Relieve Arthritis Symptoms with a Vegetarian Diet

Arthritis affects nearly 40 million people in America alone, which is roughly one in every seven people of all ages, races, and genders. Arthritis does tend to affect the older generation more than the younger, but it's not uncommon to run across cases of juvenile arthritis in children.

There are hundreds of different types of arthritis ranging from mild to chronic cases, and depending on the extremity and type of the arthritis, the signs and symptoms will vary.

When trying to diagnose arthritis, it's best that you seek medical assistance from your doctor, so that proper tests can be performed. If you are diagnosed with arthritis, the world's not over, as there are various treatment options to help relieve the symptoms of arthritis. The one I'm going to focus on is diet.

There are different types of arthritis, each with their own specific signs and symptoms, so I've included a few general signs of arthritis below.

• Crackling noise when moved
  
• Extreme fatigue
• Grating feeling in the joint
• Joint deformity
• Loss off mobility in a join
• Non-specific fever
• Persistent joint pain
• Tenderness in a joint aggravated by movement
  
• Stiffness in a joint
• Swelling in a joint
• Unexplained weight loss

The most common time that you may experience the signs of arthritis is when you wake up in the morning and after you've been in one position for a long period of time.

It is thought that by changing to a healthier, vegetarian diet, one can potentially help relieve the pain caused by arthritis. There have been tests and studies where patients were placed on various different diets for several months, typically between 9 and 13 months, and the results showed that about 40% of people one the vegan diet showed improvement in their symptoms.

The thought is that by eating a healthier diet with more fruits and vegetables and less meats, the pains and stiffness of arthritis can be eased. Basically, meats contain high amounts of arachidonic acid, which is a fatty acid, that can cause inflammation when in the body.

There are some studies that show a vegetarian diet for 13 months will relieve arthritis symptoms for up to 12 weeks, whereas a permanent dietary change can improve the symptoms permanently.

Basically, the studies are not 100% proven, as a vegetarian diet helps some but not all. It's up to you to decide if you want to give it a try. If you do, make sure to try a healthy vegetarian diet for several months in order to reap all the potential benefits.

 Disclaimer: Please be aware that the advice in this article should in no way replace that of a licensed physician. If you are thinking about converting to your diet, consult your doctor so that you can ensure that you stay healthy in the process.