Some have said that nightshades are a problem. They are not. This is an old myth that has been going on for years. This is the list.
eggplants
red peppers
tomatoes
white potatoes
tobacco

If you do eat any of these foods, pay attention to any reaction you might have in the next 24 hours. If you notice a reaction, you are indeed allergic to that food item.

Society Factors
If there are two major factors that we could examine in the past 50-60 years that has lead to an increase in the numbers of people who suffer from arthritis, it would be these:

1. Sugar has become a major part of our daily diets
2. The consumption of soda pop has become widespread.

Let’s talk about soda. It is difficult to believe but every time you drink a (regular) soda, you are consuming 11-13 teaspoons of sugar. (Some of you may remember that old trick of putting a penny in a glass of soda. It corrodes that penny to the point of virtual destruction.) In short, soda is not something that you should be drinking on a regular basis if you are concerned about arthritis.

Food Labels
Read the labels contained on the foods you are buying in your local grocery. Be especially careful and avoid as much food as possible that contains preservatives and/or additives. (Take an extra careful look at labels on ice cream and candy for example.) The more natural your diet in terms of the food you eat, the greater your chances are of defeating arthritis.

Prepared Meals
Those meals you buy that can just be “popped” into the oven are also something you should avoid if possible. Some contain as much as 1200 mg of sodium and as much as 60 mg of cholesterol. (You might consider some of the other health factors at play here and not just your arthritis.) Read the rest of this article and 8 more tips for effectively dealing with arthritis

Celebrex and Vioxx Potentially Fatal

Celebrex and Vioxx: Dangerous and Potentially Fatal Side Effects

Celebrex and Vioxx were approved for the U.S. market back in 1999 for the treatment of arthritis and other types of pain. Both of the drugs constituted a new class of drugs called Cox-2 inhibitors. Their release seemed to be cause for celebration for individuals who had previously taken aspirin or other NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), but were bothered by gastrointestinal problems commonly associated with them.

Celebrex and Vioxx were touted as great medical developments in the many ads that promoted their benefits. Principal among these was the claim that Vioxx and Celebrex relieved pain without causing stomach problems. Specifically, these Cox-2 inhibitors are prescribed to relieve symptoms commonly associated with osteoarthritis, menstrual cramps, or other acute pain. Unfortunately, Vioxx and Celebrex pose troubling effects for some users and potentially fatal side effects.

Vioxx Side Effects: The Heightened Risk of Heart Attack Linked to Vioxx
Recent studies have shown that Vioxx can increase the incidence of heart attack nearly four times greater than that of traditional arthritis pain relievers like NSAIDS. More specifically, the new study out of the Cleveland Clinic noted an increase in the development of myocardial infarctions, or heart attacks, in people treated with Vioxx, when compared with those treated with naproxen (a standard NSAID). While the risk of heart attack is still low, it is a concern for those users who may have had cardiac problems in the past.

Whether the increased risk of heart attack is attributable to a property of Cox-2 inhibitors (this includes both Vioxx and Celebrex), or whether it is solely specific to Vioxx, is not yet known.

Celebrex Side Effects: Deaths Linked to Celebrex
While the recent report linked heart attacks specifically to Vioxx, this does not mean that Celebrex is not without its risks as well. Several years ago when the drug initially came to market, The Wall Street Journal ran a story that spread throughout the media linking Celebrex to 10 deaths during its first three months on the market. In addition, there were eleven other cases of gastrointestinal hemorrhage associated with the drug. The Wall Street Journal obtained the information using the FDA's Freedom of Information Act. Of the ten deaths, half of them were from ulcers (also known as gastrointestinal bleeding). Two of the deaths occurred from heart attack, one to a kidney problem, one to an interaction with another drug, and no cause was given for the other death. While nothing came of this story (i.e. Celebrex was not deemed responsible for the deaths), the recent revelations bring to life once again the potential dangers associated with Cox-2 inhibitors.

Furthermore, Vioxx and Celebrex do not do anything whatsoever to assist with osteoarthritis, they simply treat the pain. Glucosamine on the other hand is completely safe and has been shown to actually asist in rehabilitating cartilage through the production of proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans.

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The Pet Arthritis Chronicle

Beginning February 15th 2002, The Pet Arthritis Resource Center will begin publishing The Pet Arthritis Chronicle

In The Pet Arthritis Chronicle you can expect to find:

• The latest news in the fight against arthritis in dogs and cats
• Informative articles on what you can do to effectively ease arthritis pain and hip dysplasia in your dog or cat
• Information, pros and cons, and side effects on all the medical treatments
• Interviews with leading authorities on Arthritis in pets
• A pet arthritis book review section

For dozens of articles on arthritis and hip dysplasia in pets, visit the Pet Arthritis Resource Center

How to Evaluate a Glucosamine Product

What is Glucosamine?
Scientific studies show that glucosamine can be very beneficial in fighting osteoarthritis in both humans and pets. It has been proven effective in easing osteoarthritis pain, assisting in the rehabilitation of cartilage, renewing synovial fluid, and repairing joints that have been damaged from osteoarthritis.

Each person produces a certain amount of glucosamine within their bodies. When people grow older, their bodies lose the capacity to make enough glucosamine, so the cartilage in their weight-bearing joints, such as the hips, knees, and hands is destroyed, then hardens and forms bone spurs, causing pain, deformed joints, and limited joint movement.

These findings were first reported in the early 80's in the European medical community. By the end of the 1990's, numerous double-blind, placebo controlled, glucosamine studies had been published, all reporting that glucosamine was indeed very effective in easing osteoarthritis pain, and that it was safe for long term use.

With such great news spreading very quickly, the glucosamine industry exploded. Almost every major nutraceutical or vitamin company put out a glucosamine product, and today it can be purchased in just about every food store, health food store, vitamin store, wellness clinic, and chiropractors office.

Glucosamine products are not created equal.
There are five main factors that you need to analyze when selecting a glucosamine product. These are:

• Amount of glucosamine per daily dose
• Type of Glucosamine
• Quality of Ingredients
• Delivery System
• Synergistic Ingredients
• Price Per Day

The Science Backing Liquid Glucosamine
Glucosamine provided in liquid form is absorbed more quickly, much more fully, and provides greater and longer lasting relief. You see if you are taking 1500 mg of glucosamine in capsule form, and you absorb 20% of this, you are really only getting 300mg of this actually absorbed into your bloodstream. However, if you take 1250mg of glucosamine in liquid form, 80-85% of which is absorbed, you are getting approximately 1000 mg of glucosamine actually absorbed into your system per day, which will provide much fuller relief, much more quickly.

Instead of receiving some relief in 6-10 weeks (many people receive no relief at all) with glucosamine in powder form from capsules, those who use a high quality liquid glucosamine formula can expect to notice results in about 7-14 days. As the pain is being eased, the liquid glucosamine also assists in rehabilitating the cartilage by renewing the supply of synovial fluid by producing the molecule nutrient protogylcans.

Furthermore, for those who do not like to swallow pills, liquid glucosamine is much easier to take. So, what are the leading liquid glucosamine products out there and how do they stack up? Click to view our recommendations for liquid glucosamine products. (This product guide was prepared by the makers of Syn-flex)

Arthritis Message Boards

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!

8 Tips to Control Arthritic Pain

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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See You Next Month

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

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Have a great February 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.