Make up your own mind on arthritis and the food connection
Sonia Jones ND from The Haven Spa and Health Clinic
I often read things that orthodox practitioners write about how there is no evidence that natural nutrition can make any difference to conditions like arthritis – yet there are thousands of people who have changed their lifestyles and have reaped the benefits of an almost pain-free life.
Over 20 years of helping people with arthritis with natural alternative treatments we have found people have become – more energetic, much more mobile, massively less pain and in some instances almost pain-free. For this to be achieved – it is important to take a multiple approach.
Of-course – several things you need to bearing mind?
Taking someone through therapeutic nutrition takes effort on the behalf of the practitioner and a monumental effort on behalf of the patient. It is so much easier to take a pill, whether it helps in the long term or not.
The second thing often the treatment program though difficult (from the point of view of giving up certain foods) is cheap compared to a lifetime of medication. We treat people who were spending a fortune each month on medication and are still suffering, whose quality of life was miserable.
Certainly the idea that you can make a few adjusts to your diet and your arthritis will go a way is not realistic.
Generally people who decry clinical nutritional therapy don’t fully understand the depth of it.
I read on some sites how diet has little affect and you should be looking at a “sensible” or “balanced”or even a “healthy” diet! I have done so many case studies over the last 20 years – noting in great detail what people eat and their symptoms (no matter how small as we work like detectives were all clues can be significant) who have a chronic condition of one type or another, but who thought they were eating a sensible or balanced diet. Yet when I asked these same people to just imagine for one moment they had show dogs that cost them their life’s savings, and this was now a business, their only income, their livelihood. Bearing in mind dogs will eat anything, would you feed these dogs on the same diet as yours. After some thought, they would definitely answer, NO. When asked why? They would say that is wasn’t good enough!!
For you to have show dogs that will come first or second, win prizes and earn you an income – they need to be in seriously tip top condition, in peak health, performance and appearance, which takes a lot of time and effort in many ways. From diet, special foods, supplements for dogs, exercise, rest, grooming, the right living conditions, as an owner you would educate yourself on all aspects of your dog’s health and well-being.
You owe it to yourself and your family to devote as much dedication and education to maintaining your health and vitality.
Maybe you have tried the ‘healthier eating approach’ – believe me what the the mass media report as a healthy diet is not nutritional therapy for your chronic condition.
What are your options for help -
A journal
One of the main things I have noticed over the 20 years – firstly people tell me they eat healthy, my arthritis can’t be due to my diet? So we got through everything they eat step by step and this the first time people have seen it all written down. The first thing people remark – well maybe my diet isn’t that healthy. I can guarantee it isn’t therapeutic enough to solve a chronic condition like arthritis.
Before you make any changes to your diet – start keeping a food, symptom and mood journal for one week write down absolutely everything you eat and drink, your symptoms, did you sleep well? did you get angry? if you smoke how many? how many hours watching TV, anything and everything.
After a week take some time and study closely what you have been eating and drinking – I think you will be surprised with the reality. Don’t be fooled into thinking that a little of this and a little of that doesn’t add up and have a profound affect.
Practitioner
Some people find it easier than others when it comes to self-help and figuring it all out. As we are all different and some people would rather work with a practitioner who deals in therapeutic nutrition – this could be naturopath or a nutritional therapist or a herbalist or an acupuncturist.
IMPORTANT before you make an appointment with who or what ever practitioner find out -
Do they actually look in-depth into your diet and recommend individual nutritional therapy. If they do advice herbs or supplements that it isn’t a bucket load. I have seen people who have seen alternative practitioner who have had very little nutritional advice BUT have come out of their office with a carrier bag full of vitamins, mineral, amino acids, herbs etc and spent a fortune. This not the idea – firstly get the nutrition right – therapeutic nutrition – and then some supplements – just a few. As the name suggests they are supplements.
There is no doubt that supplements help but the most profound affect on your condition is removing the foods and drinks that cause degeneration and replacing them with foods and drinks that help to regenerate. Supplements are a bonus and treatments (like acupuncture or reflexology) are the icing on the cake.
Don’t forget even if you opt to see a practitioner – your journal is still invaluable.
What if you cannot afford to see a practitioner and are some who would rather not go it alone with self-help.
Check out all the collages and universities – they have student clinics that are supervised by fully qualified practitioners – treatments and advice can be free or at a very small charge for over heads. This is worth checking out.
Books, CDs and DVDs
Books, CDs and DVDs are useful tools to learning – good author that use nutritional therapy that don’t just advocate a ‘healthy diet’ with a lot of mis-con-ceptions.
Here are a dozen books I recommend you read?
Patrick Holford – Food is better medicine than drugs
James Braly – Dangerous grains
Hidden food allergies
Sonia Jones ND – End the Food Confusion
Simply Reflexology
Udo Erasmus – Fats that heal and fats that kill
Bernard Jenson – Body chemistry and nutrition
Diet and detoxification
Superior health
Deepak Chopra – Perfect health
Ageless Body Ageless Mind
Creating Health
These can be bought new or often second hand at a very reasonable price.
I have recommended one book ‘Simple Reflexology’ the odd one out. It you do not have arthritis in your hands you can learn reflexology from this book and help to treat your own condition a long with nutritional therapy.