Coffee linked to arthritis
From the BBC News
Drinking coffee may increase the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, according to doctors.
Research carried out in Finland suggests the number of cups of coffee drunk daily is linked to increased risk of developing the condition.
Doctors at the National Institute of Public Health in Helsinki examined their theory among a cross sectional survey of almost 7,000 people.
One in 100 affected
They found the number of cups of coffee consumed on a daily basis was strongly associated with rheumatoid factor.
Rheumatoid factor can contribute to the onset of rheumatoid arthritis, which affects approximately one per cent of the population.
It can lead to permanent disability, and can even, in extreme cases, affect the major organs, causing life-threatening damage.
The research team also monitored a group of almost 19,000 over a 15 year period, none of whom had any evidence of arthritis when first tested.
They found people who drank four or more cups of coffee a day were twice as likely to test positive for arthritis than those who drank less.
The results held true even after adjusting for other risk factors, such as age, gender, smoking and weight.
They also report that those who drank 11 or more cups a day were almost 15 times as likely to have rheumatoid factor as non-coffee drinkers.
t they are unable to identify the ingredient in coffee, and in coffee that is not filtered in particular, that may increase the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.
They called for further research to be carried out to see if their theory stands up.
Possible risk
“Coffee consumption should be considered a possible risk factor or a confounder in future reasearch intot he cause of rheumatoid arthritis,” they state.
The findings are published in the latest issue of the medical journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
But a spokeswoman from the Arthritis Research Campaign said: “When you consider that rheumatoid arthritis is a complex disease with a large genetic element, and that environmental and genetic factors interact to play a part in its development, to link the disease with coffee consumption is rather simplistic.”
A spokesman from the Coffee News Information Service, which represents the coffee industry, said the study had shown an association but not a cause and effect relationship.
“Most importantly when the data was collected 20 years ago, very strong boiled coffee was heavily consumed in Scandinavia, and does not represent normal UK consumption, which is primarily of the instant variety.
“Coffee drinkers should rest assured that coffee consumption in moderation is perfectly safe.”
Read MoreSupport orgainic if you can – help your Arthritis
By supporting the organic movement, we help to minimize chemical damage which poses a real threat to the future of humanity. We need to think hard before choosing an intensively produced product over an organic product simply because of the small extra cost.
Organic food is free from insecticides, pesticides, growth hormones, antibiotics, fertilisers and a whole host of other toxic artificial additives, flavourings, colourings and preservatives. The combination of these residues may be more toxic than you realize due to the synergistic effects of multiple residues on foods that can accumulate in human tissue. The health effect of all of this pollution is slowly becoming clear.
Agro-chemicals were not developed with nutrition, health or the environment in mind.So what we get is a cheap but inferior product with a cocktail of up to 40 different chemicals, waxes and insecticides.
Organic farmers are committed to fine food, and they will have left the trees in a meadow with healthy soil, filled with a diversity of butterflies, lady birds, birds and wildlife in general.
There are many hidden costs to intensive farming and spraying especially to the workers that have to handle the chemicals often without safety clothing, suffering all sorts of diseases.
Organic produce may well cost a bit more but this is no comparison to the possible cost if we don’t try to support organic foods. There is the cost to the tax payer for the subsidies to agro-chemical farming. The cost of cleaning up the environment as the chemicals end up in our water-ways killing fish and then there is the possible cost of healthcare as an indirect and direct result of the cocktail of chemicals. Then there is the cost to the wildlife, whose natural habitats are being systematically destroyed.
“The UK pesticide market is currently worth about £500 million every year. It is extraordinary that the cost of removing pesticides from drinking water amounts to a huge £120 million annually,” says Professor Pretty. In Britain subsidies on normally grown food works out at about 40 pence in every pound spent on food. This cost is paid through the taxation system.
Organic farmers earn lower subsidies because they grow rotation crops so they are unable to maximise subsidy income. They cost society about 25 pence in every pound. When you cost in the real cost of industrial agriculture and take away the subsidies that favour the wrong use of resources, you end up with a situation where, organic food would actually cost less than conventional! The situation is also very much like this in the USA.
More and more people are going organic and prices for organic foods have been falling over the last five years as more and more organic food is bought. It is vital that we safeguard the future of organic farming by paying a little bit extra to keep organic farmers in business.
