As a result of arthritis, the bone beneath the cartilage undergoes changes that lead to bony overgrowth and the tissue that lines the joint can become inflamed, the ligaments can loosen, and the associated muscles can weaken.

Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease of the joint cartilage and bone, often thought to result from "wear and tear" on a joint, although there are other causes of arthritis such as congenital defects, trauma and metabolic disorders.

The cartilage is slippery tissue that coats the ends of the bones. The combination of the collagen meshwork and high water content tightly bound by proteoglycans, creates a resilient, slippery pad in the joint, which resists the compression between bones during muscle movement. Cartilage contains chondrocytes, water, proteoglycans and collagen; chondrocytes are the basic cartilage cells and are necessary for balance and function.

Aging cells may be a factor in the development of arthritis. An inflammatory response causes cytokines, to gather in injured areas and cause inflammation and damage to body tissue and cells; it's known to play a role in rheumatoid arthritis and other muscle and joint problems associated with autoimmune diseases. One possible cause of arthritis is the inflammatory response due to the over-reaction of the immune system to an injury or other assault in the body, like an infection.

Many have told me that going off dairy products and gluten containing foods relieved their arthritis pain entirely. Make smoothies with fruit only using a base of two bananas, adding a cup of frozen or fresh blueberries and mango chunks or substitute any other fruit and add an energy boost of two tablespoons of coconut oil; add one or two leaves of kale for another highly nutritional boost -- no one will ever know.

Supplements that help any disease or ailment include vitamin B12 -- the methylcobalamin type not cyanocobalamin, and has to be sub-lingual -- dissolves slowly under the tongue; and vitamin D3 especially if you can't get a daily dose of 15-20 minutes of sun on your arms and legs so you can make your own vitamin D3.

Some foods and beverages to avoid that are inflammatory are: caffeine, salt, sugar, meat, dairy products, additives, soft drinks, white flour, white rice, alcoholic beverages, fast food, processed vegetable oils, refined, packaged and processed food.

Natural treatment for arthritis is usually a better choice because it's non-invasive to the body. Gluten may be a culprit in arthritic diseases including fibromyalgia; avoid wheat, barley, rye, spelt, triticale, kamut and oats (although not a gluten grain it gets contaminated at the wheat mills).

Many arthritis sufferers have changed their diets and noticed significant or total improvement. With natural treatments there will be fewer, if any, side effects or adverse reactions.

Not a food, but many, including one well-known professional golfer, still wear copper bracelets and swear by them. One natural treatment method involves avoiding all inflammatory foods.

There are a number of exercises which can benefit arthritis sufferers regardless of how much restriction of movement there is. Even the lightest exercise can go a long way to maintaining your joint mobility and overall health. Try to keep painful joint areas in motion, even in a limited manner. Whatever you do, keep moving; don't sit when you can stand, don't stand when you can walk.

To be on the safe side always seek your doctor's advice before starting or changing your exercise program. If weight is an issue, try to use exercises that will help you in losing weight such as walking. Keep a bedside basket of arthritic aids for arthritic hands (Theraputty, hand grips, Taiji chime balls, etc.) to be used at bedtime or while watching television.

Let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other drugs, herbs or other supplements you're taking, to ward off any adverse drug reactions that might occur from the combining of different drugs or supplements. Once you become more informed about arthritis you'll be able to plan an arthritis treatment program, natural or conventional or a combination of both. For conventional treatment of arthritis - if you do choose to take drugs or medications, be very careful and read the labels thoroughly.

Changing your diet to predominately fruits and raw veggies, like I did, can turn your arthritis pain around almost overnight. Begin your treatment program with a diet change, exercise and weight loss plan to see results and pain relief fast. I got rid of my arthritis pain years ago when I stopped eating dead food and changed to a diet of all living foods; you can do it too.