Some people benefit from taking lactic-acid probiotics like Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium, while others do better with yeast-derived probiotics like Saccharomyces boulardii or soil-based organisms like Bacillus. For some people, a combination of all three probiotic types is ideal.
If you have an inflammatory type of arthritis, probiotics may be especially important. The beneficial bacteria appear to have an impact on inflammation, reducing common biomarkers of inflammation, including C-reactive protein (CRP).
In terms of probiotics, they said research indicated that Lactobacillus spp, bifidobacteria, and Akkermansia muciniphil helped produce the inflammation-reducing SCFA butyrate.
casei probiotic bacteria seems to be the strongest candidate for application as adjuvant therapy for RA patients.
Several nutritional supplements have shown promise for relieving pain, stiffness and other arthritis symptoms. Glucosamine and chondroitin, omega-3 fatty acids, SAM-e and curcumin are just some of the natural products researchers have studied for osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Turmeric. A golden spice that's long been used to lend color and flavor to foods, turmeric also has been used in ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for a variety of conditions, including arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders.
Vitamin B6: Research seems to show inflammation from RA lowers B6 levels which in turn makes the inflammation worse. In addition, the NSAIDs that many people use to treat their inflammation lowers B6 levels in people with RA.
Research from 2017 also recommends people living with RA eat probiotic yogurt and spices like turmeric and ginger, which have anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, the results of multiple studies suggest that turmeric and curcumin can prevent and combat inflammation.
Probiotics may help reduce the inflammation RA causes and restore balance to the digestive microbiota. Research suggests that compared to a placebo, treatment with probiotics Bacillus coagulans or Lactobacillus casei (L. casei) may lead to improvements on: self-assessed pain marker scales.
A general recommendation is to choose probiotic products with at least 1 billion colony-forming units and containing the genus Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus or Saccharomyces boulardii, some of the most researched probiotics.
Depending on how sensitive you are, many people feel a difference after a few days. More fundamental effects of the probiotics such as improvements to mood, weight loss or a reduction in inflammation of your gut barrier might set in after 4-8 weeks.
Vitamin E. Packed with antioxidants, vitamin E boosts your immune system and may also ease inflammation. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you might find it helps manage pain when used with standard treatment. You can easily get it from the foods you eat.
Heat and cold.
Use of heat, such as applying heating pads to aching joints, taking hot baths or showers, or immersing painful joints in warm paraffin wax, can help relieve pain temporarily. Be careful not to burn yourself. Use heating pads for no more than 20 minutes at a time.
Hot and cold cereals are good options. They are quick ways to get a serving of fiber-full whole grains that can help reduce inflammation. While oatmeal may be your go-to grain, there are several nutritious cereals made from corn, brown rice, quinoa, hemp, buckwheat and kamut.
Curcumin is the active chemical in turmeric root; it blocks inflammatory cytokines and enzymes in two inflammatory pathways. Several human trials have shown an anti-inflammatory benefit, which can translate to reduced joint pain and swelling. The yellow spice is popular in curries and other Indian dishes.
Some people use supplements to try to help manage joint pain from arthritis. Glucosamine, chondroitin, omega-3, and green tea are just a few of them. Glucosamine helps keep the cartilage in joints healthy and may have an anti-inflammatory effect.
Upping your vitamin D intake has been shown to help with symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, which is essential for building strong bones. Too little of this vital nutrient can lead to having thin, soft and brittle bones, known as osteomalacia in adults and rickets in children.
Another study found that vitamin D deficiency is common in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and may be linked to musculoskeletal pain. Not having enough vitamin D can: affect your immune system. reduce calcium and phosphorus levels.
Tea is one of the best beverages for arthritis patients due to its many health benefits. Green, black and white teas are all rich in anti-inflammatory compounds like polyphenols. Green tea is generally viewed as the most beneficial because of its active ingredient “epigallocatechin-3-gallate” or EGCG.
Several herbal remedies are promoted today for treating arthritis, including turmeric, ginger, Boswellia serrata, devil's claw, willow bark extract and feverfew. Not all herbal products are the same. Some are only available as pills. Others come in a variety of forms, including capsules, tinctures and teas.
Joint pain, especially in the knee, due to arthritis affects about 1 in 10 older Americans. Research finds that an ingredient in the spice turmeric can significantly reduce knee pain in people with osteoarthritis – but it won't improve swelling or change cartilage.