Rheumatoid Arthritis: Symptoms, Causes and Natural Support Strategies

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Symptoms, Causes and Natural Support Strategies

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that primarily attacks the synovial tissues around the joints.  Autoimmune diseases cause the body’s immune system to mistake its own tissues for foreign invaders, such as bacteria or viruses. The confused immune system develops antibodies to seek out and destroy the “invaders” in the synovium.

RA is a systemic disease, in that has the ability to affect the whole body. It can attack many different organs, such as the heart, the lungs, or other tissues like muscles, cartilage, and ligaments. RA causes chronic swelling and pain that is sometimes severe, and it can cause permanent disability.

Rheumatoid Demographics:

RA is a common chronic disease that affects about 1% of the world’s population.  RA occurs at twice the rate in women compared with men, with a prevalence of 1.06% in women (as a percentage of the total population) compared with 0.61% in men (1).

The incidence (new cases per year) of RA increases with increasing age in most populations until about the eighth decade of life when it declines (2).  The prevalence of RA varies widely from population to population, with the lowest rates in Asian countries and higher rates among certain Native American populations (3).

Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis:

The early onset of RA typically affects the small joints such as the fingers and toes.  Many just feel as though these areas are mildly warm, stiff, or swollen.  These symptoms are often intermittent, only flaring up for a few days at a time and most people ignore the issue for a while.

Over time, RA symptoms can get worse and cause deformity in the fingers and toes.  The disease can also progress to larger joints such as the shoulders, knees, and hips.  RA may cause significant damage to the joints within 2 years of onset.

Other symptoms associated with RA include:

• Fatigue
• Low-grade fevers
• Pain and stiffness for longer than 30 minutes in the morning or after sitting
• Anemia
• Weight loss

RA also has been shown to significantly increase the risk of heart attack and stroke because it can damage the protective sheath around the heart called the pericardium (4).

Pathogenesis of Rheumatoid Arthritis:

The development of RA is based around both genetic and environmental factors that affect the major histocompatibility (MHC) genes and the body’s innate immunity.  Environmental factors that increase the activation of the innate immune system can disrupt immune balance and cause chronic inflammatory activity in the body (5).

The process of developing RA can take many years.  One key factor is the induction of the peptidyl arginine deiminase (PAD) enzymes, which convert arginine to citrulline. Increased citrullination is not specific to RA and occurs regularly with any environmental stress, including in lung alveolar macrophages in cigarette smokers (6).

What is unique to RA is the propensity for immune reactivity to the neoepitopes created by protein citrullination with the production of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) (7, 8).  In “pre-RA,” ACPAs and autoantibodies like rheumatoid factors (RFs) can appear more than 10 years before clinical arthritis.

Additionally, inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-1 are active in individuals with pre-RA and this extends into RA where these cytokines only grow in number and accelerate the inflammatory storm in the joints and organs (9).

4 Stages of Rheumatoid Arthritis:

Stage I.

Early stage RA (stage I) is characterized by synovitis, or an inflammation of the synovial membrane, causing swelling of involved joints and pain upon motion. During this stage, there is a high cell count in synovial fluid as immune cells migrate to the site of inflammation. However, there is generally no x-ray evidence of joint destruction, with the exception of swelling of soft tissues and possibly evidence of some bone erosion.

Stage II.

In moderate RA, stage II, there is a spread of inflammation in synovial tissue, affecting joint cavity space across joint cartilage. This inflammation will gradually result in the destruction of cartilage, accompanied by a narrowing of the joint.

Stage III.

Severe RA, stage III, is marked by the formation of pannus (vascular scar tissue that extends over the surface of an organ or joint) in the synovium.  Loss of joint cartilage exposes bone beneath the cartilage. These changes will become evident on X-rays, along with erosions around the margins of the joint. Joint deformities may also become evident.

Stage IV.

Stage IV is called terminal or end-stage RA. The inflammatory process has subsided and the formation of fibrous tissue and/or fusing of bone results in ceased joint function. This stage may be associated with the formation of subcutaneous nodules.

Immune Modulation:

Chronic inflammatory disorders are characterized by a hyper responsive immune system.  There are several key factors that must be addressed to regulate and better coordinate the immune system.

1.  Poor Blood Sugar Stability:  Blood sugar imbalances cause immune dysfunction and malcoordination.  Stable blood sugar is critical for a healthy immune response.

2.  Low Vitamin D Levels:  Individuals with low vitamin D3 levels (below 40 ng/ml) are at significant risk for developing chronic inflammation and autoimmunity (10).

3.  Gut Dysbiosis:  Poor microbial balance in the gut microbiome leads to leaky gut syndrome and chronic inflammation (11).  The gut must be addressed to get well.

4.  Mitochondrial Dysfunction:  The mitochondria are the energy producing organelles in each cell of the body.  They are extremely key in the body’s ability to handle oxidative stress.  Dysfunction in the mitochondria leads to increased free radical and oxidative stress which creates immune alterations.  Many researchers believe that other autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis are primarily mitochondrial diseases (12).

