Artritis

Time of India

27-04-2025

Lalit Kapoor is a 1971 graduate from IIT Kanpur and has done his MBA from UCLA. Lalit is a successful serial entrepreneur in Silicon Valley. With age, he developed lifestyle diseases and decided to reverse them by changing diet and lifestyle. This led him to study and research in the field of nutrition and plant-based whole food field. Eventually, he successfully got rid of all his chronic diseases and reinvented himself. Lalit became an inspiration for his IIT-K batch mates and started to guide them with his learnings. Many of them benefitted and successfully reversed their chronic diseases. He further incorporated the Nobel prize winning work by Nobel laureates Dr Yoshinori Ohsumi (2016) on autophagy, Dr Jeffery Hall (2017) on circadian rhythm and Dr Tasuko Honzo (2018) on immunotherapy into his recommendations. He has conducted over 450 course sessions which have been attended by over 150,000 people in over 50 countries with thousands of success stories. He runs over 100 active social groups and his NGO 'Plant Based Wellness Foundation' has over 40 centers worldwide. Lalit has also taught a course as a visiting faculty on Nutrition & Health at IIT Kanpur for one semester. LESS ... MORE
Arthritis is a broad term describing conditions that affect one or more joints, as well as surrounding tissues and connective structures. Joints—where two bones meet—are essential for movement, and the adult human body contains over 200 of them. This may help explain why there are more than 100 types of arthritis, each affecting the body in different ways. In the U.S., severe arthritis joint pain (rated 7 or higher on a scale of 0 to 10) affects around 15 million people each year.
Early signs and common symptoms
Chronic joint pain—especially after a prior injury—can be an early sign of arthritis. Other common symptoms include stiffness after periods of inactivity, swelling, tenderness, reduced motion, and a popping or crackling sensation in the joint.
A physical exams alone may not be enough for diagnosis. Doctors often recommend imaging tests like X-rays or MRI scans for a better look at joint health.
Arthritis symptoms can vary depending on the type. Different forms of arthritis often affect different joints, each with its own unique pattern of symptoms. However, the knees, hips, and hands are among the most commonly affected areas.
Here are some common symptoms of arthritis you may be experiencing:
pain or aching
swelling or inflammation
tenderness
stiffness
reduced flexibility and/or range of motion
What aggravates arthritis joint pain?
Factors like physical inactivity, excess body weight, poor posture, and repetitive strain on joints can worsen arthritis pain. Movements such as turning too quickly or overusing certain joints are also potential triggers.
Types of Arthritis
1.Osteoarthritis (OA)
OA is the most common form of arthritis, often called a 'wear and tear' disease. It involves the breakdown of cartilage—the rubbery tissue that cushions joints. As it wears away, bones may rub together and even change shape, affecting joint function. OA often targets the knees, hips, and hands. Symptoms include stiffness, swelling, and pain. It's more common in women, though the reason remains unclear.
2.Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
RA is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system mistakenly attacks the joints. It most commonly affects the hands, wrists, and knees, causing swelling, pain, and long-term tissue damage. Genetic factors may play a role, but aging, obesity, and smoking can also increase risk.
3.Psoriatic arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is another autoimmune condition that inflames joints, tendons, and ligaments. It often affects people who have psoriasis, and flare-ups can come and go unpredictably.
4.Ankylosing spondylitis
This form of arthritis mainly affects the spine. It causes spinal inflammation that leads to stiffness and reduced mobility. In severe cases, some spinal bones may fuse, causing a hunched posture and chronic pain.
5.Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Contrary to popular belief, arthritis doesn't only affect older adults. Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is the most common type in children and includes several disorders that cause joint inflammation. Symptoms include swelling, stiffness, pain, and reduced range of motion. With proper care, many children manage symptoms effectively, and some enter remission.
What causes arthritis ?
More than 70% of people over age 65 experience degenerative osteoarthritis. While it's often labeled a normal part of aging, this idea is misleading. In many rural communities across Africa, Asia, South America, and 'blue zones,' people remain physically active and arthritis-free well into old age. This raises the question: why do modern societies face such high arthritis rates?
Inflammatory arthritis, such as RA, is largely a modern illness. Remarkably, rheumatoid arthritis wasn't documented in Africa until 1957. One key factor is diet—especially the rise of processed oils, sugars, and other refined foods. These can harm the gut lining, leading to 'leaky gut,' where foreign proteins (from dairy or animal products) escape into the bloodstream. The immune system may attack these proteins—and if human tissues resemble them, it may attack those too. This is called molecular mimicry, and it's a major trigger for autoimmune arthritis.
One particularly harmful food is cow's milk. Some proteins in dairy resemble those in human cartilage. The immune response to milk may mistakenly attack cartilage as well, leading to joint pain and inflammation.
Arthritis treatment options
Although mainstream medicine maintains that there is no permanent cure for arthritis, treatment should focus on symptom management and lifestyle improvement. In my experience working with hundreds of individuals, I've seen significant healing occur when people eliminate animal products, refined foods, and ultra-processed items from their diets. When combined with regular physical activity, the body often begins to heal itself—reducing pain and inflammation.
Emerging science supports these observations. Nobel Prize-winning research has explored the power of fasting to promote healing and regeneration. Fasting protocols such as intermittent fasting, Ekadashi fasting, and Navratri fasting have shown promise in reducing inflammation and rejuvenating bodily systems.
While joint deformities may not reverse, their progression can often be halted. Steroids and NSAIDs can offer temporary relief but should be used cautiously. They are not long-term solutions and can have side effects when overused.
Please watch Dr.John McDougall's talks on the subject.
Arthritis
https://youtu.be/iYs_nuNfFjk
John McDougall MD – Inflammatory Arthritis
https://youtu.be/
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Views expressed above are the author's own.