immune system. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition in which your immune system attacks healthy cells, which causes inflammation in your joints.
- It is an antioxidant that protects against free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can damage cells. These free radicals are thought to be involved in illnesses like arthritis.
Best Fruits For Arthritis
Pick these fruits for a bowlful of anti-inflammatory benefits.
Fruits are naturally sweet and many offer a substantial dose of antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Some have components that may help lower the inflammation that often affects people with arthritis and is linked to other serious conditions, such as heart disease and stroke.
The vast variety of fruits means you have lots of great options for a healthful boost. Many berries, for example, are loaded with antioxidants, such ascorbic acid and anthocyanins and carotenoids, which give soft berries their deep colors. These compounds help rid the body of free radicals that promote inflammation and they help prevent heart disease and certain cancers.
Whatever your favorite fruit, try to choose seasonal, locally grown produce, says Mitzi Dulan, a Kansas City-based dietician and team sports nutritionist for the Kansas City Royals. Although frozen fruits retain some of their nutrients, buy fresh for the best taste and highest concentration of beneficial compounds.
Studies, which often use the concentrated juice of Montmorency cherries, have found tart cherries may relieve joint pain in people with osteoarthritis and lower the risk of flares in those with gout. In addition, Dulan notes, recent studies suggest tart cherries may improve the quality and duration of sleep.
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- How Cherries Help Fight Arthritis
- Research Shows Apples Can Cut Cholesterol and Inflammation
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