Organic farming is generally smaller scale and more labour intensive, sometimes with smaller crop yields. Farmers also have to convert their land to organic production over a period of years, and as organic farming relies on crop rotation, up to 25% of land may be left to lie fallow at any one time to increase natural soil fertility.
Organic food’s strength lies in what it doesn’t contain. There is, in fact, only food in organic food as regulations prohibit hydrogenated fat that can cause of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity, aspartame thought to be a neurotoxin – affecting the nervous system, phosphoric acid found in many soda drinks causing osteoporosis, antibiotics which interfere with our immune system, hormones that are causing feminization of wild life, low sperm count, obesity, various cancers, pesticides causing or encouraging mutagenic, carcinogenic effects,GM foods – who knows what the long term effects will be, linked to IBS, Crohn’s disease, autism, other gut-based disease, or any of the 7000 artificial colourings, flavourings, preservatives and processing aids that are permitted in conventional food that have been linked to cancer, liver disease, gut problems. These are chemicals, food additives and processes that are not allowed in organic foods.
Also look out for wild crafted, hydroponic, bio-dynamic and eco-friendly grown foods.
Osteoporosis, what you need to know?
20th October is International Osteoporosis Day
Mention the word osteoporosis and the first thing you think of is calcium supplements, dairy products and menopausal women. Both men and women get osteoporosis and not always when they reach old age. Our bone density peaks at the age of 35ish. So we need to think about our bone density before our 50s. We recently saw a guy of 35 who had painful osteoporosis.
In Asian countries especially in China the incidence of osteoporosis is much more unusual. Things are changing though as more people in China start adopting a more Western style diet. The highest consumption of dairy products and calcium supplements is in the US yet they have one of the highest incidences of osteoporosis! This disease costs the US in excess of 11 billion dollars a year. Over the last 30 to 50 years the incidence of osteoporosis has increased dramatically.
Just for a moment think about the cows that produce the gallons of calcium rich milk for dairy products. However, when was the last time you saw them pop down the shops for a calcium tablet? Or indeed buying a pint of milk to supplement their diet? ePreventing osteoporosis is not just a simple matter – of getting cow’s milk or taking some cheap calcium carbonate tablets. Absorbing and utilizing calcium in these forms is extremely difficult, especially as we age.
There are many foods that contain calcium in a form that that is easier to digest, breakdown and absorb correctly. Foods like almonds, sesame seeds (tahini), green vegetables especially the darker ones, natural plain yogurts (much easier to digest that milk), the grain millet and many more. These foods are nutritious and contain the other nutrients needed for utilization of calcium.
In order to prevent or treat osteoporosis there are several dietary strategies that need to be taken into consideration. The body uses calcium reserves from the bones to neutralize an acidic environment that has been encouraged by the average Western type diet. So the more acid forming foods you eat the more the body uses calcium from the bones as a buffer this acidity. The foods and drinks that can cause acidity are alcohol, meat, sugar, wheat, rye, tea, coffee, soda, or artificial sweeteners. There are also compounds in certain foods and drinks that hinder the absorption of minerals like calcium and other minerals that calcium relies on for absorption. Compounds found in wheat, coffee, and tea.
I am not suggesting for a minute you need to give up your glass of wine or become a vegetarian. However, you do need to cut down on the amount of acid forming foods and drinks in favour of more alkaline forming foods and drinks like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains; quinoa, millet and brown rice to maintain a better balance. These foods are also rich in calcium and the co-nutrients. Maintaining a better alkaline acid balance will cut down the need for the body to use your calcium reserves from your bones.
As for supplements you will need to avoid calcium carbonate buy other forms of calcium, read the label carefully it will tell you what type of calcium it is. Also check the label to see how much magnesium if any and vitamin D your calcium tablets contain, start taking magnesium supplements 400mg with your calcium supplement.
If you take antacids, this can have a detrimental effect on calcium breakdown and absorption as antacids generally lower acidity levels or prevent so much from being produced. Either way this has a knock-on effect. Getting regular exercise is important. Get out in the open as much as possible, if only for short periods of time to get UV rays, this will help the body to manufacture vitamin D. Here I am not necessarily suggesting you sunbathe, I mean maybe a 30 minute walk.
Read MoreNatural substances, in natural foods can increase arthritis suffering.
Sonia Jones ND from the Haven Spa and Health Clinic, Boquete, Chiriqui, Panama
We all know the saying there are always exceptions that prove the rule. Here we discuss the general rule that all natural foods are good for you, but there are exceptions to this rule, that might surprise you.
