When I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in
February, the rheumatologist prescribed medication. She explained that it would
probably take about six months before I saw results, and that I would probably need
this medication for the rest of my life.
My first thought was: I’m too young to have arthritis (I was 38 at the time). My second thought was: I’m definitely too young to become reliant on medication for the rest of my life.
Determined to find alternatives, I never filled those prescriptions. Instead, I saw a naturopathic physician who suggested an anti-inflammatory diet. By sticking to the diet, and consulting the Internet for guidance and support, I’ve managed my RA without medication—and haven’t had a flare up in three months. Here are some sites that helped:
Women to Women, a medical clinic “devoted to health care for women, by women,” has a comprehensive article on how to reduce inflammation through diet, supplements and exercise. Though the site also markets their costly “Personal Program,” the information provided is well researched and reliable.
The Yeast Connection explains how yeast overgrowth contributes to inflammation throughout the body, and makes it easy to see what foods are recommended and what foods to avoid with a PDF grocery list.
Romanicos Chocolate makes handmade chocolate truffles and delivers them to your door. Though candy is hardly an allowed food on the anti-inflammation diet, I reasoned that because these truffles contain no butter or sugar, that they were an allowed (occasional) indulgence when the aches and fatigue of RA got me down.
Colleen Brondou
Senior Writer
For more information on rheumatoid arthritis, see our Arthritis Web Guide.
For more information on alternative medicine, don’t miss our Complementary and Alternative Medicine Web Guide.
And for more chocolate decadence, have a taste of our Chocolate Web Guide.
Thanks so much for posting the article link from womentowomen.com. I really enjoy the site and have now been sucked into reading all their other articles!
Posted by: Jacqueline | September 30, 2008 at 04:05 PM
Thanks so much for posting the article link from womentowomen.com. I really enjoy the site and have now been sucked into reading all their other articles!
Posted by: Jacqueline | September 30, 2008 at 04:04 PM