Importance of Raw Vegetables

• Consume five to eight servings of raw vegetables each day. Raw vegetables are very beneficial for people who suffer from arthritic conditions. Raw vegetables contain key vitamins and minerals, such as beta carotene and vitamin C, that reduce free radical damage. Free radical damage begins to happen more as you age from unpaired molecules within your body. Free radicals can cause even more harm to already weak joints.
  
  Raw foods are wonderful at alkalizing the body over time. The best pH balance for good health is slightly greater than 7.0. However, many people have an acidic pH, which increases inflammation in the body, resulting in disease. Drinking plenty of pure water is another way to balance pH levels.
  
  Some of the top foods to include on your raw food grocery list should include carrots, broccoli, lentils, split peas, barley, alfalfa sprouts, beets, and raw potatoes. Rather than cooking your potatoes, eat them raw as often as possible. Center your entire diet around raw foods. You can cook your food for certain meals, but be sure to eat at least 5 to 7 servings of some type of raw food per day. When food is cooked, vital enzymes are killed; eating a diet that contains too many cooked foods can actually spike inflammation in the body. The goal is to reduce inflammation to lessen the effects of flare-ups caused by osteoarthritis.
  
  

Healthy Fats and Oils

• Include one to two servings of good fats in your diet each day. Healthy fats and oils are also very beneficial for people with osteoarthritis. Good fats contain omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids lubricate the joints and also help reduce inflammation in the body. Arthritis is an inflammatory joint condition, so reducing inflammation should be top on the list. Foods that contain healthy fats include sunflower seeds, eggs, almonds, fish, and oils such as cod liver oil, olive oil and grapeseed oil.
  
  

Food Allergies

• Make an appointment with your doctor to have a food allergy test. People who suffer from osteoarthritis should also be cautious about eating certain foods. Allergy tests may be needed to properly identify offending foods. When you eat foods to which you are allergic, the body produces an inflammatory response, which causes health conditions such as osteoarthritis to become worse.
  
  Many adults are allergic to milk and other dairy products because their bodies are unable to properly process lactose. A common allergic response is a stomachache shortly after eating dairy foods, though some people are able to digest raw milk without any problem because raw milk contains enzymes that help the body digest lactose.
  
  Ron Schmid, a naturopathic doctor and writer of "The Untold Story of Milk," encourages drinking raw milk. Look for a local organic dairy farm to buy your raw milk to maintain freshness. In some states raw milk is not allowed for human consumption.
  
  Buy it from a clean, local dairy and consume it within the first 10 days of your purchase, however, read the label, because these guidelines may be different in your area. (See Resources below to see if your state is on the list, otherwise you can look for a local dairy in your area.)
  
  A few tips to keep in mind: Be sure the cows look healthy. Refrigerate your raw milk as soon as you get home.
  
  Some other foods that may cause allergies are wheat, peanuts, eggs, soy, corn and beef. If you love any of the foods mentioned, get tested or watch for signs of an allergic reaction before totally removing them from your diet.