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Does Fasting Help Rheumatoid Arthritis?

The AHA! Team — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 05:19:42 +0000

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM via Nutrition Facts – Fasting, followed by a plant-based diet, is put to the test for autoimmune inflammatory joint disease. Does Fasting Help Rheumatoid Arthritis? Alan Goldhamer is the founder of the TrueNorth Health Center in Santa Rosa, California, where 10,000 individuals have fasted for “a variety of conditions from diabetes and cardiovascular disease to autoimmune diseases.” He noted that “conditions that seemed to be tied to dietary excess tended to respond predictably to the use of fasting followed by a health-promoting diet,” which he describes as one that is “low salt, vegan, high fiber, low fat, low protein, and low sugar.” This approach offers people an option to make lifestyle changes “This approach offers people an option to make lifestyle changes, eliminate the cause of the problem, and stabilize their conditions, to the point where the medication is no longer needed.” It’s in contrast to “conventional medicine, which is more about the suppression of the symptoms associated with the disease, rather than removing the underlying mechanisms by which they are caused.” Said Dr. Goldhamer: “If you treat high blood pressure medically, they tell you, ‘You must take these drugs the rest of your life.’ If you have diabetes, they’ll tell you, ‘You’ll be on these medications the rest of your life.’ If you have autoimmune disease, like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis, or eczema, you will be told, ‘You must be on medications the rest of your life,’ because medicine guarantees you will never recover…” “They promise you, if you follow their advice explicitly, you will be sick the rest of your life.” Preliminary data suggest that fasting may benefit “metabolic diseases, pain syndromes, hypertension [high blood pressure], chronic inflammatory diseases, atopic [allergic] diseases, and psychosomatic disorders,” but the highest level of evidence we have for the benefits of fasting are in regard to rheumatic diseases—autoimmune inflammatory joint diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis. Nearly a century ago, it was written that “diet treatment is not generally recognized by the medical profession…as one of the weapons with which to attack rheumatic conditions.” This attitude persisted until relatively recently, but a systematic review of controlled trials has since shown “a statistically and clinically significant beneficial long-term effect.” Rheumatoid arthritis has a well-known genetic component Rheumatoid arthritis has a well-known genetic component, but the concordance rate—that is, the chance that a pair of identical twins both get it when one has it—is probably less than 30 percent, despite the twins having the same genes. That leaves 70 percent to be explained by nongenetic factors. Even if we don’t know exactly what those factors are, “fasting is very similar to rebooting the hard drive in a computer. Sometimes, the computer gets corrupted, and you do not know exactly where the problem is. But if you just turn it off and reboot it, a lot of times, that corruption gets cleared out.” The evidence base started with case reports of water-only fasting followed by a plant-based diet. There were remarkable reports of years of pain and stiffness that were not only gone within a week but, more importantly, stayed gone on the healthier diet. One after another, just like that. But case reports are merely glorified anecdotes. There have been studies going back decades suggesting that “fasting may represent the most rapid and most available way of inducing relief of arthritic pain and swelling for patients who have RA,” rheumatoid arthritis, but they often failed to control for the placebo effect, which is “particularly important whenever self-reporting systems are used (reports on general well-being, pain, stiffness, tiredness, and the like)”—that is, subjective symptoms. Fasting may represent the most rapid and most available way of inducing relief of arthritic pain and swelling for patients who have RA There are objective measures, however, including lab tests of inflammation that don’t appear to be affected by placebos. As shown below and at 3:22 in my video Fasting for Rheumatoid Arthritis is what can be seen in controlled trials, starting immediately and staying