5.  Low Glutathione Levels:  Glutathione is the major antioxidant within every cell of the body.  It is critical for white blood cell (WBC) function as the WBC’s encounter tremendous amounts of free radicals and oxidative stress every second of the day.  Low glutathione leads to chronic inflammation and often to autoimmunity (13).

6.  Poor Omega 6:3 ratio:  The average person has significantly more omega 6 fats than omega 3 fats.  The increased omega 6 stimulates the release of pro-inflammatory mediating prostaglandin molecules.  This is a key factor in the development of chronic inflammation and autoimmunity (14).

7. Upper Cervical Subluxation:  The bottom of the skull (occiput) and the first bone (atlas) play a significant role in the coordination patterns of the brain and immune system.  Dysfunction at this joint torques and compresses the top of the spinal cord and increases inflammatory activity in the body (15).

8.  Environmental Toxins:  Exposure to high levels of infectious microbes, environmental chemicals such as plasticizers, pesticides, herbicides, personal care products, heavy metals, and biotoxins such as mold, viruses, and bacteria wear down the body’s glutathione levels, alter the gut microflora and increase inflammatory activity in the body (16, 17, 18).

9.  High Stress and Poor Breathing Habits:  High mental and emotional stress increases stress hormone production which induces inflammatory activity within the body.  Short and shallow breathing habits can simulate chronic mental and emotional stressors on the physiological level (19).

10.  Lack of Sleep:  Poor sleep promotes immune dysfunction and increased inflammation.  Good sleeping habits and optimal melatonin secretion reduce inflammation and promote improved tissue healing (20).

11.  Methylation:  Methylation is a key process that protects DNA, turns on and off genetic traits, and helps to detoxify environmental chemicals.  Many individuals have certain genetic polymorphisms that limit their ability to appropriately methylate. Methylation plays a very important role in T cell function and poor methylation status is associated with the development of autoimmunity (21).

12.  EMF Exposure:  Electromagnetic frequency exposure has been shown to alter the function of the immune system and increase one’s susceptibility to developing an auto-immune condition (22)

I will touch on a few of these key areas and how they relate to Rheumatoid arthritis in this article.

Gluten Sensitivity and Rheumatoid Arthritis:

Gluten is the common protein molecule found in wheat, barley, rye, kamut, and spelt.  Gluten is a sticky storage protein that binds to the small intestinal wall where it often causes digestive and immune system disorders.  Gluten sensitivity is an epidemic that is a major factor in the development of autoimmunity.

Research has shown a high prevalence of gluten sensitivity in individuals with autoimmune connective tissue disorders such as RA, lupus, scleroderma, and Sjogrens disease (23).  Studies have shown that a gluten-free diet has improved antibody counts and symptoms in many individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (24).

Vitamin D and Rheumatoid Arthritis:

Vitamin D is critical in the development and maturation of the immune system.  It helps to enhance self-tolerance and reduce the risk of autoimmunity and chronic inflammation.  Low vitamin D levels are a common finding in auto-immune diseases (25).

Reduced vitamin D intake has been linked to increased susceptibility to the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and vitamin D deficiency has been found to be associated with increased disease activity in patients with RA (26, 27).

The MicroBiome and Rheumatoid Arthritis:

The gut microbiome is made up of over 1000 different species of microbes and it plays a huge role in nutrient absorption, detoxification and the development and maturation of the immune system.  Certain bacteria of the gram negative classification are known to release a potent inflammatory mediator called lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Researchers have found that individuals with RA have high levels of the gram-negative bacterium Prevotella copri, which is correlated with an increase in LPS and inflammation.  Additionally, these individuals had an overall loss of beneficial anti-inflammatory microbes.  Additionally, the P Copri drove up the inflammatory cytokine Th-17, which promoted inflammation through another mechanism (28, 29).

SIBO and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Individuals with RA have a much higher tendency to have small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) than the normal population (30).  We should normally have the majority of our bacteria in the large intestine and not in the small intestine.

SIBO develops when the normal homeostatic mechanisms that control intestinal bacterial populations are disrupted. The two processes that most commonly predispose to bacterial overgrowth are diminished stomach acid secretion and lack of small intestine motility (31).  SIBO can lead to key nutritional deficiencies and chronic inflammation.

Leaky Gut Syndrome and Autoimmunity:

When the microbiome is dysregulated, it often leads to a damaged gut lining and intestinal permeability.  This is found in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis and other auto-immune diseases (32, 33).

This “leaky gut” causes undigested food particles to pass into the bloodstream where they are tagged by the immune system and attacked with massive inflammatory processes that have the ability to affect nearly every system in the body.  This creates a food allergy or sensitivity that the body reacts to whenever it is exposed.

