Arthritis is a bane to many individuals as they age, but a British health expert says that what we eat can ease the agony. "Correct nutrition can bring tremendous relief," says Jane Clarke, "but it must be undertaken with care, and over time."
First of all, she says, eating small meals at least three times a day sets a regular pattern that provides the body with a steady source of nutrients. But cut down on the coffee, tea, hot chocolate and cola-based drinks, which contain caffeine and tannin, both of which inhibit the body's ability to absorb vitamins and minerals from the intestines. Clarke suggests that to help relaxation, try aromatherapy oils such as lavender, neroli and comfrey, which is particularly recommended for reducing inflammation. "These oils can be used in a burner, dropped into your bath or diluted in a carrier oil such as grapeseed and used in massage."
The diet should contain plenty of oily fish, such as tuna or mackerel, which also attack inflammation. "Balance the oiliness by marrying the fish with a sharp fresh flavor -- a wedge of lemon or lime, ginger, horseradish or a tangy fruit sauce such as gooseberry or rhubarb," she says.