down for at least a year. 10 different measures of inflammation decreased significantly after the fasting & subsequent meat- & egg-free diet Ten different measures of inflammation decreased significantly after the fasting and subsequent meat- and egg-free diet, whereas none of the parameters budged in those individuals with rheumatoid arthritis who continued to eat their regular diets. What’s more, this squelching of inflammation translated into a significant reduction in pain, morning stiffness, loss of grip strength, and the number of tender and swollen joints, as you can see below and at 3:43 in my video. Even a year after the trial had ended, those who benefited from the diet continued to benefit in terms of less pain, stiffness, and tender and swollen joints, presumably because they stuck with it, as shown here and at 4:00 in my video. During the period of fasting both inflammation and pain are reduced in RA patients “There is little doubt that during the period of fasting both inflammation and pain are reduced in RA patients,” individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. “However, after the normal diet is resumed, inflammation returns unless the fasting period is followed by a vegetarian diet…” Why might that be? It could be due to changes in the microbiome. The improvement in symptoms coincided with a “significant alteration in the intestinal flora” when patients switched from an omnivorous diet. “A diet can change intestinal flora and this may somehow be beneficial in RA,” perhaps by strengthening the gut barrier. We know fasting can decrease the leakiness of the gut in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, but we don’t yet know what role, if any, this plays in the disease process. It could be as simple as eicosanoids, the mediators of inflammation that are formed from arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid is a long-chain, inflammatory, omega-6 fatty acid found in animal fats. As seen below and at 5:04 in my video, the biggest contributors are chicken and eggs, which together contribute nearly half the intake of Americans. That’s also been suggested as an explanation for why those eating more plant-based appear to have better mental health; they aren’t suffering the “cascade of neuroinflammation” caused by arachidonic acid. Removing eggs, chicken, and other meats was shown to improve mood It’s also why removing eggs, chicken, and other meats was shown to improve mood in a randomized controlled trial, suggesting the arachidonic acid “may negatively impact mood state.” It may also help explain the impact of more plant-based diets on inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. So, all of this may help explain why “maintaining a nutrient-dense, vegan diet of unrefined plant foods”—a plant-based diet—“appears to be necessary after the fast to prevent the recurrence of symptoms and inflammatory activity,” or as one popular press article put it, fasting may just be a tool to get you to radically kickstart a change in the way you eat. For more on fasting, see related posts below. This video was originally part of my Fasting for Disease Reversal webinar. If you want to see all of the videos in one place, check them out here. Stay tuned for Fasting for Autoimmune Diseases, coming up next. For more on rheumatoid arthritis, see Turmeric Curcumin and Rheumatoid Arthritis, Why Do Plant-Based Diets Help Rheumatoid Arthritis?, and Friday Favorites: Fasting for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Autoimmune Diseases. Key Takeaways Fasting, followed by a low-salt, vegan, high-fiber, low-fat, low-protein, and low-sugar diet, has been reported to help manage and even eliminate symptoms of various chronic conditions, including autoimmune diseases and cardiovascular issues. Fasting, especially when followed by a plant-based diet, has shown significant benefits in reducing inflammation and pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, with effects lasting even after the fasting period ends. The shift from an omnivorous to a plant-based diet may positively alter gut flora and reduce the inflammatory response, potentially due to decreased intake of arachidonic acid, a pro-inflammatory fatty acid found in animal products. The benefits of fasting and a plant-based diet in managing rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions seem to be sustained only if the dietary changes are maintained long-term. To read the original article click here.

