September is Arthritis Awareness Month!

Did you know that there are 120 types of arthritis?

Did you know that 600,000 people in BC and the Yukon have arthritis?

Did you know that nutrition, including vitamin supplements, can play a major role in Arthritis Prevention and Arthritis Management?

Consider the following:

Question: Is a Daily Multivitamin Important for Arthritis Patients?

It is common medical advice for all adults today to take a daily multivitamin. But is it important for arthritis patients to take a daily multivitamin?

Answer: Multivitamins Contain Essential Nutrients

Vitamins contain essential nutrients but many also contain other compounds purported to be good for your health. It is important for both arthritis patients and those without arthritis to take a multivitamin. The nutrients included in an essential multivitamin include:

· Folic Acid and other B vitamins (i.e., Thiamine, Riboflavin, Pantothenic Acid, Pyridoxine, Cyanocobalamin) which are important nutrients for the bone marrow and nervous system.
· Vitamin D which is necessary for proper bone formation and strength.
· Vitamin A which is helpful with vision.

Does a Good Diet Reduce the Need for a Multivitamin?

If you have an excellent diet, you may be able to get these essential nutrients without a supplement, but this is often difficult in today’s society.

How to prevent or alleviate the symptoms of arthritic pain.

Keeping the joints "well-oiled" requires a healthy lifestyle which includes proper nutrition, sleep, and exercise. One of the major causes of arthritis and the lessening of synovial fluid is incorrect diet - too much processed foods, alcohol and meat, and very little raw vegetables and fruits. A deficiency of water also causes the lowering of the levels of the synovial fluid.

Incorrect diet, lack of exercise, injuries and auto-immune diseases such as lupus can also lower the levels of this essential fluid. Often corrective exercise, such as swimming, yoga and muscle strengthening exercises, can help keep the joints pain-free. However, a doctor should be consulted before starting any program, as rapid increases in exercise can put additional strain on other systems of the body.

Delaying the Onset of Arthritis with Nutrition

It is now becoming increasingly evident that good nutrition, along with exercise and injury prevention, can help with improved joint health. A balanced diet should begin in childhood, so that the foundation is laid for a good strong skeletal matrix, which includes joints and connective tissues.

The intake of Calcium together with Vitamins C and D can provide essential nutrients to prevent cartilage and bone damage. Proper iron intake may also keep bone marrow healthy.

These and other simple steps can dramatically increase your chances of living a more active life in old age.

Ref: 1) www.about.com: Arthritis, 2) www.mitamins.com/articles/arthritis/index.html