Chaga Mushroom For Arthritis
by chaga888
Arthritis is a joint disease where inflammation of several joints occurs. There are many types of arthritis to mention. The most common is osteoarthritis which is a result of old age or infection and sometimes the trauma of a joint. Other forms of arthritis would be psoriatic arthritis, septic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
There are many causes of arthritis which depend mostly of its type and where it is located. The major symptom of it would be muscle pain or joint pain. This pain is caused by inflammation of the joint which is caused by fatigue, muscle strain, damage, and forceful movements of a joint.
There are several diagnosis and treatments for each type of arthritis. However, there is no known cure for osteoarthritis yet. Most treatments would definitely include physical and occupational therapy, and probably a change in lifestyle such as a certain diet, weight loss and more exercise. If the damage to the joint is too severe, you may need to go under joint replacement surgery.
For medication, you will most likely have to consult a doctor. Arthritis in each person may vary and will most likely differ in prescribed drugs and supplements. Medications will begin with drugs that will have lesser side effects to your body depending on the damage of the joints.
Medicinal Mushrooms For Arthritis And Vitamin D
Saga Magazine reminds us of something important. People with arthritis are often found to be low in vitamin D, which is needed to regulate bone-building calcium. We get most of our vitamin D from sunlight but along with oily fish and egg yolks, sun-exposed mushrooms are among the best dietary sources.
We have written about mushrooms and vitamin D before. In fact, weve long shared our recommendation for drying mushrooms out in sunlight with the gills facing up.
For people who are low in vitamin D and thus susceptible to arthritis, increasing the amount of sun-dried mushrooms in your diet may prove helpful.
Are Mushrooms Good For You
The short answer to the question, are mushrooms good for you, is yes. Dr Naomi Beinert revealed to woman& home the 5 health benefits of mushrooms…
1. Mushrooms support your natural defenses
Bored of missing out on nights out due to too many colds? Mushrooms could be your answer. Theyre high in beta glucans natural substances, which have been found to help prime our immune system, making sure its ready for action to fight off bugs and germs. Certain types of mushroom such as reishi, shiitake and maitake are especially rich in the most powerful beta glucans. So, getting a daily dose of these mushrooms could be beneficial at times when we need extra support, such as over the cold season.
2. Mushrooms boost energy and help you cope with stress
Certain mushrooms are traditionally used as a mood tonic or adaptogen. Adaptogens are natural substances said to help the body adapt to stress and protect against some of its negative effects, such as fatigue and poor sleep. The bonus: more energy! Maitake and reishi are among the mushrooms said to have adaptogenic qualities. We love this vegan-friendly Mushroom Plus complex , which contains 4 different adaptogenic mushrooms.
3. Mushrooms keep blood sugar in check
4. Mushrooms help you look young!
5. Mushrooms can ease your joints
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Herbs Supported By Research For Rheumatoid Arthritis
Genetics, hormones, and environmental factors can potentially lead up to RAand sometimes the only options sufferers have are synthetic NSAIDs, steroids, or even pharmaceutical drugs with unwanted side effects.
But thats not to say there arent natural methods to strengthen health while dealing with the issue.On top of altering ones diet to avoid gluten and other inflammatory foods, certain herbal remedies have been shown by science to be supportive of the immune system and various symptoms.
No natural remedy or herb can fully treat or cure rheumatoid arthritis. But then again, no mainstream medicinepill, surgery, procedure, or otherwisecan completely cure rheumatoid arthritis either.
Thats not to say there arent any ways to help manage the symptoms or pain or to even support the body at an autoimmune level. And while mainstream medicine has its own ways to help manage RA symptoms, there are natural options toosome of them even taking RA support a step beyond the norm.
Reclaim: Five Foods To Help Manage Gout
Gout is a form of arthritis that is caused by chronically elevated levels of uric acid in the diet. The uric acid eventually forms crystals, which can be deposited in different joints. As those who suffer from gout know, severe attacks can be debilitating. Fortunately, this condition is very treatable with a doctors care and a healthy diet. We know what not to eat when battling gout, but there are also things we should be eating to help alleviate the discomfort. Along with a generally healthy lifestyle, here are five foods to help manage gout.
Vegetables.
A healthy diet full of vegetables is great for everyone, but for those who suffer from gout it is essential. Research now shows that even vegetables high in purines do not increase chances of gout, so even mushrooms, spinach and asparagus are safe.
Fruits.
It is best to avoid foods with added sugars if you suffer from gout. Fool your sweet tooth and eat strawberries and kiwi in place of cakes and cookies. Cherries are especially beneficial studies show that people who eat cherries or consume cherry juice experience fewer gout attacks. Be sure to eat lots of fruits that are rich in vitamin C as it helps the kidneys remove uric acid from your system.
Dairy products.
