Osteoarthritis

GOINDIS NATUROPATHY TRUST(INDIA)
Charity Registration No.845/4 dated 03.09.2003

OSTEOARTHRITIS
ROLE OF
NATURO-FOOD THERAPY

SANTOKH SINGH PARMAR

FOUNDER TRUSTEES:
Satyendra Singh Goindi, MSc, LLB, ND
Gurkirpal Kaur Goindi, BA, BEd, DPE, ND
Santokh Singh Parmar, B Arch, Dip TP, Dip LA, MRTPI, AITP, AIIA
Devinder Singh Saroya, PCS
Gurmukh Singh Girn, MSc, MCRP, AITP

OSTEOARTHRITIS – ROLE OF NATURO-FOOD THERAPY

WHAT IS OSTEOARTHRITIS ?

1.       There are about 200 types of arthritis which can be broadly divided into rheumatoid (an auto-immune inflammatory disease) and osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis a degenerative disease, is the most common. It affects primarily the weight-bearing joints like the hip or knees, but may also affect the spine and hands as well. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage, that normally covers and cushions the ends of the bone, breakdown due to age or excessive wear and tear. As bone rubs against bone, the joint loses shape and alignment; the ends of the bone thicken and form bony growths called spurs; and bits of cartilage or bone can float within the joint space. The result is stiff, swollen, aching joints.

BENEFICIAL FOODS FOR OSTEOARTHRITIS

2.       The following natural foods should prove helpful in preventing or curing Osteoarthritis :-

Fruits : Citrus fruits like oranges, and grapefruits, apples, pineapple, papaya, pears, bananas, avocado, figs, cherries, all berries like strawberries and blueberries.

Vegetables and Salads : Green leafy vegetables like spinach, and radish (mooli) leaves, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, celery, cucumber, tomatoes, asparagus, beets, cauliflower, aubergines, mushrooms, green beans, peas, squash, turnips, radishes, lettuce, okra, kale, watercress, peppers, potatoes with skin. Sprinkle parley or squeeze fresh lemon juice on cooked  vegetables.

Herbs and Spices : Onions, ginger, garlic, turmeric (haldi), wheatgerm, honey, parsley, apple cider vinegar, dandelion coffee, evening primrose oil, spirulina, alfalfa sprouts, seaweed, wheatgrass juice, black pepper, cumin seeds (jeera), fennel (saunf), caraway seeds (ajwain).

Nuts, Seeds, Dried Fruits : Almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, flaxseeds (alsi), raisins especially black, figs, prunes.

Wholegrains : Millets (bajra), brown rice, soya milk, wheat, corn, rye, buckwheat, quinoa in moderation only as they are acidic in nature.

Dairy Foods : Skimmed milk and its products like cottage cheese, yoghurt and butter- milk (lassi), whey water. Raw goat milk yoghurt is very beneficial. Avoid full fat milk products like cheddar cheese, meat (especially red).

HOME REMEDIES FOR OSTEOARTHRITIS

1. The following home remedies have been found to be helpful :-

 

Yogic Asanas : The yogic asanas helpful in curing arthritis are trikonasana, bhujangasana, shalabhasana, naukasana. Yogic Kriyas like jalneti and kapalbhati and pranayams such as anulomaviloma, ujjai and bhrameri are also beneficial.

Massage : Warm coconut or mustard oil mixed with camphor should be massaged on stiff and aching joints. Soft and gentle massage is more beneficial than the hard pressing one.

Sea Salt Bath : Relax for 30 minutes every night in a tub of warm water in which a cupful of seasalt (containing iodine and other minerals) has been mixed.

Alkalising Green Drink : Take any green food tops – i.e leaves of beets, celery, leeks, turnips, mustard plant, nettles, lettuce etc. – chop them into small pieces, spread and add to 3 litres of water. Boil down to 1½ litres, strain and keep it hot in a thermos flask. Drink hot through the day at regular intervals.

Green Gram (Moong) Soup : Have whole moong soup mixed with 3-4 crushed garlic cloves, a teaspoonful of powdered fenugreek (methi) seeds and warm water.

Potato Juice : Drink fresh potato (with skin) juice diluted with water on 50:50 basis first thing in the morning.

Copper Container Water : Drink water kept in a copper container overnight, first thing in the morning. Wearing a copper ring or bangle also helps.

Enema : Take a luke warm water enema in the beginning for a few days to cleanse the bowels.

