Mediterranean Diet Help Rheumatoid Arthritis
In a recent article in Nutrition & Metabolism rheumatoid arthritis patients who adopted a “modified Cretan Mediterranean diet”, obtained a reduction in disease activity and an improvement in physical function and vitality. The authors of this study propose that this shift in diet is likely as a result of an altered intake of fatty acids. Therefore, the objective of their present study was to examine the dietary intake of fatty acids, as well as the fatty acid profile in serum phospholipids, during the dietary intervention study presented earlier.
Here’s what they had to say:
“From baseline to the end of the study, changes in the reported consumption of various food groups were observed in the Mediterranean diet group. The change in diet resulted in a number of differences between the Mediterranean diet group and the control diet group regarding the fatty acid intake. For instance, a lower ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids was observed in the Mediterranean diet group, both assessed by diet history interviews (dietary intake) and measured in serum phospholipids. Moreover, the patients in the Mediterranean diet group that showed a moderate or better clinical improvement during the study (diet responders), had a higher reported intake of n-3 fatty acids and a lower ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids compared to the patients with minor or no improvement. Also the fatty acid profile in serum phospholipids differed in part between the diet responders and the diet non-responders.” Nutrition & Metabolism 2005, 2:26
So in other words, they are saying that the Mediterranean diet provided more essential fatty acids compared to the control group and this was the positive influence on rheumatoid symptoms.
How does rheumatoid arthritis develop?
First let’s take a look at rheumatoid arthritis. The disorder, characterized by the immune system waging an attack on the synovial membrane, usually appears first in the small joints of the hands and feet. So in other words, your body is attacking itself. Joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis become stiff and swollen as a result of inflammation of the synovial membrane. Gradually, the inflammation damages both the ends of the bones and the cartilage that covers them. In most cases, rheumatoid arthritis affects several joints. The signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis come and go over time. They include pain and swelling in the smaller joints of the hands and feet; generalized aching or stiffness of the joints and muscles, especially after sleeping or periods of rest; loss of motion of the affected joints; loss of strength in muscles attached to the affected joints; fatigue; low grade fever and deformity of the joints over time.
What about the Mediterranean Diet?
Defining and understanding the Mediterranean Nutrition and Diet is not easy because there are several countries that border the Mediterranean Basin. Traditional diets from the people living in the 1960's in countries like Greece, and Southern Italy have been studied over the past several years. Following scientific research and statistical analyses, the Cretan (from the island of Crete) nutrition and diet has been proven to promote health and longevity. It consists almost exclusively of products that the people of Crete produce naturally - products that only the island of Crete and its ideal climatic conditions can offer.
Another study has also shown the Cretan population to be the longest living one: when, in 1991, thirty one years after the beginning of the study, the Social Health Sector of the University of Crete undertook the medical checkup of the group, about 50% were found to be still alive as opposed to the rest of the six participating countries where there wasn't a single survivor (even in the rest of Greece). Until recently the diet was simple and “wholesome” consisting of olive oil, which counted for 1/3 of the individual's daily need in energy, but mainly cereals, principally bread, vegetables and fruit, plus fresh cheese, milk, eggs, fish and a little red wine with every meal. This diet is very similar to that of a Monkey Type Diet.
Considering the conditions of today's lifestyles and eating habits, we would recommend a return to the traditional eating habits of the people of Crete. The diet consists of fresh foods, no preservatives, no chemicals. This is part of the reason why this diet is so healthy for most people.
However, as usual, we recommend that you eat according to your Diet Type. Patients who type out to be Lion Type Diet and Otter Type Diet will find that this diet may be too high in carbohydrates. But the principles of the diet are excellent.
Some of the basic principles of the Mediterranean Diet include:
• Using olive oil as the principal fat, replacing other fats and oils.
• Drink a moderate consumption of wine, normally with meals; about one to two glasses per day for men and one glass per day for women.
• Eat fresh fruit as a typical daily dessert; limit sweets with a significant amount of sugar and saturated fat.
• Incorporate an abundance of food from plant sources, including fruits and vegetables, breads and grains, beans, nuts, and seeds.
• Eat minimally processed and seasonally fresh and locally grown foods.
• Total dietary fat should range from less than 25 percent to over 35 percent of energy, with saturated fat no more than 7 to 8 percent of total calories.
• Eat low to moderate amounts of cheese and yogurt daily (fresh).
• Consume low to moderate amounts of fish and poultry weekly; and limit eggs from zero to four servings per week.
• Only eat red meat a few times or just one time per month.
Another comparative study among several developed countries, which began in 1960 on behalf of seven countries, has a group of about 700 Cretan men from the countryside under medical observation, regularly checking the state of their health: so far this group has had the lowest percentage of deaths caused by heart attacks and different kinds of cancer.
They have a tremendously low incidence of chronic diseases and high life-expectancy, yet interestingly enough, the traditional Mediterranean diet delivers as much as 40% of total daily calories from fat, yet the associated incidence of cardiovascular diseases is very low. Olive oil does not have the same cholesterol-raising effect of saturated fats. Olive oil is also a good source of antioxidants. Eating fish a few times per week benefits the Mediterranean people by increasing the amount of "Omega-3 fatty acids" - something that the rest of the developed societies don't get enough of.
Eating red meat sparingly seems to also increase the health of some people. There is a general consensus among health professionals that the Mediterranean Diet is healthier than the North European and American diet because more grains, such as spaghetti, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and olive oil are consumed. We would concur that the Mediterranean Diet is far more “healthy” than the American diet, however, that still does not make it right for all people.
Back to Rheumatoid Arthritis:
We natural medicine practitioners look for the cause of the problem and recommend therapies that address the source of the disease. This involves giving the body what's missing and removing what's harmful.
Since autoimmune diseases are caused by autoantibodies, the question we ask is, "Why is this person making these antibodies?" Most experts in the natural medicine field believe that many of these autoantibodies are produced by the body in response to an infection or allergen. When the offending infection(s) or allergen(s) are removed, the production of these destructive autoantibodies stops.
To help the body stop producing autoantibodies, patients are placed on allergy elimination diets. The offending foods are avoided for three months. To determine if there is an offending organism related to the autoimmune disease, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for the offending organism in the blood is done. The test scans the blood for foreign DNA. The treatment regime varies depending on the type of organism found. Antibiotics are administered for bacteria, antivirals for viruses, antifungals for fungus infections.
Many of our patients turn out to be allergic to a wide array of foods, particularly wheat, dairy, and eggs. Eliminating these things from the diet has helped many of our RA patients improve symptoms quite rapidly, especially with the dairy products.
Why would the Mediterranean Diet help RA patients?
We typically find that RA patients, as well as others with autoimmune diseases test out to have alkaline (above neutral) blood pH levels. They typically need to follow the Giraffe Type Diet which is a vegan strict vegetarian diet. Often times, by following this diet, many of their symptoms abate. They may be able to eventually liberalize their diets to a Monkey Type Diet, but will usually need to stay on the vegetarian side of the diets.
We can definitely learn some things from our friends the Mediterraneans. They eat fresh, unprocessed, unrefined foods. That is a huge plus for anyone. They also include veggies and whole grains in their diets every day. They regularly consume fish and get a good supply of fish and olive oils in their diets – which RA patients could definitely benefit from! If you want to know what foods are best for you and if you don’t know your Diet Type, give us a call and get scheduled for testing today.
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