There are many factors to consider when it comes to arthritis pain relief. An arthritic diet is certainly one such factor. However, the term arthritis covers over 100 different diseases and conditions and there are many arthritic diets that may affect individuals differently depending on the type of arthritis. It would be impossible to cover all of different types of arthritis in this article, but we will look at the most common arthritis conditions: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia.

It is well know that those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis pain have an unusually low blood zinc level. Several independent studies have been conducted where rheumatoid arthritis patients have been given increased doses of zinc and showed marginal improvement, yet the tests were not extensive enough to be conclusive. Also, the effects of copper on rheumatoid arthritis have been studied for a long time, and although research studies vary, there seems to be some case for using copper to relieve suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.

While many medical experts dismiss copper therapy, it is suggested that if you do attempt copper therapy, that copper-rich foods are utilized instead of copper supplements, because copper supplements can cause side effects which include change in sense of taste and smell, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abnormal blood clots, increased joint pain, chills, anemia and kidney problems. Furthermore, excess copper can cause cirrhosis of the liver in patients prone to Wilson's Disease.

If you have decided to use copper therapy as a way to combat rheumatoid arthritis pain, there is an extensive choice of foods you can enjoy in order to increase your copper intake: lamb, pork, pheasant quail, duck, goose, squid, salmon, liver, oysters, scallops, shrimp, lobster, clams, crab, tofu, nuts, and soy milk are just a few of the foods that are rich in copper.

As for foods to avoid when suffering with rheumatoid arthritis, many nutritionists and naturopaths suggest avoiding dairy products all together, as they seem to exacerbate rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups. Also, one should be discouraged from taking doses of vitamins that are higher than recommended without a physician's direction. Some vitamins and minerals can actually worsen certain conditions and the concentration that can be attained through vitamins can be dangerous. It is much better to approach any desired increase in vitamin or mineral intake through food therapy.

In terms of relieving pain for those who suffer from osteoarthritis there has been some success with the food supplements glucosamine and chondroitin. These supplements can be found in pharmacies and health food stores, however the purity of the products or the dose of the active ingredients cannot be specified because the FDA does not monitor these supplements. The National Institutes of Health is studying glucosamine and chondroitin, so more should be known about the effectiveness of these products for osteoarthritis in the near future. Patients with osteoarthritis taking blood-thinners should be careful taking chondroitin as it can increase the blood-thinning and cause excessive bleeding.

Another supplement that has shown to provide some relief to those who suffer from osteoarthritis pain is fish oil. Fish oil supplements have been shown to have some anti-inflammation properties and increasing the dietary fish intake and/or fish oil capsules (omega 3 capsules) can sometimes reduce inflammation of arthritis.

Finally, in the case of fibromyalgia, although clinical proof is once again sparse, there is some evidence to indicate that eliminating wheat, dairy, citrus, sugar, Aspertame, alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco seem to relieve pain associated with fibromyalgia. According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, author of "The Total Health Program," nine of ten sufferers of fibromyalgia are female, and 76% of those who followed suggested dietary rules experienced a significant reduction in pain. The thing to keep in mind with fibromyalgia is that, unlike the other common arthritis ailments, it is more of a syndrome than a disease, and much of it can be reversed. Making corrections to diet as well as reducing stress and getting plenty of rest can lead to a full recovery.

Copyright 2006 Adam Waxler