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Osteoarthritis or arthritis is the most common type of arthritis in the over 200 types of arthritic conditions. This disease is afflicting over 40 million Americans and 80% of them are over 51 years. Here is some arthritis diet information that can help those that don't have arthritis yet and those that do.

First, arthritis is a condition where the protective layer and lubricant between bones has been decreased, worn down, injured, or destroyed. The result is, in the worst case, bone to bone rubbing cause continual pain and inflammation in the affected joint or joints.

What causes arthritis to appear will depend on your lifestyle and history. Here is a list of some of the causes:

* Injury to the bone or joints at any time in your life
* Allergies to certain foods that lead to joint inflammation
* A diet that is high in acidic foods, such as animal protein, fat, and processed foods
* Overweight, which over works joints, especially in the knees
* Emotional stress, since stress creates acid, which attacks joints oil and cartilage
* Poor digestion, which results in undigested food entering the body causing acid, allergies, and decreased immune system function
* Imbalance in hormones
* A distortion in skeleton structure causing excess pressure in specific joints

Now here are some diet suggestions to help you reduce arthritis pain, rebuild the joint, and reduce your inflammation.

* Eat flaxseeds or use flaxseed oil to reduce inflammation
* Eat fish weekly or take at least 1500 mg to 2000 mg of fish oil to reduce inflammation
* Eat plenty of raw vegetables, which provide phytonutrients that fight free radicals - broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and dark green lettuce
* Eat whole grains to provide the B vitamins - brown rice, wheat germ, oat bran, oats
* Eat foods high in sulfur to help repair cartilage - asparagus, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, watercress, cranberries, avocados, broccoli, carrots, celery, corn, cucumber peas, potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, kale, cabbage, garlic, or onions
* Drink water every 2 hours to avoid dehydration and reduce arthritis pain
* Eat pineapple to get the enzyme bromelain or chew on bromelain tablets.
* Take MSM supplements, 2000 to 5000 mg or more per day

There is one more list to consider in this arthritis diet - the foods to avoid:

Acid in your body gives you more arthritic pain. You need to move your body to a more alkaline body. This is done by avoiding those foods which create acid in your body and eating those that produce alkaline residues.

Here are the foods to reduce in your diet or to eliminate completely. Red meat, eggs, saturated fats - butter-, oils fried foods, sugar, dairy products, refined carbohydrates - white rice -, breads pasta, and caffeine. And, strictly avoid those foods that you know you have allergies to.

The arthritis diet consist of moving towards more whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, which make your body more alkaline and reducing animal products which create acid and inflammation in your body. If you have allergies to specific foods then avoid them completely. As you improve in your arthritis condition, then later you can eat some of the foods you need to avoid now.