The Diet For Arthritis
(according to Oriental wisdom)

Oriental medicine puts more emphasis on diet for arthritis than conventional medicine... even though it's seen often as an indirect cause.

If you look at the what causes arthritis page , you'll see that over-exposure to the elements (cold, damp, etc.) is the most important direct cause. But...

...a poor diet leaves you in a weakened state, more vulnerable to those factors, so it is a very important factor. And Oriental medicine does see strong connection between an acidic condition of you blood (acidosis) and arthritis. What that boils down to is this...

Eat a diet that:

• Avoids acid-causing foods
• Strengthens you in a way that leaves you less vulnerable to the "elements."

So, here's the diet for arthritis to help you do that...

Avoid known acid-causing foods, including:

• Meat
• Eggs
• Sugar
• Citrus fruits
• Alcohol
• Coffee

Chinese medicine also specifically sees a connection between "sour" tasting foods and tendon / joint problems. So avoid:

• Vinegar
• Oranges
• Grapefruit
• Pickles
• Yogurt

Increase alkaline foods such as vegetables and miso soup. There's also some behaviors that cause acidity. They are:

• Worry
• Fear,
• Shallow breathing
• Not chewing food enough
• Overexertion

*******************Side Bar***************************

I encouraged one elderly patient to give up sugar for three months. She told me her arthritis pain in her hands disappeared. Later, she began eating sugar again, and the pain returned. The connection between sugar and her arthritis appeared very evident in her case.

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Then, to promote optimum health and keep you less vulnerable to developing arthritis in the first place, follow the...

Chinese Dietary Principles

Here you want to focus on what to eat, rather than what to avoid (it's easier that way). Here are some main principles that will put you on the right track.

Eat a diet composed mainly of:

• Lightly cooked vegetables (a big variety. Only eat small amounts of fruit.
• Some whole grains (brown rice is good)
• Small amounts of animal food (more for flavor than as a main course - 2 to 3 oz. per day)
• Drink only room temperature or warm water (some green tea is o.k.)

To get good effect, stay away from everything else as much as possible, and try to buy clean, organic produce and foods without chemicals.

Return to Natural Remedies For Arthritis from Diet For Arthritis