Some natural foods contain compounds that hinder your health. For instance – oxalic acid is found in rhubarb, spinach, parsley, strawberries, cranberries, beets, and Swiss chard. Oxalic acid binds with minerals like calcium, iron and zinc in the digestive tract hindering their absorption. If you are prone to kidney stones I suggest you avoid the above foods, as kidney stones are often made up of oxalates, coming mainly from the diet.
Phytic acid also hinders absorption of minerals, it is especially high in wheat. Grains like brown rice, buckwheat, quinoa, barley, and oats are much better for you. Wheat bran would be super high in phytic acid and causes a mineral deficiency. So remove one grain from your diet and add five more grains.
Sulphur rich foods cause some people digestive problems like wind and discomfort or even pain, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, garlic, and onions. If your digestive system blows up with these foods, never eat them raw, cook them with seeds like dill, caraway, fennel these seeds help the digestive system to cope better. Sulphur is an important part of our body’s make-up and has long been used as part of a healing program for arthritis. Sulphur has been prized since ancient times for healing throughout history by bathing in sulphur springs – often recommended for rheumatic or skin problems, high blood pressure, neuralgia or digestive disorders and so much more. So if you have problem with its digestion, no problem. There is an answer, soak your feet in Epsom salts (sal de Epsom) it is magnesium sulphate and the feet (being highly absorbent) will allow the body to soak up what it needs, by-passing your digestive system.
The deadly nightshade family they contain traces of a poison known as Solanaceae. The foods most people eat that are from this family are tomatoes, potatoes, aubergine or also known as eggplant, and any colour peppers. The alkaloids in these vegetables can and do acidify the blood. Alkaloids have been known to subtly remove calcium from the bones and deposit it in soft tissue and for some it a contributory factor to kidney stones, osteoporosis, arthritis, aches and pains in general etc.
Then there are foods that contain goitrogens, these compounds block the body from using iodine, this could negatively affect the thyroid function, if the function is already weak. Found in foods like soy and products made from soy, mustard, and cabbage. If you suspect your thyroid is struggling – cut down on soy products. The little you might have in the way of mustard is not worth worrying about.
Tannins also hinders the absorption of minerals like iron, calcium etc. Where would you find substantial amounts of tannins? Substantial amounts are found in black tea. If you are going to drink black tea – then cut down the amount you have and don’t drink tea with your meal.
So what does this all mean? If you have a problem like osteoporosis, you should think about the amount of foods mentioned above that you are consuming. Give your body the best chance possible to absorb and utilize minerals. So if you are eating loads of wheat and wheat bran consider cutting down or giving up wheat altogether and add the other grains to your diet. If you suspect you have a thyroid problem avoid all soy and soy products. If you are someone who is full of aches and pain, it would be worth asking yourself if you eating too many foods from the dead nightshade family? If you have a propensity to form kidney stones you need to write down everything you eat, to see if you are eating too many of the above mentioned foods.
If you don’t have any of the above problems, just make sure you are not eating these foods too often, moderate the amount you eat by varying your diet with other natural foods. One of our biggest problems these days is that most people in reality eat few foods, when you think of the various foods there are to choose from these days. There are no longer seasons in the supermarkets, generally foods are available all year round. Some people consider that pasta one day, pizza the next, and a cheese and tomato sandwich is eating a variety of foods. When in reality they are all variants of wheat, tomato and cheese.
The key – eat more variety of natural foods, eat the above mentioned foods less often. Many people have said to me in the past if they cut down or remove these foods from their diet they will have nothing left to eat!! This is the point – their diet has become very limited. There’s a whole world of food out there, a vast variety – for instance most people eat one or maybe two grains, when in fact there are loads of grains to choose from. We know from statistics that most people eat very few fruit and vegetables except potatoes and tomatoes, yet there is an exciting variety of fruit and vegetable to choose from.
Read MoreIs healthy eating possible on a budget?
I have heard many times over the years when discussing with people about changing their eating habits, that it is impossible to be healthy on a tight budget. This is a misconception. Convenience foods are generally not healthy and more expensive for what they are. Here are 20 tips that might help you save money, get you eating healthier to reduce inflammation and stiffness.
1) There are always fruit and vegetables that are cheap, especially when they are in season. Supermarkets now have offers on fresh fruit and vegetables – buy one get one free etc.
2) Try local markets they often have cheaply grown local produce that is in season.
