Tag: Olive Oil

Arthritis Symptoms May be Alleviated by Fruits and Vegetables

Arthritis Symptoms May be Alleviated by Fruits and Vegetables
Joe Serpico

If you or someone you know suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, you know how painful and debilitating it can be. If you haven’t walked a mile in those shoes, you can’t imagine how frustrating it can be. Your doctor may say try this medication, try that. Don’t do this, do that. But sometimes, to no avail. The disease is caused by a misguided immune system attack on the body’s own joint tissue, which leads to swelling, pain, stiffness and in some cases deformity. Rheumatoid arthritis is more common among women than men. Perhaps what you’re eating, or more specifically what you’re not eating can be causing some of your soreness. Recent findings suggest that a diet high in fruits, vegetables, legumes and certain oils aids in relieving symptoms in people with rheumatoid arthritis. After following a diet rich in fruits and veggies for three months, people with rheumatoid arthritis experienced a number of improvements not seen in people following a typical American diet high in processed foods. Some of the improvements shown include a decrease in pain, inflammation, disease activity and in the number of swollen joints. Further, previous research suggested that more olive oil and cooked vegetables help protect people from the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. The current results suggest that “patients with (rheumatoid arthritis) can obtain better physical function and increase their vitality” from eating a fruit, vegetables, legumes and some oils diet for three months, write Dr. Lars Skoldstam of Visby Hospital in Sweden and colleagues. This plan is similar to that of people who live in the Mediterranean. They also tend to eat a lot of fruit, vegetables, and legumes, more fish and less red meat. Moreover, they drink a moderate amount of wine, and rely on olive oil as their main source of dietary fat. Earlier research has suggested that followers of this diet enjoy a wide range of benefits, such as a lower risk of heart disease, cancer and memory loss. Additional studies have shown that citrus fruit and zinc may also cut rheumatoid arthritis risk. Citrus can be helpful because of the antioxidants they contain. Findings are not conclusive, yet promising. In the study, the doctors found that women getting less than 40 micrograms of beta-cryptoxanthin, a component found in citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruit were at a somewhat elevated danger of developing rheumatoid arthritis than women who consumed more than that amount. Although thus far it has only been proven that genetics is the culprit behind rheumatoid arthritis, if there have been some findings as to the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables, wouldn’t it make sense for suffers to up their intake? It certainly can’t hurt… and may actually help. Now please pass the broccoli with a side of grapefruit! About the Author
Joe Serpico is webmaster at aa-fitness-guide.com. For much more information regarding exercise, health, nutrition, and fitness, visit http://www.aa-fitness-guide.com

Relieve Sciatic Nerve Pain-Shooting Pain Is No Fun

Ouch! There it goes again. Your sciatic nerve just sent a shooting pain through legs, hips and back. Now you feel like you can hardly move, and even breathing seems difficult. “There must be a way to relieve sciatic nerve pain,” you say to yourself. Living with this kind of pain is hard to describe to someone who has never experienced it, but there is hope. There are a few things you can do to get the pain under control.

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the human body. That means that it can cause pain just about anywhere, but it also means that there are more points along the nerve for problems to occur. What happens is that when it’s irritated in some way or has pressure applied to it, it causes pain or tingling; neither of which is very pleasant.

Before you do anything to relieve sciatic pain on your own, it is absolutely vital that you see your doctor. There may be more serious issues causing the pain, and you need to get a thorough check up to see if anything else is going on. Your doctor can also give you additional suggestions for treating the pain.

Anti-inflammatory medication taken each day can help keep the nerve from getting inflamed, and it can keep surrounding tissue from getting inflamed and putting pressure on the nerve. There are over-the-counter medications you can take, or you can have your doctor prescribe something.

If you don’t like the idea of taking medication, then you can eat foods that help to reduce inflammation. In fact, it’s a good idea to eat such foods to relieve sciatic nerve pain even if you do take medication. Wild salmon, sweet potatoes, broccoli, papaya, turmeric, and olive oil are some of the best anti-inflammatory foods.

Basic exercises and gentle stretching can sometimes bring relief. Lie on your back on a firm surface and put a pillow underneath your knees for support. This takes the pressure off and brings temporary relief. While in the same position, grab one of your knees with both hands and move it toward your chest. Don’t overdo it, just hold it for a few seconds then switch to the other knee.

Changing the temperature around the problem area will often ease the pain. Everybody is different, so if a heating pad doesn’t work then try an ice pack. Be careful to not make it too hot or too cold as you don’t want to suffer a secondary injury while trying to treat your sciatic nerve.

