ARTHRITIS
What is Arthritis? It is inflammation of joints usually accompanied by pain, swelling and frequent changes in bone structure. The two main types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease involving the joints, especially the weight bearing ones. It is characterized by the degeneration of articular cartilage, which is the overgrowth of bone with lapping and spur formation. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease characterized by inflammatory changes in joints and related structures that result in crippling deformities.
CAUSES
One of the most interesting theories concerning one of the causes of arthritis is that which connects arthritis with psychological or emotional problems. This idea is not a new one, for there are studies on the subject that were conducted as early as 1935. Certain classes of thoughts produce hormones that tend to destroy the health of the mind and body. These include hate, anxiety, jealousy, anger, fear, envy, excitement, prolonged or abnormal sexual stimulation, excessive ambition, worry, etc. The opposite is also true, in that positive thoughts and emotions produce hormones that tend to build up the health of the mind and body. So choose to think happy thoughts and help your body enjoy better health.
Although our emotions and thoughts can affect our health, faulty nutrition is singularly the most important causative factor in the development of arthritis. An unbalanced diet of devitalized, over-processed, overcooked, and over-refined denatured foods such as sugar, chocolate, soft drinks, sweets, pies, pastries, etc. combined with foodless items such as coffee, tobacco, alcohol and irritating spices, brings about a lowering of the body's immune system. This will eventually lead to pathological changes in the joints and tissues of the body.
RECOVERY
Therefore, the first step in an effective program of helping one with arthritis is helping the person with their psychological or emotional problems and helping them adopt a complete change of nutritional patterns. Arthritis can be conquered only by rebuilding and restoring the general health of the arthritic. Arthritis is an over surplus of acids and waste material in the body. A faulty diet fills the system with uric acid and poisons which the liver, kidneys, and bladder are not able to throw off.
ACID/ALKALINE BALANCE
Balanced body chemistry is of utmost importance for the maintenance of health and correction of disease. Acidosis, or over-acidity of the body tissues is one of the basic causes of many diseases, especially arthritis. It is therefore vitally important that there is a proper ratio between acid and alkaline foods in the diet. The natural ratio in a healthy individual is 4 to 1 - four parts alkaline to one part acid, or 80% to 20%. When this ratio is maintained, the body has a strong resistance against disease.
FRESH FRUITS & VEGETABLES
Avoiding constipation is very important in all cases of sickness. If we eat three meals a day we should have 3 eliminations per day. Most individuals who have constipation problems are not drinking enough water. A person should drink a minimum of two quarts of distilled water daily. The distilled water will absorb many of the toxic substances, inorganic minerals, etc. and carry them out of the body.
ASPIRIN