 

PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID AND EASE OSTEOARTHRITIS

4.       The following precautions will prove helpful :-

*        Stay clear of alcohol including red wine and coffee. May take a small drink or two of vodka if alcohol can’t be avoided.

*        Constipation should be avoided as it can toxify the body and add to irritation and inflammation of the joints.

*        Light unfatiguing exercises such as walking, hiking and swimming should be undertaken.

*        Relaxation, rest and adequate sleep are of great importance. Do not overdo work, exercises or recreational activities.

*        Keep the body warm at all times. Joints should not be bandaged tightly as this limits movement and interferes with free circulation of blood. Avoid cold and conditioned environment.

*        There should be plenty of indirect ventilation in the house especially in the bed room.

DIET GUIDELINES FOR A HEALTHY & DISEASE-FREE LIFE

There is no “best” or “ideal” diet and no “good or “bad” foods so long as you stick to natural sources. Moderation, variety and balance are the keys to healthy eating. Also, food is more than the nutrition it provides – it is also a part of the way we enjoy and celebrate life. The following diet guidelines have been prepared accordingly:-

1. 1. Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle – Change the way you live each day. Fortify your immune system with regular exercise and healthy eating with natural foods. Find time to enjoy and nurture yourself with some fun, laughter, relaxation and adequate sleep.
2. 2. You are What You Eat – Maintain ideal healthy weight. Don’t live to eat but eat to live a disease-free life as ordained by NATURE.
3. 3. Look after Your Digestive System – Eat less in moderation and more often i.e. have 7-8 small nutritious meals and snacks (say every 2-2½ hours) instead of 2-3 large heavy meals a day. Don’t ever overeat and chew the food to a creamy state with digestive saliva containing enzymes  before swallowing.
4. 4. Eat More Fruits and Vegetables – Include a liberal quantity of fresh seasonal  and regional fruits, raw or steamed vegetables and salads in your daily diet to fulfill 50-60% of your daily energy requirements.
5. 5. Eat More Sprouts & Fibre – Eat wholegrain cereals and pulses, preferably sprouted, for optimum fibre and nutrition as minerals and vitamins are attached to the bran and they increase manifold on sprouting.
6. 6. Eat Nuts and Seeds – Consume a handful of nuts like almonds, wallnuts and seeds like pumpkin and sesame regularly 5-6 times a week.
7. 7. Eat Carminative and Digestive Herbs and Spices – Include ginger, garlic, onions, cumin seeds (jeera), fennel (saunf), aesphotida (hing), black pepper, caraway seeds (ajwain), turmeric (haldi), cardamom (elaichi), basil (tulsi), mint (pudina), curry leaves (curhi patta) in your diet and cooking.
8. 8. Cook Vegetables Conservatively – Do not cook vegetables in lots of oil. Freshly cut and prepared vegetables should be steamed, lightly sauted or slowly stewed or stir-fried or baked but not deep-fried and overcooked at all to preserve minerals, vitamins and enzymes.
9. 9. Never skip Breakfast – Eat a fruit instead of tea or coffee within 15-20 minutes of waking followed by a nutritious breakfast later.

1. 10.Eat Light Dinner – Have your last meal or snack 2-2½ hours before hitting the bed.
2. 11. Don’t get dehydrated – Drink at least 2-2½ liters (more if you exercise, are overweight and in hot weather) of water at regular intervals. If just too boring, add lemon wedges or mint leaves for flavour in the jug of water.
3. 12. Avoid Drinking Water with Meals – Drink water about an hour before or after meals to avoid diluting the digestive juices.
4. 13. Don’t follow Fad Diets – These diets don’t include all the food groups and nutrients and these never work in the longterm. Mantra is to simply eat healthy.
5. 14. Avoid the Three White Poisons –  Excessive intake of Sugar, Salt and Starch (Maida) and their products should be avoided as far as possible.
6. 15. Totally eliminate Junk Food from Your Diet – Avoid fat-rich, refined, processed and fried junk foods and beverages like colas and fizzy drinks laden with harmful chemical additives and preservatives.
7. 16. Detox Yourself – Go on a detoxification diet only of fruits and vegetables and their juices to get rid of toxins after every two weeks.

 

Santokh Singh Parmar

Naturo-Food Therapist & Lifestyle Consultant

Mobile: +91(0) 9815922330

Websites: www.naturofoodtherapy.org & www.foodtherapy.org

MAY 2009

Note: The above information and advice and indicative remedies are not a substitute for the advice, your doctor or naturo-food therapist may give you based on his/her knowledge of yourself.