Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits For Arthritis

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While apple cider vinegar’s health benefits cannot cure arthritis, it can certainly help to relieve the pain and many people have attested to its effectiveness. The word ‘arthritis’ refers to any process that causes inflammation of joints and surrounding tissues. Arthritis can strike at any age, and the number of arthritis sufferers increases each year. During a person’s lifetime, arthritis is more likely to restrict activity than cancer, diabetes or heart disease.

Unfortunately, many arthritis sufferers never find a way of overcoming the debilitating symptoms of the disease. They may seek help from their doctor, and find that the medication they are prescribed causes unpleasant side effects.

The word ‘arthritis’ refers to any process that causes inflammation of joints and surrounding tissues. Inflammation is a natural process in which the body’s immune system reacts to infection, injury or any abnormal form of irritation. The area of inflammation becomes red, swollen and abnormally warm.

When inflammation takes place around a site of infection or injury its role is to kill any invading organisms and speed up the removal of debris from dead bacteria (or viruses) and tissue. In other words, inflammation is a healthy part of the normal healing process.

Unfortunately, there are times when the immune system mistakes the body’s own normal tissues for the ‘enemy’, and attacks them. This is known as an auto-immune reaction. Inflammation is the real culprit in arthritis, and the use of apple cider vinegar is to help control inflammation.

Arthritis is one of the most common chronic diseases of aging in the Western world. Most arthritics suffer from osteoarthritis, where joints become worn down and painful. Over time, inflammation and permanent joint damage can result. As cartilage is worn away from joints, the body may try to fix the damage by depositing calcium, but often such calcium deposits create painful bone spurs that further compromise joint function.

People who are obese, avoid exercise, smoke, or shun vegetables are at a greatly increased risk of developing arthritis. Conventional drug treatment—with painkillers, anti-inflammatories, and cortisone shots—sometimes works to relieve the symptoms but doesn’t go to the root of the problem

Some researchers have presented compelling evidence that osteoarthritis is caused in part by a buildup of irritant metabolic wastes and toxins in the joint tissues. Levels of these toxins and wastes can be reduced dramatically with the right diet choices.

The power to begin to feel better is within you. Given the right nutritional building blocks, adequate rest, exercise, and a pollution-free environment, the human body has remarkable powers of restoration and self-healing. Healing takes time.

If you suffer from arthritis you need to eat foods, and take food supplements, that calm the inflammatory processes that cause pain. You also need to consume those nutrients that the body needs to build new and healthy tissues, such as cartilage in joints.

Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits For Arthritis

The science of nutrition has changed greatly over the past several decades, and we know more about how and why you can control illness through diet. Nutrient-rich apple cider vinegar can play a role in relieving pain and slowing the progression of arthritis with these health benefits:

Potassium

The potassium in apple cider vinegar is thought to help prevent the buildup of calcium in the joints, which causes stiffness and pain. There is limited research in this area, but a few scientists have conducted research that looked at whether increasing potassium could improve RA symptoms. One landmark study in 2008 showed a strong “anti-pain effect” of high-level potassium supplementation..

Pecticin

Furthermore, it has been suggested that the painful joints characteristic of arthritis may actually be caused by an accumulation of toxins in the joints. Pectin present in many fruits is known to naturally relieve joint pain and the pain of arthritis. Pectin is a tried and tested home remedy for arthritis. Fruit pectin is essentially insoluble fiber found in the skins of citrus fruits and apples, as well as in the cell walls of other fruits. Specifically, the pectin in apple cider vinegar helps to absorb the toxins and remove them from the body.

Detoxes

Apple cider vinegar is a natural detoxifier and will help to purify your whole body. Its acids detoxify the body by binding to toxins and wastes, neutralizing them so that they can’t do harm to body tissues. It’s said that apple cider vinegar helps remove built-up calcium deposits from the joints.

Weight Loss

Apple cider vinegar may help people with arthritis to lose weight. People with arthritis may find relief in their symptoms by maintaining a healthy weight, as this reduces the pressure on their joints. Some research has suggested that vinegar, including apple cider vinegar, can help to control blood sugar levels and contribute to weight loss.

How to Take Apple Cider Vinegar for Arthritis

Internal

Drink

The more common way of using apple cider vinegar as a treatment is by drinking it. It is recommended to take 1 tbsp of apple cider with the mother mixed in 1 cup of water at mealtimes for relief from pain. However, vinegar is highly acidic. Before consuming, dilute it with water to prevent damage to your teeth.

Supplements

The taste of apple cider vinegar even diluted can often be too tart for some. Fortunately, there are several alternatives to supplementing apple cider vinegar with apple cider vinegar gummies or apple cider vinegar capsules.

Topical

Skin

Using a cotton ball, apply vinegar to the affected area twice a day. To prevent irritation, consider diluting the solution with an oil — such as coconut oil or olive oil — and massage it into your skin. If you notice an adverse reaction, stop using it immediately.

Bath

It is also recommended to add apple cider vinegar to your bath before bed to relieve arthritis pain. Add one cup of vinegar to your evening bath and sit in the solution for 20 to 30 minutes. This can help reduce overnight stiffness and swelling.