Antioxidants will help you fight the symptoms of arthritis. It reduces inflammation, so if you have arthritis, you should eat lots of fruits and vegetables, or supplement with a good antioxidant formula. Reducing inflammation and pain is the main concern when dealing with any kind of arthritis.
One study in the UK with 25 000 people showed that a low daily intake of antioxidant vitamins increased their risk of developing arthritis. A lot of evidence is now suggesting the role of free radicals in the formation of diseases like heart disease, cancer, cataracts and arthritis is much larger than once thought. Consequently, a lot of attention has been given to anti-oxidants, particularly vitamin c, vitamin e and beta carotene that can mop up these dangerous chemicals in the body.
Free radicals are a natural result of cell metabolism, digestion, pollution and over-cooked food. These free radicals need to be disarmed for us to stay healthy. Too many free radicals cause oxidation- the process where the free radical, a particle with an uneven charge, steals electrons form neighbouring cells. This causes damage to surrounding cells. If you do not consume enough fresh fruit and vegetables, you may lack enough antioxidants in your blood to neutralise all the free radicals. This leaves them free to damage organs, blood vessels and cartilage. Evidence shows that eating a diet rich in antioxidants and taking them in supplements can help prevent osteoarthritis and relieve the symptoms. The idea is that supplementing extra antioxidants will not leave any free radicals hanging around for long enough to cause any damage. In the case of arthritis, the free radical damage is usually pronounced in the cartilage of the joints. Once joint cartilage is damaged, bony spurs might form.
In a study, the Framingham Heart Study, researchers tracked the people of Framingham for about 50 years. Apart from finding out interesting things about heart disease, researchers looked for osteoarthritis of the knee in 640 people. They found that those consuming about 180mg of vitamin c per day were only a third as likely as people consuming about 90mg to have their osteoarthritis worsen over ten years. The people consuming less vitamin c also had more cartilage breakdown.
Many experts trace diseases like cancer, heart diseases and senile dementia back to oxidation. They even conclude that the amount of antioxidants we consume is directly related to our life-span. So if you do not consume enough fresh fruit and vegetables and you are concerned about your general health, it is advisable to take at least a good multivitamin or a vitamin c supplement. It won’t only protect you from arthritis but also other diseases like heart disease. It’s a win-win.