3) ‘Pick your own’ can be a very good way to get cheap local produce for the freezer.
4) If you are unable to grow your own fresh produce for one reason or another, and you know of someone who does grow their own, offer to buy their surplus (there is always surplus) or trade with them – for instance some sprouts you have grown (see below).
5) Whenever you see anything on offer – prepare it and freeze it.
6) Bought frozen vegetables and fruit can often be cheaper and there is no wastage.
7) Sprouting is a really wonderful way of getting highly nutritious fresh food for pennies. Sprouts can be grown all year round in your kitchen (big or small), take up almost no space, no expensive equipment, and next to no time needed. It’s as simple as ABC. Sprouts really are amazing as they can be used in soups, salads, stews, and stir-fries, they are extremely versatile. It is possible to sprout all seeds, whole grains, beans and lentils (easy to digest when eaten this way).
8) Buying fresh herbs is expensive so start a herb garden, they take up very little space and are decorative. Herbs look good and will save you a fortune, medicinally and culinary wise. If you don’t have a garden you can grow herbs in window boxes or in pots indoors and/or outdoors. Herbs are very useful as part of any health program. Use them fresh, frozen or dried herbs in cooking or for making teas.
9) Forget the hype avoid any thing with lots of fancy packaging that ends up in the bin, that is only wasted money.
10) Eating more beans and lentils with grains like rice (to get your protein) and cutting down on meat can help the budget, is healthier and increase your life expectancy. Bean and lentils are cheap, extremely versatile and good for you.
11) Getting together with 3 to 4 friends, to share the cost of buying things in bulk, this is a very good way of cutting costs. The difference in the cost of buying some brown rice for instance in small packets compared to buying a 25lb bag/sack, the saving per person is considerable.
12) Generally homemade food is cheaper and better than pre-pared processed foods. The Internet is full of free recipes and the local library is bursting with cook books from healthy ethnic to vegetarian to raw foods.
13) Saving a little on gas or electricity and time – make two three or four times the amount you need. For instance if you cook some chicken in the oven for dinner, add some extra chicken to eat cold the next day with a salad that includes your home grown herbs and sprouts. Also place another dish or two in the oven at the same time, on another day can just be heated up quickly.
14) Look in the supermarkets for the reduced section, there are always foods that have almost reached their sell-by-date, you can pick up some amazing bargains, leave the unhealthy ones, just pick up the healthy ones.
15) Breakfast cereals in general are very expensive especially when you think of the cost per pound. Eat porridge, or make your own muesli, much more filling and better good for you.
16) Can’t afford to go out to eat, find some like-minded friends that also like healthier food and take it in turns once in a while to eat in each others home. It is fun and you get to go out occasionally.
17) Supplement on a budget Spiralina is a broad spectrum supplement full of a wide variety of nutrients. Buy in powder form it’s cheaper than buying capsules or tablets.
18) Go out during the autumn months and pick blackberries they are free and freeze them. Berries are bursting with plant compounds and anti-oxidants.
19) Wild crafted dandelions – it is very important you know for sure they have not been sprayed with weed killer. Dig up the whole plant use the fresh leaves in salads or dry the root and the leaves an excellent tonic for the liver and kidneys.
20) Wild crafted nettles are extremely good as a general health tonic, makes really good tea. Pick the nettles wearing gloves, then tie them into loose bunches and place the leaves down into a large paper bag this protects the leaves from flies and dust. Then hang these bunches up by their stems. Any leaves that fall off will end up in the bag. It is important to hang any drying herbs in an area that is dry with air movement, maybe a garage, utility room, laundry room or airing cupboard.
Read MoreWhy are people so resistant to changing their diets?
According to surveys there are many reasons or excuses people have why they can’t change their diet to help relieve their suffering.
1 Taste According to the research taste is the number one reason. We are such creatures of habit very reluctant to try new things. My mother is a typical example of this, many times after much persuasion she might try something new and actually like it. There are even times when she doesn’t dislike a food enough that she actually continues to consume that food and she eventually likes it. Our taste buds need time to adjust, and we need to be open to new things.
2 Convenience If it’s not convenient people won’t do it. That is why the food industry has made a huge fortune on convenience foods. The answer might be easy foods that are assembled so to speak.
Read MoreA-Z of powerful arthritis strategies
ARACHIDONIC ACID from too much meat in the diet sets up a chain of events that encourages inflammation and suffering within the body.
