| When it comes to arthritis, people are willing to spend | | | | Annual Congress of the European League against |
| enormous amounts of money on any drug that will | | | | Rheumatism. It was shown that a diet of omega 3 |
| give them temporary relief. The keyword here is | | | | loaded oily fish was not only effective in reducing the |
| temporary. Consumers and their doctors have slowly | | | | risk of RA, but helped alleviate the problems for |
| accepted that long term relief does not come from | | | | people who had it. Research studies in other |
| prescriptions but supplements for arthritis. Which | | | | countries have had similar results. |
| supplements, you ask? The one recommended by | | | | An important point here is that although some |
| the Arthritis Foundation - omega 3 fish oil. | | | | companies use the title arthritis fish oil, this is not |
| Sufferers of Rheumatoid arthritis [RA] do not need | | | | necessary. Omega 3s are the same anti-inflammatory |
| to be reminded of the stiffness and lack of mobility | | | | agents whether you need them for arthritis, heart |
| that are caused by the swelling of the joints. Another | | | | disease or anything else. |
| way to put this is that the pain is caused by | | | | I mention cardiovascular issues because omega 3s |
| inflammation. Eventually this leads to joint | | | | are also endorsed by the American Heart Association. |
| degeneration and cartilage deterioration. | | | | This is significant since patients with RA are more |
| People have been looking for supplements for | | | | likely to have heart problems. |
| arthritis to replace drugs for years. These alternatives | | | | A few points on supplements. Although two grams |
| would include glucosamine, chondroitin, citrus | | | | of omega 3s per day is a good number for health |
| bioflavonoids; SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine); cherries; | | | | maintenance, many experts believe that more is |
| eucalyptus globulus; meadowsweet; burdock; ginger | | | | needed to fix issues that have been there for years. |
| extract; avocado-soy extract; bilberry; pine bark; | | | | When dealing with these type of doses, it is |
| isoflavones; birch; echinacea; frankincense; devil's | | | | important to use a quality product. Taking a lot of |
| craw; turmeric and many others. | | | | bad fish oil, of doubtful freshness and potency, is not |
| I mention all this because the European Food Safety | | | | going to fix anything. |
| Authority (EFSA) has rejected joint health claims for | | | | In general, even the best supplements for arthritis |
| all these ingredients. Nutrients they do approve of | | | | are going to take a few months to settle into the |
| are the omega 3s in fish oil. | | | | body. The good news is that the longer they are |
| This endorsement of fish oil supplements for arthritis | | | | used, the more noticeable the benefits. |
| is based on a lot of research. Many studies have | | | | Keep in mind that fish oil is not an artificial chemical |
| concluded that omega 3 fatty acids may be the best | | | | – it is food. The body will always prefer natural |
| natural anti-inflammatory agent that we have. RA is | | | | cures over synthetic ones. In this case, you are |
| an inflammatory disease. | | | | attacking the causes of arthritis, not the symptoms. |
| Some of the research was recently presented at the | | | | My website can help on this subject. |