How to Fast to Treat Arthritis

Arthritis is a condition that causes joint pain, stiffness and swelling. Arthritis can limit movement and even cause joint deformities and brittle bones. Toxic chemicals that accumulate in the joint spaces of the body contribute to the painful symptoms of arthritis. While traditional medicine treats arthritis with anti-inflammatory drugs and pain killers, over time these treatments can add to the problem. Fasting and detoxification is a common natural treatment for arthritis that can be performed easily and safely.

Instructions

1. Prepare for your fast by supplementing your body's nutritional reserves with vitamin and mineral supplements. It is recommended that you take two or three non-copper multivitamin and multimineral supplements as well as two or three antioxidant tablets with each meal. To further support detoxification you may take three lipotropic factors twice a day and one tbsp. of liquid bioflavonoids each morning.

2. Begin your fast slowly. While many people can begin a fast instantly, those suffering from arthritis may feel more discomfort and pain if the fast is begun too quickly. For the first three days of your fast, eat only fruits, vegetables (raw or cooked,) nuts, seeds and juices. Drink extra water and try to eat smaller portions of food than you normally would.

3. Drink only warm teas, water and fruit or vegetable juices beginning on the fourth day. You may drink any teas or fruit juices your like as well as the juice from any vegetable that can be eaten raw. Beneficial juices to treat arthritis include carrot, beet, cabbage, apple, grapes and melon. Drink as much juice as needed to combat both thirst and hunger.

4. Start eating solid foods again on the ninth day, eating only one light meal each day made up from steamed or baked vegetables. Do not eat a full meal, rather try to eat only half of what you might like to and combat your thirst and hunger with more fresh juice.

5. Reintroduce your regular diet slowly beginning on the eleventh day. Eat three small meals a day, which may include easily digestible proteins like whole grains, brown rice, tofu and quinoa.

6. Return to your normal arthritis-friendly diet and complete the fast on day 15. Continue to keep fresh juice a regular part of your diet to treat arthritis. Perform a fifteen-day fast whenever you feel a flare up of your arthritis symptoms.

Tips & Warnings

• Always dilute fresh fruit and vegetable juices with 50 percent water.

• Many people who have used a fast to treat arthritis have complained of a brief worsening of symptoms in the early portion of the fast. While easing into your fast slowly should decrease the chances of this spike in symptoms, there is still a possibility that you may feel a bit more discomfort than normal during the first few days. A brief worsening of symptoms can be uncomfortable, but it is a sign that your body is effectively eliminating toxins and should be followed by significant improvement by day 5 of your fast. If painful symptoms continue past day 5, speak to your doctor as soon as possible.