In recent decades this has become a far more common complaint and long-term drug treatment can be associated with some undesirable side effects. Interestingly, its features are absent in skeletons dating from before the 17th century, suggesting that this is a relatively modern disorder, and one can look towards modern lifestyle and dietary habits as contributing factors.
The great early twentieth century food reformer, Dr Bircher-Benner, identified both rheumatoid and osteo-arthritis with accumulation in the body of acidic residues from high and inappropriate protein metabolism, and demonstrated the curative effect of protein reduction. Dr Hare confirmed this at the Royal Free Hospital in 1937 (Proc. Roy. Soc. Medicine), but only in the American medical literature has this approach received regular attention more recently. Modern problems of chemical food additives and pollution appear to complicate the picture, but not to alter it fundamentally.
Before you start, you may wish to consider our Detox Formula which will cleanse your body and aide your gut's ability to absorb the nutrients within the Rheumatoid Arthritis program. It will also help replenish the intestinal tract with healthy flora and enhance your overall health and wellbeing.
Dietary Recommendations
Positive Foods
Cereal grains oats.
Vegetables celery (including leaves), garlic (in moderation), lettuce, turnips, green leaf cabbage, broccoli, fennel.
Fruits freshly squeezed & diluted lemon juice, ripe pineapple (including stem), grapes (including pips), pears, apples, raisins, dates.
Legumes alfalfa.
Teas, Herbs & Spices ginger, green tea, sarsaparilla, turmeric, feverfew, milk thistle.
Nuts & Seeds celery seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds (no more than 12 a day).
Fungi Reishi & Karawatake mushrooms.
Fish oily fish (except mackerel), deep-sea white fish (not grilled or fried).
Dairy three to four modest portions of organic live yoghurt per week.
Negative Foods
Refined carbohydrates, hydrogenated fats, battery chicken & hens’ eggs, white sugar (sucrose), excess garlic, artificial sweeteners, sulphates (preservative), tartrazine.
Avoid salt, coffee, tea, cocoa, cola and alcohol.
Reduce intake of proteins from red meat, especially liver; also dairy products (especially cheese).
Prawns
Cigarette tobacco.
Additional Help & Support
Homeopathy is very valuable, and an appropriately experienced herbal practitioner is worth consulting. A naturopath could give helpful guidance with a suitable process of dietary cleansing. Massage has also been found to be most helpful.
Scientific evidence supports supplementation with a range of minerals and vitamins, though in some cases confirmation is required. Thyroid function should be fully efficient or the prospects for improvement will be weakened.
Additional Comment
It is important that attention is paid to the balance between acid-forming and alkali-forming foods. The optimum balance is around 60% alkali-forming to acid-forming. See Acid Forming and Alkali Forming guidelines.
Replace red meats with fish, chicken and vegetable proteins from beans and pulses.
Replace cow’s milk with goat’s milk if desired, or with another ’milk replacement drink’.
High levels of stress can be a contributing factor to rheumatoid arthritis.
