How to Juice for Arthritis & Severe Fatigue
While there still is no cure for arthritis and some forms of fatigue, there are a few things you can try at home. Diet along with exercise and rest is said to help maintain health and improve aliments, such as arthritis and fatigue. The Center For Disease Control recommends that men and women eat up to five serving of fruits and vegetables a day; depending on their age and activity level. Juicing is one of the best ways to incorporate those fruits and vegetables you'll need in your healthy diet. Juicing allows you to consume these vegetables and fruit in their raw forms; this maintains more of their vitamins and minerals.
Instructions
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Arthritis
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Juice foods such as, oranges, grapefruit, Swiss-chard, kale, and others high in vitamin C. Vitamin C has been known to reduce inflammation. Vitamin C is also an antioxidant and can help protect your cells from free radicals.
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Add vegetables and fruits that are high in vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 has been useful in reducing swelling. Fruits and vegetables that include B6 are watermelon, avocado, banana, green beans and sweet peppers.
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Add some vitamin E; like vitamin B6, vitamin E has natural anti-inflammatory properties. This will help to reduce some swelling. Vegetables and fruits that contain vitamin E are cranberries, nectarines, mango, papaya, Swiss chard, pumpkin, butternut squash and potatoes. Add some alfalfa sprouts or amaranth leaves to your juice to boost your selenium intake. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, selenium when combined with vitamin E becomes a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants help to protect your body from free radical damage. It is widely believed that free radicals may be a contributing factor in arthritis.
Severe Fatigue
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Add a little iron to your diet. Juicing fruits and vegetables such as broccoli, kale, beet greens, dandelion greens, strawberries and blackberries can help to incorporate more iron into your diet. Iron is an integral part of hemoglobin, the protein in your red blood cells. This protein helps to carry oxygen to your body's tissues.
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Juice foods that are rich in vitamin C. While vitamin C deficiency is rare; a diet rich in vitamin C can help to prevent scurvy. The disease scurvy can cause anemia and tiredness. Foods that contain vitamin C are grapefruit, lemons, oranges, guava, kiwi, pineapple, strawberries, kale, amaranth leaves and bok choy.
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Incorporate more fruits and vegetables containing folate also known as vitamin B9. A body deficient of vitamin B9 can experience anemia. Fruits and vegetables that contain folate are blackberries, raspberries, cranberries, oranges, lima bean, peas and spinach.
Juicing
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Plug in your juicer.
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Wash all your produce with a fruit and vegetable wash to remove pesticides and wax coatings.
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Chop your fruits and vegetables so that they can easily fit inside the juicer.
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Choose your vegetables or fruits. When juicing vegetables such as bok choy, kale or other leafy greens add a carrot or an apple to make it more appetizing.
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Slowly insert the produce into the juicers chute. Adding fruits and vegetables too fast can cause the pulp to get wet. Pulp should be dry to the touch, you want to extract as much juice as possible.
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Tips & Warnings
Drink your juice as soon as you finish juicing. The juice will start to lose its vitamins and minerals soon after the juicing stops.
Always consult a doctor before starting a diet or nutrition program.
Fatigue is a symptom, not a disease. Talk with your doctor to find out what is causing your lack of energy, and tiredness.
References
- Office Of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet Vitamin C
- Office Of Dietary Supplements :Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet Iron
- Juicer Recipes Now: Juicing For Joint Health
- Office Of Dietary Supplements: Folate Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet
- University Of Maryland Medical Center: Selenium
- Center For Disease Control: Fruits And Veggies Matter
- Photo Credit James And James/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
