Michael Klaper, M.D.

Nutritional Strategies for Inflamed Joints
and Other Conditions

Many types of inflammatory arthritis, including some forms of rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Crohn's associated arthritis, etc., are made much worse by molecules of food proteins that leak through the damaged wall of the intestine and into the bloodstream. These food protein fragments can lodge in joints, inciting inflammatory arthritis, as well as inflammations in other organs [e.g. lung (asthma), colon (colitis), skin (eczema/psoriasis) etc.].

The following four steps can provide prompt permanent relief from arthritis pain and other conditions:

1. Remove Offending "Trigger" Foods

Remove especially dairy in all forms, eggs, hydrogenated oils, refined sugars, white flour products, soy, corn and wheat products, alcohol, caffeine, nightshade vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, green peppers, eggplant).

For 7 to 14 days, Eat Only:
(as much as you like)

A) Rice and sweet potatoes (for energy & protein)

B) Green and yellow vegetables, steamed or raw (for vitamins & minerals)

C) Non-citrus fruits (for vitamins, minerals & fiber)

D) Ample pure water, as soups, broth, teas, fresh vegetable juices, purified water, etc. -- at least a 6 ounce cup or glass every 2 hours. This is very important!

2. Repair "Leaky" gut (for 30 days):

A) Quercetin 250 mg. 3 times a day.

B) Glutamine 250-500 mg 3 times a day

C) Acidophilus supplement (live culture, non-dairy) between meals

(The above supplements are available at natural food stores.)

D) Ultra Clear Sustain Power -- 2 times a day (instructions come with product) Contact Metagenics at (800) 647-6100

3. Enhance Natural Anti-Inflammatory Processes

Daily for 60 days, then every 2 to 3 days:

A) Vitamin E -- 400-800 I.U. per day

B) Vitamin C -- 1 gram 3 times a day

C) Flaxseed oil (omega-3 fats) -- 2 to 3 teaspoons a day

D) High potency multivitamin/mineral supplement

4. After 7 to 14 Days, Reconstruct Diet with Safe Foods:

• Begin to add back previous dietary choices, one "test food" at a time, every 48 hours.

• Observe carefully any effects on your joins and other tissues while keeping a food diary or chart to record your body's reaction (if any) to each single re-introduced food.

• Note any food that incites swelling, stiffness, pain in joints, or any other adverse bodily reactions within 48 hours. As your list of "safe foods" grows, base your daily meal choices on foods that cause no problems and that make you feel best.

• Re-challenge after six months with any "problem foods" you wish to include in your diet.

• If adverse effect recurs, eliminate that food from the diet completely for 1 year and then rechallenge.

For Osteoarthritis, also know as Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD), here are some nutritional keys:

1. Achieve lean body weight to take "grinding" load off joint surfaces.

2. For six months, eliminate nightshade vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, green peppers, eggplant [20% of DJD patients are sensitive to solanum alkaloids in nightshade vegetables])

• If desired, after six months, re-challenge with each nightshade vegetable separately and observe results.

3. Flaxseed oil: 2 to 3 teaspoons per day (to help inflammation) Vitamin E 400-800 I.U. per day

4. Vitamin B-12: 500-1000 mcg., sublingual, every other day for 60 days, then twice weekly.

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