Arthritis causes millions of Britons to experience pain in their joints, including knees and the small bones in hands. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and can negatively affect a person’s day-to-day living. Fortunately, a certain drink has been shown to help reduce painful symptoms and could be used as a treatment.
The authors of the study, which was led by the University of Londrina in Brazil, said: “The present study indicated that cranberry juice decreases disease activity and therefore has beneficial effects for rheumatoid arthritis patients.
“Larger and long-term studies are needed though to definitively probe this effect and to clarify the mechanisms involved.”
If the results are repeated in larger studies, there would be more evidence that cranberry can improve health because of its antioxidant properties.
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Ailsa Bosworth, chief executive of the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, said: “Significantly more research would need to be done to be able to support a recommendation of cranberry consumption as a nutritional intervention for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
“There is no evidence that alternative or complementary therapies can control rheumatoid arthritis.
“Irreversible joint damage without the right drug treatment happens very quickly and there is no evidence-based substitute for taking disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.”
Early symptoms of arthritis warning of your potential risk include:
- Pain, swelling and stiffness in one or multiple joints
- Morning stiffness in and around the affected joints lasting at least one hour
- Pain and stiffness that worsens with inactivity and improves with physical activity
- Reduced range of motion
- Occasionally fever, weight loss, fatigue and/or anaemia.
Source: Daily Express