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Is Hemp Oil Safe, Effective, and Healthy? Read This First

AHA Publisher — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 07:00:14 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – Do you have questions about hemp oil? You’ve likely heard stories of people using it for discomfort and joint stiffness, depressed or anxious moods, and more. But, what is it really? Is it safe? Healthy? Is it legal? Here are the basics of hemp oil, and the potential benefits many users experience. In addition, find out more about our new and exciting product below: Dr. Colbert’s Nano-Science Hemp Oil! Hemp Oil 101 Like most plants found on Earth, the hemp plant has many active compounds. Biologically, hemp is classified as a cannabis plant. It contains a myriad of beneficial compounds that have been shown to support many different aspects of health. Additionally, hemp is a strong fibrous plant. It is used to make paper, rope, clothes, fuel, and textiles. There are actually many formulations of hemp oil on the market, each with its own pros and cons. Benefits of Hemp Oil Why use hemp oil when there are other plant-based compounds available? Hemp oil, especially nano-particle oils, is different from many other plant-based compounds. In fact, it: Supports healthy, stable moods (1) Promotes stress relief and normalized cortisol levels Supports comfortable, healthy joints (2) Encourages healthy sleep habits (3) Promotes healthy skin with fewer irregularities and blemishes (4) Supports healthy brain and nervous system functions (5) Encourages healthy cardiovascular functions and normalized inflammatory actions (6) Hemp Oil and Formulations There are many formulations of hemp oil available. These include: 1. OILS AND TINCTURES Oils and tinctures are mixtures of CBD oil and another liquid, usually another oil or an alcohol. They are typically placed under the tongue and absorbed via the capillaries in the mouth. 2. CAPSULES AND CONVENTIONAL PILLS Hemp capsules and pills are gaining a lot of popularity. In fact, the FDA recently approved one pill for seizure conditions and digestive issues (1). Capsules and pills have the advantage of being formulated to withstand digestive acids and enzymes when delivering hemp oil to the body. 3. NANO-PARTICLE OILS What’s more, there are now nano-particle hemp oils. Nano-particle hemp molecules are coated with very small organic compounds, like liposomes or lipid nanoparticles. These nanoparticles increase the stability and rate of delivery of hemp oil to the bloodstream compared to conventional hemp oil. In addition, nano-particles are thought to allow the hemp oil compounds to remain in the body and interact with tissues for a longer period of time after delivery. One 2017 animal study found that oral nano-particle compounds were 600% more bioavailable than non-nano particles (7). This is a significant increase. While new to hemp oil, nano-particles have been used for decades in supplements and medications. It is the optimal formulation. 4. EDIBLES Edibles are another hemp oil option. They are usually in the form of cookies, gummies, or other foods. They are generally tasty, but do have to go through digestion before they are absorbed, without being protected from acids and enzymes. 5. CREAMS AND LOTIONS Hemp oil can also be absorbed through the skin, but likely at a lower concentration than oral formulations. 6. VAPING Vaping is the process of inhaling vaporized hemp oil. While this does produce quick absorption, there is significant concern that vaping may damage delicate lung tissue and is NOT advised. Hemp Oil Side Effects Unlike many pharmaceuticals, hemp oil has very few known side effects. In fact, hemp oil is generally well tolerated and considered safe. However, like other plant-based compounds, there are some individuals who won’t tolerate it as well as others. Some possible side effects include diarrhea, changes in weight or appetite, and fatigue (8). In addition, hemp oil may interact with medications. Specifically, it can be an issue for any mediation with a “grapefruit warning.” Like grapefruit, hemp oil may interfere with cytochromes P450 (CYPs). This is a group of enzymes that are important to drug metabolism (9). If you take any medications, be sure to talk to your doctor first before adding hemp oil. Is Hemp Oil Legal? At this time, hemp oil products (with less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol) are legal federally, but not legal under some state laws. If you are unsure, inquire in your state regarding hemp oil laws. INTRODUCING DR. COLBERT’S NANO-SCIENCE HEMP OIL 1000MG BROAD SPECTRUM (CINNAMON FLAVOR) Introducing Dr. Colbert’s Nano-Science Hemp Oil! Through extensive research and innovation, Dr. Colbert has developed a broad-spectrum hemp oil using nano-particle technology. This easy-to-use hemp oil is organically grown, vegan, and GMO-free. It contains organic hemp oil, healthy MCT oil, and natural flavors. You can now enjoy the benefits described above in one easy-to-take, cinnamon-flavored dropperful per day. Bottom Line Hemp oil has the potential to support healthy functions throughout the body. Use Dr. Colbert’s new, safe, and effective formulation each day to reduce discomfort and support health each day. If you are interested in hemp oil, this guide is a quick and easy reference for your questions regarding its sources, formulations, potential benefits, safety, and legality. To read the original article click here.

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