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Rheumatoid Arthritis is an ongoing condition where your immune system attacks your joints and sometimes other organs. This causes pain, stiffness and swelling in the affected joints. There is also no known cure for RA. However, if you or someone you know has Rheumatoid Arthritis, you may have heard that some elements of your diet can help.

Many people who were studied have found that by eliminating certain foods from their diet, their symptoms have eased dramatically. This form of diet, or elimination diet, takes out certain items you are consuming and then gradually adding them back in to see which is causing the pain and inflammation to recur. Most foods that are eliminated are those with high percentages of saturated fats, such as bacon, steak, butter and cream. These high saturated fat foods increase the amount of inflammation chemicals called Prostaglandins. These prostaglandins have been known to cause pain, inflammation and joint destruction in people with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Other studies have shown that meat contains arachidonic acids. Arachidonic acids can change to inflammatory prostaglandins in the body. Some people who have changed to a vegetarian diet have found their RA symptoms have all but disappeared while others have no change at all. Another problematic fatty acid is Omega-6. Omega-6 is found in vegetable oils contains linoleic acid. A normal Americanized diet contains more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids that can be found in fish.

By adding more omega-3s to your diet and removing the foods that are high in prostaglandins, linoleic acids and omega-6 fatty acids, you can diminish the amount of swelling and inflammation in your body. Taking an Omega-3 supplement can also help with your inflammation symptoms.

Studies suggest that a Mediterranean diet or a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and Vitamin C can possibly lower the risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis. We know that RA is not as severe in Greece and Italy. Those countries main diet consists of huge amounts of fruits, vegetables, olive oil and fatty fish that are high in omega-3s. This diet may even protect you from getting a severe case of RA.

If you are currently on the medication Methotrexate for your symptoms of RA, adding Folic Acid or a folic acid supplement may ease your side effects of taking the medication. Selenium is another supplement that can be taken. Studies have shown that people who suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis have a lowered amount of selenium in their systems. Eating a 3.5 ounce can of tuna fish can give you your daily recommended allowance of selenium. Vitamin D and calcium are also needed supplements if you are taking Prednisone. Prednisone is linked to bone loss in RA sufferers, so getting your daily dose of calcium and Vitamin D are important. Ask your doctor how much calcium to need to add to your diet to counteract the bone lost to prednisone.

Another study has shown that by drinking alcohol in moderation and weight loss can also lower your chance of getting Rheumatoid Arthritis. Do not drink alcohol, however, if you are currently taking methotrexate, as this can cause severe liver damage. Losing weight is very important for your joint health as well. Being overweight can add to the strain you put on your knees, hips and other joints, not to mention the added strain on your heart.

Alexis has been a victim of Rheumatoid Arthritis for almost 20 years and runs an informational site providing Rheumatoid Arthritis diet information and methods of relief. Her aim is to help other cope with the pain of the disease and live a normal life. To find out more, visit www.livingwithrheumatoid.com

An overview of the Lightning Process training programme by Advanced Practitioner Russell Stubbs.

Which health conditions can the Lightning Process be used for?

In the following article I will refer to the condition of CFS – Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The same principals apply equally to M.E. – Myalgic Encephomyalitis, P.V.F.S. – Post Viral fatigue Syndrome and F.M. Fibromyalgia. The training is also applicable to any health condition that would benefit from a positive influence on the immune system.

What triggers the start of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

There are many different ways in which people develop Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. For some sufferers the condition develops after contracting a bacterial infection or virus. For others the trigger can be due to a build up of stress or one specific stressful event. Some other triggers include operations, vaccinations, injuries, toxins, along with many more.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can last for years or decades.

Irrespective of how the condition starts, a common pathway appears to form. The condition then persists, sometimes for years or decades. During this time sufferers typically seek help from conventional and alternative medical practitioners. Many treatment approaches result in limited or short-term success and the search for a cure continues.

What influence does the stress response have?

