Rheumatoid arthritis help - goodnews - diet therapy - Mediterranean diet - Brief Article

Better Nutrition, May, 2003

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease in which the body's immune system attacks cartilage in the joints. It affects about 2 percent of the population, but more women suffer from it than men.

The so-called Mediterranean diet--rich in olive oil, fish, poultry, fruits and vegetables--can relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Although this diet is usually recommended to cut the risk of heart disease, a study reported in the February 19, 2003 edition of the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases found that it also reduced pain and improved physical function in rheumatoid arthritis sufferers.

After three months on the diet, arthritis patients lost an average of 6.6 pounds, lowered their cholesterol levels and had significantly less pain in their joints than the control patients who did not change their eating habits.

Scientists also believe there are connections between rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease, which would explain the diet's success in treating RA. This corresponds with previous studies suggesting that inflammation--the main characteristic of RA--is a more important factor in heart disease than any other, including blood levels of cholesterol.

By coincidence, another study released a few days earlier concluded that women suffering from rheumatoid arthritis may face up to double the risk of heart attack than those without the disorder.