Volume 4 - Issue 8

Featured Content from The Arthritis & Glucosamine Resource Center

1. The Research Backing Glucosamine
   Glucosamine works to stimulate joint function and repair. It is beneficial in the treatment of osteoarthritis, the most prevalent type of arthritis. A number of studies over the last 20 years have shown this.
2. A New Finding on NSAID's and Glucosamine
   A recent study conducted at Temple University has revealed an interesting development regarding the use of NSAID's (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). It would seem that these researchers share the same concerns that have been frequently reported in the Arthritis Chronicle.
3. Living With Osteoarthritis
   The signs of osteoarthritis, therapy, and what you can do to manage your pain.

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By J.R. Rogers

We have always been told that drinking eight 8-oz. glasses of water a day is essential to good health. As well, we have always been told that drinking soft drinks, coffee, tea and other liquid substitutes is not the answer.

Recently, I read two conflicting articles about this issue. One says that this issue of drinking eight 8-oz. glasses of water is a "myth" and that we should drink only when we feel we need to. As well, this article said that drinking "other liquids" as a substitute was fine. That runs contrary to everything I have ever heard about our need for water.

The other article took a different position. In fact, this physician said that we should be drinking water based on our body weight. Namely, that we should divide our body weight by two and that is the number of ounces of water (without substitutes) that we should consume on a daily basis.

I firmly believe that water plays an essential role when dealing with pain issues. For those who suffer from osteoarthritis, pain management is a big issue. I decided to try these two different theories for myself to see what kind of results I had.

What water does?
Our bodies are two-thirds water which should tell us something. It is an essential part of maintaining a healthy body. It moves nutrients and oxygen though our body. It also keeps our body temperature normal, aids in metabolism and helps us digest the foods we eat. For those who suffer from arthritis, it also "lubes" your joints.

How much water: When and where?
Although most of us are aware of that old theory that we should drink eight 8-oz. glasses of water a day, most of us don't pay much attention to that. If you ask yourself if you follow this rule, most don't. The article written by a physician restated this "rule of thumb."

For example, if you weigh 140 lbs. you should drink 70 ounces of water daily. If you used the old rule of eight 8-oz. glasses daily, that would not be enough. You would still be 6 ounces short of what your body needs. If you weigh 180 pounds, you should be drinking 90 ounces daily. That old formula would leave you a full 26 ounces shy of what you should consume. And consider this fact: this amount of water is just for normal day-to-day activity.

Other Factors
There is a little more to this doctor's concept of drinking this much water. If you consume caffeine, whether from coffee, tea of soft drinks you are encouraged to drink an additional four ounces of water for every eight ounces of (whatever drink) you consume that contains caffeine.

Also, for those who are physically active and exercise, you should weigh yourself before and after exercising. If you are doing any serious exercising, you would find that you might lose a full pound or more during a pretty vigorous workout activity. And for every pound you lose, you are encouraged to drink another 16-oz. glass of water.

Now, most serious athletes use "sports drinks" to fortify their workouts but I think they would be the first to tell you they also use a lot of water. As well, they drink water before and after exercising.

Whoa! That's a lot of water!
I was recently in a pain management doctor's office and his nurse handed me a list of things I should avoid to improve my pain management regimen. Sure enough, coffee was right up there under "drinks" to avoid. Of course, I happen to love a good cup of coffee like most people do so I decided to give this new water intake a try. The results were amazing.

As soon as I get up in the morning, I start my day with two 8-oz. glasses of water. As the day goes on, I keep a water bottle close by even when I am working at my computer. In fact, I keep water close by no matter what I am doing.

This all took some getting used to. I was not accustomed to drinking this much water but it was well worth the effort. I feel like a million bucks.

Obviously, some of you would need eight 8-oz. glasses of water a day or less. If you weigh less than 128 pounds (that would be 64 ounces of water a day or exactly eight 8-oz. glasses) you would not require that much.

I did not try the other "suggested" approach. It may or may not be a good way to go. Frankly, I am a little wary about this other approach. Of course, you can try it either way. My feeling is that most physicians would tell you that consuming more water would be the way to do this. All I can do is share what my experience was.

Try it. You won't regret adding this little trick to your pain-fighting arsenal.

See you next time.

We invite you to participate in our Arthritis Message Board Community. You can learn about arthritis, ask questions, get feedback, make friends, and build a support network of fellow arthritis sufferers. Visit the Arthritis Message Boards today!

Artichoke Frittata A wonderful appetizer with lots of fresh-herb taste. Artichokes contain vitamin C and nutrients that support the structure of capillaries. A diet of fruits and vegetables yields lower homocysteine levels, which means less risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD), according to a 2002 report from scientists at Boston University. 1 12-ounce jar marinated artichoke hearts 4 eggs beaten 8 ounces small curd cottage cheese 1 small onion, chopped 1/8 teaspoon rosemary 1/8 teaspoon thyme 1/8 teaspoon basil 1/8 teaspoon marjoram Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Drain artichokes, reserving 2 tablespoons marinade. Combine artichokes, reserved marinade, eggs, cottage cheese, onion and seasonings in a bowl; mix well. Spoon into a greased 8-inch square baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until set and light brown. Cut into 1-inch squares.

Artichoke Frittata Serves 16. Per Serving: Calories 56; Fat 4 g; Cholesterol 55 mg; Fiber 1 g; Sodium 186 mg Find this and other recipes at The Arthritis Foundation

These past months in The Arthritis Chronicle, I've talked about my Eight Day Arthritis Ecourse that I had written. I had originally intended to give this informational course away free for only one issue, but due to the tremendous response and good word of mouth this course has brought, I have decided to give it away at no charge.

This Arthritis Course is packed with quality information on what you should know before you talk to your doctor, the arthritis diagnosis, treatment options, treatment side effects, glucosamine, tips on proper diets and exercise, weight management, alternative options, and an easy to understand explanation of what exactly arthritis is, how it occurs, and the effect on cartilage including a discussion of chondrocytes, collagen, proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans, and synovial fluid.

If you are committed to taking the right steps towards effectively easing arthritis pain and knowing all your options, then this course will be extremely helpful to you.

The course is spread out over an eight day period and a new part of the course is sent each day right to your email inbox.

Once you begin your course above, you will receive one article each day delivered right to your email inbox. The daily topics are:

1. The Arthritis Diagnosis
2. Osteoarthritis Explained
3. Exercise, Diet, and Weight
4. Cox-II Inhibitors and NSAIDs
5. So What is Glucosamine?
6. How to Evaluate Glucosamine Products
7. Alternative Arthritis Methods
8. Your New Arthritis Plan

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This concludes the August Issue of The Arthritis Chronicle. Look for the next issue in your inbox on September 1st, 2004! Please forward to any friends you know who have arthritis and would be interested.

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Have a great August from the Arthritis Chronicle
See you next month!

Please note:
As readers of this Chronicle are aware, prudent exercise benefits those who suffer from arthritis. Most of the exercise recommendations made here are low impact in nature and designed to assist those who suffer from arthritis. Nonetheless, we always recommend that you consult with your physician before engaging in any type of exercise program.