Make regular appointments with your doctor or chiropractor if your sciatic nerve continues to give you trouble. The doctor can do a full medical history and do tests to see if there is something else going on. A chiropractor can make adjustments to your spine that may be able to take some of the pressure off. Whatever you decide, it’s important to remember that there are things you can do to relieve sciatic nerve pain.

How To Relieve The Pain Of A Pinched Nerve

There are many things that can lead to having a pinched nerve, but no matter what the cause it’s a very painful condition to suffer from. If you have this problem, then all you can think about when it flares up is how to relieve the pain of a pinched nerve. It isn’t always easy to find the best solution, but there are things you can to bring some relief from the pain.

The very first thing you need to do is go see your doctor if you are experiencing constant pain or think you have a pinched nerve. A pinched nerve is a very serious condition, or it can be the sign of something else serious. Either way, only a qualified medical professional will be able to know for sure. Also, if your doctor prescribes any pain medication, be sure to follow their instructions very carefully.

Apart from a visit to your doctor, you can also go to your chiropractor. They are good at making adjustments to your neck and spine and tend to have a good understanding of the nerves in your body. They should be able to make adjustments that bring relief, though you may need to make several visits before you fond longer-lasting relief.

Inflammation can often lead to a pinched nerve, so doing things to reduce it is one of the methods of how to relieve the pain of a pinched nerve. There are over the counter medications that promise to reduce inflammation, but you need to be sure to take them regularly. If those don’t work, then you can talk to your doctor about the possibility of taking a prescription anti-inflammatory drug. Watching your diet is another way to reduce inflammation, as some foods can reduce it naturally. Wild salmon, broccoli, kelp, papaya and olive oil are a few of the foods you may wish to add to your diet.

Heat or cold on the affected area should be able to get your pain under control. Some people respond better heat, and others to cold; therefore, you should try one and see how it works for you. If heat doesn’t work, then try applying cold, and vice-versa. Don’t use anything that’s too hot or too cold as that could damage the skin or underlying tissue.

Another key to how to relieve the pain of a pinched nerve is to pay attention to your movements. Chances are that you already know and avoid a few motions that make the problem worse. However, you should always try to be aware of any moves you’re making, and be especially mindful of fast movements or strenuous activity.

One of the most pleasurable ways of how to relieve the pain of a pinched nerve is a professional massage. It’s important that you go to a professional because they will be aware of how to massage the sore area without doing more damage. Not only will you be easing the pain, but you also become more relaxed during the session.

Acne Scars Treatments-Good News

Good news! There is no reason to continue suffering from acne scars. It doesn’t matter if you have deep, pitted scars, or relatively minor ones, there are acne scars treatments available that can help you. These treatments cover everything to inexpensive home remedies to fairly pricey procedures that can only be performed by a medical professional.

Which option you choose will depend on several factors:
– How many scars you currently have
– How severe the scarring is
– The amount of time you are able to take to get rid of the acne scars
– How much money you have and what acne scars treatments your health insurance will cover
– Whether past treatments have worked

In most cases it is best to wait until you are done with your acne outbreaks before getting treatment for any scarring you may have. After all, you wouldn’t want to pay to have scars removed only to have a new outbreak cause more scars.

You should always check with your doctor or a dermatologist before trying any of the several acne scars treatments that are available. With that word of caution in mind, here are some options you may want to try:

1. Home remedy acne scars treatments. There isn’t a lot of medical evidence to back up claims about the effectiveness of home remedies, but many people use them and swear they work. Gently applying vitamin E or olive oil seems to moisturize the skin and reduce scarring, especially if you catch it early. Some people like to use lemon juice, but others find it to be too acidic, so be sure to test it on a small area of the skin first.

2. Medication for acne scars. You can go to the store and find several products that will help with acne which can minimize future scarring. There are also products that are made to reduce scarring, so you may want to give those a try. Another option is to talk to your doctor about prescription medications that you can use.

3. Acne scar procedures. There are also a few good options that require a visit to a doctor or an aesthetician. Lasers basically burn away old skin cells and promote the growth of healthier new cells. IPL (Intense Pulse Light) does the same basic thing, but does not require a medical license (in most jurisdictions) to be used. Dermabrasion is another of the acne scars treatments that removes old skin so new skin can take its place. Chemical peels are another option that removes skin, but many people are sensitive to this procedure; however, if your dermatologist believes you can tolerate it, then it’s worth a shot.

As you can see, there are several acne scars treatments that are available to you. However, none of them will do you any good if you just read about them. Instead you need to take action. See, you don’t have to live with unsightly scars from acne, so go ahead and take the first step now toward looking your best.