The current research into fatigue related conditions indicates a sustained stress response in sufferers. Many treatment approaches are aimed at alleviating symptoms. Some others attempt to teach you strategies to best manage your available energy. These types of approaches are missing the key point. Until the stress response can be bought back into balance, full recovery in the long term is unlikely.

The discovery part of the Lightning Process

The Lightning Process is a three day training programme. During the initial part of the training, participants are taken through a discovery process. The purpose of this is to uncover unconscious patterns that are driving the stress response. These include thought processes, behaviors, beliefs and expectations. They did not cause the condition, but play a key role in its maintenance.

Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome the only place where these patterns are found?

These patterns are not unique to this condition, most are common human traits. The problem occurs when they become out of balance, which seems to be the common ground in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Participants are also shown the physiological consequences of a sustained stress response. The very mechanism that has helped our species to survive – Fight or Flight, can adversely affect most bodily systems when activated over the long term.

How can we change these patterns using Lightning Process?

After identifying the powerful link between body and mind, participants are then instructed in how to use this connection to influence health in a positive way. Through the use of specific body movements and certain targeted questions it becomes possible to consistently change these destructive cycles. When used in a consist way the cycle of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can be collapsed rapidly.

How does the Lightning Process utilize neural plasticity?

The brain has the ability to adapt and change according to experience, this is called “neural plasticity”. The Lightning Process becomes an effective tool for harnessing this brain function. With the right training and consistent application it is possible to literally re-form pathways in the brain. By uncovering damaging responses and then changing them from moment-to-moment this becomes an effective way of positively influencing health and well-being.

Is the Lightning Process suitable for everyone?

The Lightning Process is unfortunately not for everyone. As it is a training programme and not a treatment or therapy, it is vital that the participant is ready to make considerable changes in a number of areas. It is also necessary to be committed to doing the sometimes challenging work required. For those who are ready and committed, the results can be quite remarkable. Thousands of people use the training every year to resolve health conditions that have blighted their lives and health for many years.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a condition that causes excessive fatigue. The diagnosis is given to patients who have suffered from extreme tiredness for more than six months. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome often occurs following an infection or illness or stressful event, due to the stress that is caused on the persons system. However, it is not known to be directly caused by any other illness or infection.

People who suffer from this condition can experience symptoms like muscle pain, tiredness, depression, memory loss and other neurological problems, fever, headaches, enlarged glands, digestive problems along with many others. Recently, CFS has been attributed to a Vitamin B deficiency in many patients. Anyone that suffers from ME/CFS will find their daily lives disrupted to differing degrees by the fatigue that they are experiencing. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can cause it to be extremely difficult to complete normal daily activities. It will generally cause people to tire very easily from simple tasks.

People who suffer from CFS/ME are known to have other physiological and psychological changes in the body. These changes can occur in the central nervous system, the immune system, and the function of muscle. Every patient experiences different symptoms and effects of this condition. Also, many changes that are related to CFS can be found in healthy people. This makes it very difficult to determine the nature of the illness and the best course of treatment.

In South London, researchers at Kings College Hospital have recently completed a study of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and its relationship with B Vitamins in the body. Physical examinations of sufferers appeared normal, but blood analysis provided some insight. When blood samples were tested, Vitamin B6 had significantly lower levels than what is considered normal. In addition, Vitamin B1 and B2 showed small deficiencies.

Since these deficiencies can affect energy levels and other body systems over time, they could provide a contributing factor in the development of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The first report of this relationship between Vitamin B deficiencies and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome was documented in 1939 by a group from the University of Cincinnati. A study was performed on a group of patients who suffered from the symptoms of CFS. At that point, the disease was not well known. However, the patients in the study did show improvement when given Vitamin B6 in synthetic form.

The original study is not well documented, causing a debate as to whether this is a new find or not. For medical purposes, it doesn’t matter when this discovery was made. What matters is that B vitamin supplements could be a helpful consideration to improve and manage the symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It would be necessary for anyone considering this approach to consult their doctor before taking a course of dietary supplements.