SoulVeggie

New Study: "Gluten-free Vegan and Rheumatoid Arthritis"

"... a study reported in Arthritis & Rheumatism (Volume 59, page 186) suggests that following a gluten-free vegan diet may protect rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients from heart disease and stroke. Here’s what the research suggests.

Following a gluten-free vegan diet appears to be an effective way of reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).  Researchers asked 38 people with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to eliminate for one year meats and dairy foods (including eggs) and glutens, a mix of proteins in some grains (primarily wheat, oats, rye, and barley). A control group of 28 people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) ate a healthy diet that included these foods.

At year's end, the gluten-free vegans had lowered their heart disease risk by several measures: The group lost an average of 9 lbs compared with only 2 lbs in the control group and had lower total cholesterol and lower LDL, the "bad" cholesterol that blocks arteries.  The vegans also had higher levels of an antibody -- anti-phosphorylcholine immunoglobulin A (antiPC IgA) -- associated with lower rates of atherosclerosis. And they had lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation associated with insulin resistance and excess weight.

More research is needed to pinpoint which elements of a vegan diet seem to do the most good for those with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Still, cutting back on meat, dairy, and gluten-containing grains could be a boon to your health -- as long as you make sure about 10% of your diet is protein. "

[Edited from here... pity they didn't try no-added oil as part of the dietary regimen...]

Plant Compounds Continue to Challenge Science

"The AICR [American Institute for Cancer Research] Releases New Brochure on Phytochemical Theory:  The one thing on which all nutritionists seem to agree is that consumption of vegetables and fruit helps fight many chronic diseases. Researchers trying to discover just how these plant food bolster our immune systems have focused for some time on phytochemicals.  “It is often said that phytochemicals are to the twenty-first century what vitamins were to the twentieth. Just as the intensive study of vitamins led to a new understanding of nutrition so research on phytochemicals will lead to a new science of prevention through diet,” said AICR Nutrition Advisor Karen Collins, RD.

That is why AICR has just released a new brochure which explains phytochemical theory in laymen’s terms. Part of its “Concepts in Cancer” series, the new brochure explains an idea that many have heard of but few fully understand.  Phytochemicals are chemical compounds whose primary function is to provide protective coloring, odor, texture, or taste to the plants in which they are found. When ingested, they have a demonstrable effect on the chemical processes in humans."

[Full article here and below, link to brochure here.... great summary of issues and tips on increasing your consumption of phytochemicals]

Cherries Pack an Anti-Inflammatory Punch

"A study by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) chemist Darshan S. Kelley and colleagues confirms that Bing cherries may help fight the inflammation of arthritis, heart disease and cancer.  For the research, 18 healthy men and women volunteers, aged 45 to 61, ate a total of about 45 fresh Bing cherries throughout the day for 28 consecutive days. Blood samples indicated that levels of three telltale indicators of inflammation—nitric oxide, C reactive protein and a marker for T-cell activation, termed "RANTES" — dropped by 18 to 25 percent by the end of the cherry-eating stint. ...The .... investigation is apparently the longest yet conducted — with healthy volunteers who ate fresh cherries instead of extracts — to explore the anti-inflammatory effects of sweet cherries."

[Full article here and below - yet another reason to eat your colors and go vegan]

Produce protects against arthritis

"Your morning glass of orange juice may be doing more than just helping you wake up - it might reduce your risk of arthritis. Researchers at the University of Manchester in England have found a possible link between consumption of brightly-colored fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, bell peppers, pumpkins, tangerines and papayas, and lower odds of developing inflammatory polyarthritis. The most common subgroup of inflammatory polyarthritis is the rheumatoid arthritis. The bright color indicates the fruits and vegetables are high in the pigment betacryptoxanthin, an antioxidant thought to protect against inflammation. The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, looked for connections between dietary beta-cryptoxanthin intake and inflammatory disorders. Researchers' analyzed health questionnaires and diet diaries among the more than 25,000 participants in the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer Incidence-Norfolk study. They then compared the diets of 88 subjects who had developed arthritis with those of 176 control subjects..."

[Full article here and below (some nice tips on incorporating colorful veggies in your diet)... yet another reason to go vegan or vegetarian]

A New Reason to Love Broccoli

"Sulforaphane, a compound in cabbage family veggies, may benefit your joints, reports Johns Hopkins researchers.  Already a recognized cancer fighter, sulforaphane appears to block the activity of the Cox-2 enzyme that triggers inflammation and pain.  A diet rich in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables (bok choy, brussel sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower) may be good for arthritis -- and for athletes, too, since strenuous exercise and muscle exertion raise levels of Cox-2."

[There's more... read the full blurb, from "Taste for Life" Magazine below]