Using Antioxidants to Treat Arthritis: An Alternative for Arthritis Sufferers

There are those who say antioxidants are beneficial to arthritis sufferers, and there are those who say antioxidants are only useful as a preventative measure for arthritis. Many studies have been carried out by various labs, which compare drugs such as Diclofenac to vitamins such as vitamin E.

As an arthritis sufferer myself, who took Diclofenac for several years only to end up with stomach problems, my vote goes to vitamin E because it reduces the pain within a day and I experienced no side effects. Diclofenac, on the other hand, takes several days to reduce the inflammation before there is any pain relief and it is known to cause stomach problems; Diclofenac is supposed to be taken with milk.

Dr Canter, a research fellow in complementary medicine at the Peninsula Medical School in England, UK, claims that: "There is no convincing evidence supporting the use of vitamins A, C, E or selenium in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis." However, Canter does say that a larger study may find these vitamins effective as prevention for arthritis because fruit and vegetables contain antioxidants which are tied into the fiber that hangs around in the colon and stomach where it is believed that they render free radicals neutral. Carter goes on to suggest eating lots of fruit and vegetables to gain their antioxidant protection because evidence to prove that antioxidants are beneficial to arthritis sufferers is lacking - and he suggests avoiding antioxidant supplements because of the potential adverse effects.

Fruits and vegetables have long been heralded for their healing properties. There are countless books and articles on which specific fruits and vegetables you should consume to treat or cure your particular illness. In an article by Barbara White-Sax in Drug Store News, it is stated that exotic fruits, such as mangosteen and noni, have been linked to arthritis pain relief. In Nutritional Healing by Phyllis Balch it is suggested that arthritis sufferers eat alfalfa because it contains minerals that are essential for bone formation and it may help arthritis. She also suggests