I write on this topic a lot. In fact, I did a quick search of my old blogs and found no less than 4 other blogs on the topic.
My first goes back to 2014…that’s a long time to be ringing this bell!
In this one, we are getting a little medical, and creating some nutritional rules you OUGHT to be following.
Here we go…
The next time you go to your doctor for routine blood work, PLEASE ask him/her to test for “CRP” (cross-reactive protein).
Do NOT let them talk you out of it.
“I don’t see the need.” They may say.
Resist the urge to cave in.
Many of us have fallen into the trap of taking everything our doctor’s say as gospel. This is a dangerous pattern.
YOU are the one in charge of your own health.
No one else.
And to be honest, the test for CRP is pretty standard stuff. It’s not going to cost any more money to add this in.
Just insist on it.
Why?
Because this test is as good a marker for systemic inflammation (“body wide”) as anything else.
More and more studies are seeing inflammation as a contributing factor to a wide range of diseases.
Why am I writing on this again today?
I got a text from a friend this morning asking about joint health supplements. He wanted to know if they work. Unfortunately, the research doesn’t show that they do much of anything.
I recommended that the best course of action – besides taking a bunch of ibuprofen – was to follow an anti-inflammatory diet.
So, here is my latest list of foods you should be eating…which, by the way, are largely found in the Mediterranean Diet – deemed to be one of the healthiest on the planet!
- Good oils – olive oil, grapeseed and avocado oil
- Fish – salmon, snapper, tuna, cod, halibut, bass. If you MUST eat beef, stick with grass-fed only!
- Nuts – walnuts, almonds, hazelnut (I add in cashews and sunflower seeds), ALL RAW ONLY!
- Fruits – apples, blueberries, cherries, pineapple, raspberries, strawberries (careful if weight loss is a major goal – don’t go overboard here)
- Garlic – I don’t need to add anything here. GREAT for swollen joints
- Herbs – basil, thyme, oregano, curcumin and chili pepper
- Chocolate – AT LEAST 70% pure cocoa
- Tea – green tea (add lemon juice to perk up the flavor)
- Beans – lots of fiber + phytonutrients, which decreases inflammation
- Onions – also decreases heart disease risk and lowers cholesterol
Foods to avoid?
Anything with excess saturated fats, processed carbs (packaged snacks, most breads), sodas, fried foods, sugars and alcohol.
Alrighty then!
There you have it.
I’m NOT saying these foods will make your rheumatoid arthritis go away…but, as of now, this may be your best defense!
Stay strong my friends,
Art