A diet thats full of low-fat dairy products may help improve uric acid excretion. According to studies, gout sufferers whose diet included a serving or more of low-fat milk or yogurt per day had less uric acid in their blood.
Water.
Coffee.
What to avoid.
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What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is just one of many illnesses that result from a confused and dysfunctional immune system.
Due to any number of factors that cannot always be determined with each case, the immune system begins to view cells within the human body as enemies or foreign invaders. Out of confusion, the body itself begins creating antibodies against certain tissues to destroy them.
The result: pain, inflammation, flare-ups, and most certainly a diminished quality of life. This is what makes rheumatoid arthritis an autoimmune disorder: auto means self, meaning that it is an immune disorder that causes the body to attack itself.
With rheumatoid arthritis specifically, the body creates antibodies that start attacking various joint tissuesparticularly the synovial membranes and fluid in these joints. The result is pain and inflammation in one or more joints around the body.
Common joints where one can get rheumatoid arthritis include the wrists, hands, feet, and lower spine. Its not uncommon to also experience this kind of arthritis in ones knees or shoulder.
The result: sufferers of RA deal with momentary encounters with limited mobility with that particular joint, often called flare-ups, accompanied by intervals of little pain and discomfort. Still, it can be hard to predict when flare-ups will occur and limit ones quality of life.
What Causes Autoimmune Diseases
Theres no definitive answer as to what causes autoimmune disease. But many scientists suspect the following three things play a role:
- Genetics
- Infections
- And environmental factors including diet, toxins, and the balance of intestinal bacteria
In recent history, Westernized countries have seen significantly higher rates of these diseases suggesting that autoimmune diseases are not just a product of genetics or bad luck. Instead, the choices we make may strongly influence our chances of getting an autoimmune disease.
Lifestyle changes, particularly food choices, can play a key role in managing or even reversing many of these autoimmune diseases.
No established cures for autoimmune diseases exist.
But numerous studies have demonstrated that lifestyle changes, particularly food choices, can play a key role in managing or even reversing many of these autoimmune diseases.
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Advanced Glycation End Products
AGEs are inflammatory compounds that can accumulate in tissues, particularly as someone ages. An article in Patient Education explains that people with diseases such as diabetes and RA often have increased AGE levels. So, reducing AGE levels may help reduce inflammation.
Fat and sugar both increase AGE levels in the body. Some food processing methods and high temperature cooking also increase the AGE levels in food.
Effects Of Poisonous Mushrooms
The three main effects of poisonous mushrooms are:
- Hallucinations some mushroom species contain toxins that cause hallucinations. These psychotropic types are commonly referred to as magic mushrooms. One of the better known species is the golden top . Apart from hallucinations, other effects include confusion, muscle weakness, agitation, rapid heart rate and headache. The golden top looks very similar to some varieties of Galerina mushroom, which are potentially deadly
- Gastrointestinal illness many poisonous mushrooms cause gastrointestinal illness, such as nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhoea
- Liver failure and death about 9 out of 10 fungi-related deaths are attributable to the death cap mushroom . Symptoms occur 6 to 24 hours after eating and include nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea. The toxin can fatally harm the liver and kidneys, and death can occur within 48 hours. Other mushrooms that have a similar effect to the death cap include some species of Galerina, Lepiota and Conocybe.
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The Magic Of Medicinal Mushrooms
Does the thought of medicinal mushrooms scare you off? Take a deep breath and stay with us. Yes, were going to tell you to put mushrooms in your coffee . But theres good reason for this, we swear.
Medicinal mushrooms have been used in Eastern medicine for thousands of years and have gained even more popularity as of late. Destined to be taken as powders , you can find these fungi in all different forms, including ultra-trendy Los Angeles lattes. One of the easiest ways to get your mushroom fix, though? Simply add a spoonful to whatevers on the menu be it your morning smoothie, veggie stir-fry, or cup of java.
The list of health benefits medicinal mushrooms provide is lengthy . But each mushroom is unique and provides its own distinct health advantages.
Note that these shrooms arent a cure-all. In fact, shroom studies are still new to Western medicine, and solid evidence for humans still needs far more research. So think of them more like sidekicks for your immune system or mini-vaccines against stress, inflammation, and cancer. If you want to get in tune with the power of mushrooms, lets get to know the top six and what makes them so great.
