(Say No To Arthritis (Optimum Nutrition HandbooK
CHAPTER 2
WHY ARTHRITIS؟
When you get ill, two questions usually come to mind. The first is: ‘How do I get better?’ And the second is: ‘Why did I get ill in the first place?’ Knowing why you have developed a disease doesn’t cure it, but it is usually the first step towards finding a solution. In the search for the cause of arthritis, many factors have been considered, including diet, physical exercise, posture, climate, hormones, infections, allergies, genetics, old age and stress. Most of these have proven relevant to at least some arthritis sufferers. But what is the cause? I believe the answer – as for most diseases – is that arthritis does not have a single cause. The symptoms of arthritis, or of any arthritis-like disease, are the result of an accumulation of factors: accumulated stresses eventually reach a tipping point and trigger inflammation, causing joint, bone and muscle

Figure 3 – Factors that affect the bones

The likely factors that contribute to the development of this painful condition are:

Poor lubrication of the joints Good nutrition is needed to make sure the synovial fluid between joints stays fluid and lubricating. Cartilage and synovial fluid contain proteoglycans, which can be provided by certain foods. That’s where nutrients such as glucosamine are beneficial .

Hormonal imbalance Hormones control calcium balance in the body. If the body’s hormones are out of control, bones and joints can become porous and subject to wear and tear. Calcium can then be deposited in the wrong place, resulting in arthritic ‘spurs’. The problem is not usually insufficient calcium intake, but rather the loss of calcium balance in the body. Vitamin D, which is actually a hormone, is vital in this regard.

A lack of exercise, too much tea, coffee, alcohol or chocolate, exposure to toxic metals like lead, excessive stress or underlying blood sugar or thyroid imbalances all upset calcium control. This can be worse after the menopause, probably due to the loss of oestrogen and progesterone. However, oestrogen dominance – in other words, too much oestrogen relative to progesterone – also makes arthritis worse. It’s all a question of balance. Another hormone, insulin, stimulates the synthesis of proteoglycans, from which cartilage is made.

Allergies and sensitivities Almost everyone who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, and many who suffer from osteoarthritis, have food and/or chemical allergies or sensitivities that make their symptoms flare up. Some allergies cause arthritis in the first place. Others develop as a consequence of medication, inducing gut damage that makes matters worse. The most common food allergies are to wheat and dairy produce. It’s well worth avoiding these foods strictly for one month to see whether this reduces the problem.

Free radicals In all inflamed joints, a battle is taking place in which the body is trying to deal with the damage. Some of the key weapons of war faced by the body are free oxidising radicals (or free radicals, for short). These are like the body’s own nuclear waste, made from oxygen reacting with glucose, the end result of breathing and eating. The reaction releases energy that allows our cells to work, but it also creates dangerous oxygen by-products, which can destroy cells and damage body tissue. Some free radicals are made through normal body processes. Eating a lot of fried food, for example, or smoking cigarettes, will increase them.

The body protects itself from free radicals with an army of antioxidant nutrients, such as vitamins A, C and E, and antioxidant enzymes, which contain minerals such as zinc and selenium. Specific foods, ranging from oregano to cherries, are especially high in antioxidants. I’ll show you which foods to eat more of so that you can increase your antioxidant potential in Chapter 10.
The body even generates free radicals to destroy misbehaving cells such as cancer cells or invaders such as viruses. If the immune system isn’t working properly, as in rheumatoid arthritis, it produces too many free radicals, which can damage the tissue around the joint. A low intake of antioxidant nutrients can therefore make arthritis worse.

Infections Any infection, be it viral or bacterial, weakens the immune system, which controls inflammation. But some viruses and bacteria particularly affect the joints by lodging in them and recurring when your immune defences are low. Often the immune system can harm surrounding tissue in its efforts to fight an infection, like an army which lays its own country waste when trying to get rid of an invader. Building up your immune defences through optimum nutrition is the natural solution.

Bone strain and deformities Any damage or strain, often caused by faulty posture, increases the risk of developing arthritis. A yearly check-up with an osteopath or chiropractor, plus regular exercise to increase joint suppleness and strength is the best prevention. Once arthritis has set in, special exercises can help to reduce pain and stiffness.

State of mind There is little question that arthritis, particularly rheumatoid arthritis, can create major stress both for the sufferer and their family.2 But to what extent does psychology encourage the physical changes that lead to arthritis?

As long ago as 1936, the onset of rheumatoid arthritis was associated with factors such as marital problems, work-related stress and worry.3 More recently, research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine has shown that an eight-week meditation training programme, followed by a four-month maintenance programme, significantly reduced psychological distress and improved general wellbeing in rheumatoid arthritis patients.4

While Dr Ronald Lamont-Havers was national medical director of the Arthritis and Rheumatism Foundation he examined hundreds of prison inmates and found only a negligible incidence of rheumatoid arthritis. In his opinion, ‘These individuals who let out their angers and aggressive feelings so violently that they wound up behind bars had practically no RA. Emotional stress, brought on by hidden anger, fear or worry, oftenaccompanies the beginning of arthritis.

The mind–body connection

Many ancient philosophies, and most modern theories of psychology, consider the mind and body to be intimately connected. Imbalances in a particular system in the body are thought to correspond with mental and emotional imbalances that may seek expression through the physical body. The musculoskeletal system is considered to be the physical manifestation of a person’s need for space, authority and ownership. So, according to this theory, a person who has been denied their own space and authority in the world may be more prone to musculoskeletal problems. We use the phrase ‘spineless’ to mean someone who doesn’t stand up for themselves.
Chronic arthritis is itself a great stress.6 It is sadly no surprise that a large proportion of people with rheumatoid arthritis have been found to also suffer from depression, marital difficulties and low self-esteem. One key factor is the thought of having a disease of unknown outcome, with no knowledge of a treatment that really works. This leads to the belief that effective solutions are not available to control or eliminate either the disease or other life stresses.
Yet, as you will discover from this book, unless you have already exhausted all the nutritional approaches to arthritis, there is much you can do to improve the outcome of any form of the disease, without the risk of side effects. And there are always ways of dealing with pressures and difficult situations.

Poor diet Most people with arthritis have a history of poor diet, which paves the way for many of the above risk factors. Too much refined carbohydrate and sugar, too much of the wrong kind of fat and not enough essential fats, too much protein and too many stimulants (coffee, tea, alcohol, cigarettes) can all exacerbate arthritic problems. A lack of any of a number of vital vitamins, minerals and essential fats could, in itself, precipitate joint problems. As I mentioned in the Introduction, according to Dr Robert Bingham, a specialist in the treatment of arthritis, ‘No person who is in good nutritional health develops rheumatoid or osteoarthritis.’

Great results can be achieved with arthritis by taking all these factors into account: eliminating possible risks, improving lifestyle, and following an optimal diet and supplement programme based on your individual needs. Pain and inflammation can be reduced, mobility can be increased, and, although it doesn’t happen overnight, there is clear evidence that damaged joints can heal. All these factors are discussed in more detail later in this book.