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.
In terms of probiotics, they said research indicated that Lactobacillus spp, bifidobacteria, and Akkermansia muciniphil helped produce the inflammation-reducing SCFA butyrate.
Lactobacillus species represent well-characterized probiotics with established antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects [14]. Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA) has also been shown to ameliorate pain and prevent cartilage destruction in a chemically induced OA rat model [15].
Promoting Gut Health
Diet plays a critical role. A varied, plant-based diet that includes prebiotic and probiotic foods is a great start. But many healthy lifestyle habits that are good for arthritis are also beneficial for your gut. These include exercise, good sleep habits, stress management and smoking cessation.
Probiotics and Your Arthritis
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).
Try heat and/or ice therapy
Heat can help relieve muscle and joint stiffness, warm up joints before activity, and/or ease a muscle spasm. Cold can help reduce joint inflammation, swelling, and pain.
Minor inflammation often responds well to cold compresses and OTC pain relievers. More severe inflammation may require treatment with corticosteroids taken orally or injected into the joint.
Taking them on an empty stomach is a good idea for most probiotics as it improves their survival rates through stomach acid. Many people take them first thing in the morning after waking up—about 30 minutes before breakfast or 2-3 hours after your last meal in the evening before bed. The key is consistency.
Multiple studies reinforce the positive effects of probiotics on patients with UC. In one study, researchers found that VSL#3 (an eight-strain probiotic including lactobacilli, bifidobacilli, and Streptococcus thermophilus) significantly increased remission and positively impacted patients with UC [4] [5] [6].
Studies suggest that BIFIDOBACTERIUM strains offer the strongest results, although the Lactobacillus strains are another powerful bacterial strains. The specific probiotic strain that is most effective to support immune health and improving digestive issues.
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.
Diet, mainly due to the content of polyphenols and antioxidant vitamins and minerals found in plant foods, is one of the most widely studied modifiable factors for combating chronic inflammation. More recently, probiotics have emerged as a potential dietary approach for fighting off inflammation.
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.
Methotrexate is widely regarded as one of the safest of all arthritis drugs, though it carries some potential downsides.
What to do. Over-the-counter pain medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve) can help relieve occasional pain triggered by activity your muscles and joints aren't used to — such as gardening after a winter indoors.
Lifestyle changes such as increasing physical activity and exercise and reducing excess body weight can have the greatest effect on osteoarthritis. Developing relaxation and coping skills can help you maintain balance in your life, giving you a greater feeling of control over your arthritis and a more positive outlook.
Glucosamine, chondroitin, omega-3, and green tea are just a few of them. Glucosamine has been touted as an anti-inflammatory that helps keep the cartilage in joints healthy. Studies have shown some benefit for joint pain, but they are not conclusive. Natural glucosamine levels drop as people age.
Ginger can also benefit osteoarthritis patients, as it may help reduce cartilage deterioration and improve joint function. Studies have shown that ginger extract can help protect cartilage cells and inhibit the breakdown of collagen, which is essential for maintaining healthy joints.
Aside from being a great source of protein, eggs are a natural source of vitamin D and some are fortified with omega-3's. Both omega-3's and vitamin D have been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect. Consuming two eggs per week as part of a well-balanced diet is recommended for most adults.
Bananas and Plantains are high in magnesium and potassium that can increase bone density. Magnesium may also alleviate arthritis symptoms.
Another study, published in Nutrients, found that yogurt consumption was associated with lower levels of inflammatory markers, and as the study authors note, “may be an important part of a healthy diet, designed to mitigate systemic inflammation.” Cohen recommends plain Greek yogurt, which has more protein than other ...