Other Benefits Of Immune System Boosting By Reishi
There isn’t room in a single article to go into the depth that Reishi’s multiple additional characteristics warrant. Look forward in the future to learning more details about at least these three areas in which Reishi’s reversal of immunosenescence plays a major role:
- Reishi is a promising candidate for management of allergic, asthmatic, and autoimmune disease symptoms, through its ability to suppress an inappropriately vigorous immune response.16,24,26,29-31,65-69
- Reishi promotes neuroprotection through a variety of mechanisms, including suppression of chronic inflammation and antioxidant functions.70-79
- Reishi extracts battle the epidemic of “diabesity,” the conjoined effects of excessive body fat and elevated glucose extracts lower blood sugar and limit excess fat storage while normalizing lipid profiles.80-89
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Mushrooms In A Gout Diet
Love meat but need to cut down on it cause you suffer from gout? Heres an idea! Replace meat with mushrooms! Yes mushrooms! Mushrooms are low in calories and help control your appetite. Mushrooms are a great food to help control your weight which is an important benefit to the gout sufferer. To date there is no evidence that fruits, vegetables or mushrooms cause gout or make your gout worse. Anybody that tells you otherwise, you should watch out for. They dont have your best interests at heart or simply are dazed and confused.
Did you know that of the 140,000 species of mushrooms, science is only familiar with only 10%? Although mushrooms are meaty, chewy and juicy they cant really replace meat cause a 3 ounce serving has just 3 grams of protein compared to 20 grams of protein that can be had with a 3 ounce serving of chicken or beef. Portobello mushrooms are known as the vegetarians steak after all but it wont fill you for too long.
Mushrooms carry beta-glucans which is a type of carbohydrate found in mushrooms and is a strong anti-inflammatory that may help protect you from gout. They are a great source of vitamins B, selenium, copper, phosphorous, potassium, zinc, manganese, riboflavin, niacin, ergothioneine which is a powerful antioxidant and many other vitamins and minerals.
At the end of the day, mushrooms should be included in your gout diet and enjoy a mushroom burger from time to time. Skip the meat!
Protect Your Children From Mushroom Poisoning
Many varieties of poisonous mushroom grow wild in Victoria. Most young children who eat poisonous mushrooms find them in the garden at home. Children younger than 5 years of age have a natural inclination to put things in their mouths. If you have a toddler, regularly check your garden for mushrooms and remove them to reduce the risk of accidental poisoning.
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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
Add Some Spice To Your Life
Certain spices are particularly beneficial when it comes to minimizing inflammation and boosting your bodys healthy immune response.
Super-flavorful options include ginger, cayenne pepper, cloves, garlic, cinnamon, and turmeric.
Turmeric, in particular, is a powerful anti-inflammatory.
A 2007 study in Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology noted that curcumin has been shown to help with multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
According to the Journal of Alternative Medicine Review: Curcumin supplementation can result in up to a 60% reduction in pain and a 73% reduction in joint stiffness.
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Are There Any Risk Factors For This Supplement
Studies are limited for this supplement and therefore information regarding risk factors is also limited. Risk factors depend on the type of mushroom used, but in general, do not use medicinal mushrooms in pets that are allergic to mushrooms. Medicinal mushrooms should be used cautiously in pets with bleeding disorders, low blood pressure, liver or kidney disease, or immune-mediated disorders. They should be used cautiously in pregnant or nursing pets, as safety has not been established. Do not use medicinal mushrooms without veterinary monitoring, as prolonged use or high doses may cause harm.
Eat Right For Your Type Of Arthritis
Learn about diets that may help ease pain and inflammation and slow disease activity.
When you have arthritis or a related condition, getting the right nutrients may help alleviate pain and inflammation and improve your overall health.
Although there is no magic potion at the supermarket, studies have shown that certain foods have anti-inflammatory properties and specific benefits for autoimmune, inflammatory forms of arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis , as well as gout, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. An anti-inflammatory diet may slow disease activity and reduce symptoms.
Autoimmune, Inflammatory Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis has been the focus of most studies about nutrition and autoimmune, inflammatory forms of arthritis. Many have found a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and phytochemicals that supply the body with anti-inflammatory nutrients helps ease RA symptoms.
Studies also have shown that extra virgin olive oil is beneficial for rheumatoid arthritis. Investigators found that oleocanthal, a compound in olive oil, helped control chronic inflammation and inflammatory processes and helped reduce joint cartilage damage. Earlier studies found that, similar to ibuprofen, oleocanthal prevents the production of pro-inflammatory COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes.
Osteoarthritis
At least one other study found that those who ate more dietary fiber were less likely to have knee OA symptoms.
Gout
Osteoporosis
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What Exactly Is Arthritis
Arthritis, or joint inflammation, describes swelling and tenderness of one or more of the joints. Its main symptoms include joint pain, swelling and stiffness. Arthritis is a general term for a group of over 100 diseases causing inflammation and swelling in and around the joints.
Joint inflammation is a natural response of the body to a disease or injury, but becomes arthritis when the inflammation persists in the absence of joint injury or infection. Arthritis usually worsens with age and may even lead to a loss of joint movement.
There are different types of arthritis such as:
- Warm skin over the joints
- Redness of the skin over the joints
- Reduced range of movement.