Rheumatism Diet

Rheumatism can be described as a term that is used while referring to disorders that are associated with different parts of the body. Contrary to what many people think, rheumatism is neither rheumatic fever nor rheumatic arthritis. Instead rheumatism can be described as the symptoms of several different conditions, which cause a person to experience severe pain and weakness. The treatment of rheumatism could vary, based on the type of condition that affects a person, as well as its severity. People who are suffering from this condition are often advised to follow a rheumatism diet treatment plan, in addition to the conventional treatment plan that they are following.

The first step in rheumatism diet cure is that the patient should fast for a short period of time by consuming only juice and water.  This juice diet for rheumatism lasts for around 3 to 4 days and the patient should make it a point to consume the juice of an orange, mixed along with warm water, every two hours or so, from around 8 o’ clock in the morning, to 8 o’ clock at night. The juice diet for rheumatism sufferers should consist of no other food at all, or the patient would have fasted for a lost cause. People who face difficulty in passing stools because of this are advised to cleanse their bowels using an enema.

Post the juice fast, patients are allowed to eat certain rheumatism diet foods for a period of 2 weeks. Breakfast at this time, should consist of grapefruit or orange, lunch should include raw vegetable salad, along with dates, prunes, figs or raisins. For dinner, the right rheumatism dietary advice is that patients can consume any two types of steamed vegetables, like cauliflower, cabbage, spinach, turnips or carrots, some nuts or a fruit can also be added for dinner in a palindromic rheumatism diet. After the two week diet, patients are required to consume fresh vegetables and ripe fruits in very high quantities. Lemon juice should be consumed at least twice or three times a day. Raw vegetable juice is believed to be very beneficial for people who are suffering from rheumatism. Rheumatism diet treatment requires the exclusion of certain foods, such as pickles, alcohol, tea, refined cereals, white bread, meat, condiments, sauces, coffee, sugar and fish.

Apart from following a specific plan, there are certain lifestyle changes that can be helpful for people suffering from rheumatism. Since patients tend to suffer from aches and pains throughout their body, applying some hot packs or radiant heat to the affected areas can be very helpful. For those patients who are suffering from pain in larger areas, like the entire back or limb, soaking in a hot water tub bath may be helpful. Alternately, people can also try a cabinet steam bath, a warm sponge or dry friction for relief. Many health experts advise patients to go in for a hot Epsom salt bath, two times in the week, for a period of three months. This is usually recommended as cure and aftercare with regards to those patients who are suffering from chronic rheumatism. Light and gentle exercises, preferably outdoor exercises have also been known to bring about a significant improvement in this condition. Certain yoga asana (poses) may also be commended for people who are suffering from rheumatism. Fresh air is very important for rheumatism patients and at the same time cold and damp environments do not serve to help them in any way.

There are many other tips on a diet for rheumatism and arthritis easily available through various resources. However, it is absolutely essential for people to consult a doctor before following the rheumatism diet treatment plan or even before bringing about any major changes to their diets.

Rheumatism Foods

Healthy rheumatism foods play a very important part in the treatment of this condition. In fact, most people deal with rheumatism, without any medication; eating the right rheumatism food and avoiding the ones that trigger off pain and aches are generally effective forms of treating rheumatism.

Some of the most highly recommended rheumatism foods to eat include:

• Raw potato: This remedy helps to get rid of the pain and discomfort, caused by rheumatism. As the skin of the potato is high in mineral salts, the water, in which potato peels have been boiled, can also be an effective cure for rheumatism. Alternately, the juice of raw potatoes should be consumed just before meal times.
• Bitter gourd: Juice from this vegetable can be extracted and mixed with a spoon of honey, before being consumed. It is important for patients to continue this remedy every day, for three months, for effective relief.
• Celery: The fluid extract of celery seeds can be more effective than the consumption of the vegetable, when it comes to rheumatism nutrition. Crushed seeds can also be used as a condiment, along with meals
• Lemons: The juice of two or three lemons every day, for at least three months is usually recommended by most health care providers.
• Walnuts: Consuming half a dozen walnuts each day can help treat rheumatism quite effectively, as long as the nuts are chewed properly.

Just like the foods mentioned above are an integral part of a rheumatism meal plan, there are certain foods that should be eliminated, as they aggravate the condition. Given below are some of the most common rheumatism foods to avoid:

• Alcohol
• Caffeinated beverages like tea, coffee and hot chocolate
• Condiments and pickles
• Red meat, fish and meat products
• Refined cereals, found in white bread and other bakery products
• Sweets and other foods containing a high amount of sugar
  

Most rheumatic patients are advised to follow a rheumatism juice diet for two or three days. However, it is important to include the right juices in this diet plan. Canned and packaged juice should be strictly avoided, as they are high in sugar and other preservatives. Instead, people are advised to consume the juice of an orange, diluted with some warm water instead.

There are several rheumatism recipes, easily available through various resources, like books and websites. However, before incorporating any of the recipes, or even before making any changes to a diet, it is absolutely essential for people to consult a doctor and get an approval.