tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75082683442519262832009-11-07T19:33:17.540-08:00RA news on the latest diet, lifestyle, food, nutrition, herbal medicine, vitamin and supplement research.Dr. Nicole Sundenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09558269985930966065noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508268344251926283.post-60108484766580356282008-10-11T16:36:00.001-07:002008-10-11T16:42:07.200-07:00

Is natural medicine helpful for rheumatoid arthritis?Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that responds very well to naturopathic treatments. Well researched natural treatments such as diet, herbs, vitamins, and other holistic therapies implemented early on can prevent the need for the overuse of harsh medications such as chemotherapeutic agents, corticosteroids, and drugs with a myriad

Dr. Nicole Sundenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09558269985930966065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508268344251926283.post-16211555833068946302008-10-10T01:49:00.002-07:002008-10-10T01:50:00.895-07:00

Eliminate arachidonic acid from the diet. This is the inflammatory component of fat found in animal products such as red meat and high fat dairy. Almost all prescription anti-inflammatory medications work to inhibit cycloxygenase at some point in the biochemical pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism. When we ingest arachidonic acid we make it easier for the body to make inflammation. Without

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Absolutely eliminate aspartame! Let me re-emphasize the importance of this. ABSOLUTELY ELIMINATE ASPARTAME. After writing about aspartame in my post on “The Kitchen Table Villains”, many readers came forward with their various autoimmune issues with aspartame causing symptom flares. Elimination of food additives, chemicals, and the other “Kitchen Table Villains” have had many case reports of

Dr. Nicole Sundenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09558269985930966065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508268344251926283.post-11996901157396025082008-10-10T01:48:00.001-07:002008-10-10T01:48:52.036-07:00

Eat sources of probiotics- if you have digestive problems in addition to RA, then eating probiotics such as acidophilus will help break down your food and make your immune system less reactive to it. Healthy gut flora is imperative to a healthy immune system!

Dr. Nicole Sundenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09558269985930966065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508268344251926283.post-73934454949331841962008-10-10T01:47:00.002-07:002008-10-10T01:48:22.959-07:00

Whole Foods Diet to eliminate the toxic burden on the immune system. Research shows that pesticides in the diet affect the functioning of the immune system. Eat organic whenever possible.

Dr. Nicole Sundenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09558269985930966065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508268344251926283.post-805280693533261062008-10-10T01:47:00.001-07:002008-10-10T01:47:43.897-07:00

Allergy Elimination Diet: Most patients under naturopathic care reportedly improve with the elimination of foods they might be allergic to. Since 70% of our immune system surrounds our gut in the form of GALT (Gut Associated Lymphatic Tissue), most conditions of autoimmunity will respond to the reduction of foods that the patient is allergic or intolerant to. For instance, the current

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Anti-inflammatory Diet. RA is an inflammatory condition. Eating an anti-inflammatory diet will prime your system to produce less prostaglandins and other inflammatory products. The ultimate goal is to reduce the total load of inflammation in your body, so that less prednisone, methotrexate, and other RA medications will need to be used. Improvement may be seen immediately but ultimate improvement

Dr. Nicole Sundenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09558269985930966065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508268344251926283.post-7908170115463539812008-10-10T01:42:00.003-07:002008-10-10T01:43:03.750-07:00

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s own immune system attacks the joints creating inflammation and the resultant symmetrical poly-arthritis typically affecting the wrists, knees, elbows, shoulders, ankles, and neck. Swelling, heat, deformity of joints, morning stiffness and pain with passive motions are all hallmark symptoms. Seventy percent of patient’s exhibit

Dr. Nicole Sundenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09558269985930966065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508268344251926283.post-23648609083139851952008-10-10T01:42:00.001-07:002008-10-10T01:42:29.679-07:00

Since the etiology of RA is currently unknown, and all we know about RA in our current medical model is that “anti-body-complement complexes result in intra-articular inflammation” it is thus important that we eliminate all potential immune system aggravators, and ALWAYS address causes of health imbalance in the patient where applicable. In layman’s terms, the immune system is reacting to

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Naturopathic Medicine can help reduce the side effects of medications, reduce symptom severity and frequency, and alleviate the need to take as much prescription medicine. As with any modality naturopathic medicine also has its own set of limitations. Natural treatments take more time than prescription drugs. Keep in mind the immune system turns over a new supply of white blood cells about every

Dr. Nicole Sundenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09558269985930966065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508268344251926283.post-5664349465112635882008-10-10T01:39:00.001-07:002008-10-10T01:40:00.488-07:00

Quit smoking! Smoking is known to exacerbate the symptoms of RA. From a biochemical standpoint smoking creates more ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) that attack normal healthy cells. The destructive process of these cells then adds to the total inflammatory load of the body. Our goal is to reduce inflammation; smoking is thus a major contributor to inflammation. Exercise moderately. Gentle exercise

Dr. Nicole Sundenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09558269985930966065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508268344251926283.post-76836929538484352992008-10-10T01:38:00.000-07:002008-10-10T01:39:23.640-07:00

Zinc and selenium may be effective, although studies conflict. This may just be due to their antioxidant characteristics, as antioxidants reduce inflammation in the body by reducing Reactive Oxygen Species that destroy healthy cells.

Dr. Nicole Sundenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09558269985930966065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508268344251926283.post-66085010599987457862008-10-10T01:37:00.002-07:002008-10-10T01:38:43.596-07:00

Vitamin E 1800 IU was shown to improve symptoms via its antioxidant capacity.

Dr. Nicole Sundenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09558269985930966065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508268344251926283.post-9383176322059508562008-10-10T01:37:00.001-07:002008-10-10T01:37:43.533-07:00

Herbs are great for managing symptoms initially while we get the diet and lifestyle aspects of this disease under control. Anti-inflammatory herbs usually improve symptoms within a week. Anti-inflammatory Herbs: Turmeric, Ginger (pictured above), Boswellia, and Quercetin (technically a bioflavonoid).Tripterygium wilfordii has been used successfully to manage RA symptoms. I would work with a

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When all else fails with chronic disease, naturopathic medicine works wonders when we apply nature cure philosophies such as “remove the obstacles to cure” and “treat the whole person”. Remove the Obstacles to Cure Obstacles to cure are the things that are getting in the way of bringing your body in to a healthier state of balance. Anything listed above that you struggle to implement is therefore

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*PLEASE NOTE*Always check with your physician for drug interactions or medical contraindications before implementing any new treatments as this is not individualized care. Included for example only. Vegan, Gluten free, Anti-inflammatory DietAnti-inflammatory Smoothie: Eat 1 cup of frozen blueberries daily in “Dr. Nicole’s Smoothie Recipe” (be sure to include the L-glutamine to heal your gut and

Dr. Nicole Sundenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09558269985930966065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508268344251926283.post-22208333191822041192008-10-10T01:34:00.001-07:002008-10-10T01:34:41.436-07:00

PMID: 11600749; A vegan diet free of gluten improves the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis: the effects on arthritis correlate with a reduction in antibodies to food antigens.Rheumatology (Oxford). 2001 Oct;40(10):1175-9.PMID: 12594104; An experimental study of a Mediterranean diet intervention for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Ann Rheum Dis. 2003 Mar;62(3):208-14.PMID: 12548439;

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