BOWL OF FRUIT keep one well stock in sight and easy to reach – out of sight out of mind. Most suffers find if they avoid oranges, their pain and stiffness eases.
CHLOROPHYLL is the green pigmentation in plants, fruits and vegetables it is a really powerful detoxifier.
DEADLY NIGHTSHADE family – many suffers have found great relief form pain and stiffness by not eating anything from the deadly nightshade family. Tomatoes seeded to be the worst offered but this can vary from person to person. Potatoes, pepper and eggplants are also included.
ENZYMES from fresh foods – are vital, they encourage healing and repair.
FIVE-A-DAY is the very minimum daily requirement that is given to the general public as a guide line, which most people ignore. Evidence shows few people eat that much in a week let alone a day!
GO GREEN, introduce less chemicals into your home you will feel so much better. Use aromatherapy instead of those chemical air fresheners. Use chemical-free house hold cleaners from most supermarkets these days. The less chemicals your body inhales absorbs or consumes – so less energy is used on dealing with the extra toxins and more is devoted to regeneration and repair.
HERBS and SPICES in your kitchen cupboard should be used as much as possible – they all have a positive effect on your health and many will improve digestion, circulation, ease inflammation, encourage healing, and so much more.
INFLAMMATION is a really big key to reducing your suffering. Take a look at the deadly nightshade family cut down on meat, avoid chemicals in foods, increase vitamin C rich foods, like most fruit and vegetables, and eat more oily fish.
JUNK – completely clear out your kitchen cupboards – sort out all the food you have stored. Throw out all the out of date stuff (there is always some), put aside all the unhealthy stuff – read all the ingredients labels carefully – do you really want to be eating that? Put it aside and give it all to charity. Make a list of all the healthy food you would like to replace it all with.
KEEP WRITING A food-mood journal has shown to help people sort out what is making their condition worse or better. It is like detective work every clue helps.
LIVER It’s a good idea to help the liver – dandelion tea, fresh lemon juice and milk thistle capsules.
MINERALS, it’s important to get enough minerals eat plenty of whole grain and seeds like sesame, millet, quinoa, buckwheat, etc
NUTS are a good thing to eat in moderation, due to the essential fatty acids that have anti-inflammatory properties and also help to ‘oil the body’ so to speak.
Important rules – never peanuts, only raw unroasted and unsalted nuts ie walnuts and almonds.
OFF THE COUCH – get moving anyway that suits you or anyway you can.
PLANT COMPOUNDS like anti-oxidants there have been reports for years that the lack of antioxidants speeds up aging and deterioration. Bio-flavonoids are also plant compounds that ensure healthy organs, veins, arteries, connective tissue. Bio-flavonoids also enhance the properties of vitamin C a natural anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine and is very important to the formation of connective tissue
QUESTION the hype like ‘take this capsule for three week and it will cure your arthritis’. Nothing is that easy if it were no one would e suffering any type of arthritis. It takes a concerted effort to change your lifestyle some people manage to become pain-free with continued vigilance while others have reduce and stiffness.
RELAX, everyone needs some R and R occasionally. Stress can increase pain and suffering by changing our body chemistry.Everyone has stress you need to find ways of handling it better.
SLEEP, that is good quality sleep has been proven to help people who are suffering to pain. Help you to cope better, find.
TASTE BUDS need re-educating, it’s important to get them on your side in your quest for better health and less suffering.
UNITE with someone, maybe you can get a friend to join you or a family member in your quest to get healthier it’s easier if you have support.
VOLUMIZE with more fresh food – they are detoxifying, full of nutrients to help with repair, bursting with enzymes encouraging healing.
WATER Research points out that a lot of people are dehydrated – drink more water and less tea, coffee, sodas etc and you will reduce stiffness, aches and pains. Just because you are not thirsty is not an indicator, the brain get confused between hunger and thirst signals, after years of poor food choices.
X-RATED All artificial chemical sweeteners should be banned from your diet – research has indicated that it can cause or increase aches and pains – besides it’s not a food, it’s a chemical, adding to your toxic load.
YOGURT Choose a natural plain yogurt – fully of good bacteria – helping to ensure autointoxication is reduced.
ZEST FOR LIFE. Change your thinking and your outlook. More laughter, start by watching more comedies – spend less time with miserable people. Laughing more encourages the body to produce more natural painkilling chemicals
Read MoreArthritis & Pain Program at The Haven