The most common food-based culprits include all processed foods, artificial sweeteners/preservatives, and gluten containing products.  Soy, peanuts, pasteurized dairy, corn, and eggs are often not tolerated well.  The nightshade family of eggplant, potatoes, and tomatoes are often challenging on the system as well.

The most common medications given to individuals with RA, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, have been shown to increase intestinal permeability (34).  So, these medications may reduce inflammation and pain by suppressing key inflammatory prostaglandins, but they also promote further development of the disorder.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction and RA:

Every cell of the body has mitochondria within it that produce energy for the cell.  The mitochondria are the battery packs of the cell, and they are extremely important.  High levels of oxidative stress wear down the mitochondria and cause a dysfunctional state.

Mitochondria are one of the main cellular sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and play a pivotal role in many autoimmune and chronic inflammatory conditions. Mitochondrial dysfunction leading to excessive production of ROS and RNS plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of RA (35, 36).

In rheumatoid arthritis, the cells are under so much stress that their main protective shield, glutathione (GSH) gets worn down and oxidative stress damages the mitochondria and the DNA leading to cell death.  Poor blood sugar control and high environmental toxin exposure are known to deplete glutathione levels and impair mitochondrial function (37, 38).

Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Lifestyle

Anti-inflammatory foods help to modulate the immune system and reduce inflammatory activity in the body.  Great anti-inflammatory foods include healthy fats from coconut products, avocados, olive oil, berries & phytonutrient rich vegetables.  Healthy meat sources such as grass-fed beef, wild game, wild salmon, organic poultry, and organic eggs are great if the gut can tolerate them.

It is advisable for anyone with chronic inflammation to include organic vegetable juices, fermented foods and herbal teas in their diet.  Homemade sauerkraut, apple cider vinegar, coconut water kefir, and kimchi are great.  Begin with small doses of all of these and add more if you tolerate them well.

Organ meats such as grass-fed liver, heart, etc. are rich in mitochondrial support nutrients.  Powerful herbs such as turmeric, ginger, garlic, onion, rosemary, thyme, cinnamon, & oregano among others should be used as much as possible to improve immune coordination.

Consuming lots of sulfur-based onions, garlic, and cruciferous veggies on a daily basis and getting high quality seaweed in the form of kelp can be extremely helpful.  Using purified fish oils to boost omega-3 levels is also very important.

Rebuild the Intestinal Wall:

The best way to rebuild the intestinal wall is to incorporate a daily lifestyle of intermittent fasting. This should be a 16–20-hour liquid diet each day in which only cleansing beverages such as fermented drinks and lemon water are consumed.

Consume high quality shakes with berries, coconut or hemp milk, and a hypoallergenic protein powder.  No more than one solid food meal a day should be consumed for at least a 3-month period of time to ensure proper healing. One could also incorporate a six-week liquid diet to take the stress off the digestive tract and speed up the process of healing the gut lining.

Vegetable juices can and should be consumed throughout the fasting period.  Some of the best vegetable juices include wheatgrass & cabbage juice among others. Wheatgrass is known for its incredible chlorophyll content and ability to purify the bloodstream. Cabbage is loaded with the amino acid L-glutamine which is the primary amino acid in the gut wall.

Digestive enzymes and fermented foods should be used before or during the solid food meal to enhance digestion. Heavy duty probiotic supplementation should be used in the evening after the solid food meal to reduce inflammation that would be caused by the solid food meal.

Subluxation and Neurological Distortion:

Chronic inflammatory disease processes are influenced by the nervous system which controls the coordination of the immune system. Nerve stimulation is essential for the growth, function, and control of inflammatory cells. Researchers have found that abnormal neurological control results in the development of auto-immune based inflammatory conditions such as RA (39, 40).

Subluxation is the term for misalignments of the spine that cause compression and irritation of nerve pathways affecting organ systems of the body.  Subluxations are an example of physical nerve stress that affects neuronal control. According to researchers, such stressful conditions lead to altered measures of immune function & increased susceptibility to a variety of diseases (41).

Upper Cervical Spine is the Most Important:

The upper cervical spine is the most important region for immune coordination. Various wellness chiropractors specialize in stabilizing the upper cervical spine which allows the nervous system to control and coordinate the body with greater efficiency.

Many individuals with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis have ligament laxity at the upper cervical spine. It is essential to see a well-trained wellness based chiropractor who specializes in upper cervical care and corrective care and has much experience working with individuals with advanced conditions such as RA (42).

These chiropractors will use a regiment of specific adjustments and corrective exercises to minimize subluxation, restore proper neurological tone, and maximize the body’s healing potential.

Natural Support Strategies For Healthy Inflammation

Here are the best action steps to get started with on your journey to improve your inflammatory response.  These strategies are not at this time FDA-approved to prevent, mitigate, treat, or cure rheumatoid arthritis and should not be confused as such. You should always consult with your physician before stopping or changing medications or taking on new health strategies.

Additionally, you should be working with a functional health practitioner to help guide you through these strategies.  This is not an exhaustive list and there are other natural therapeutic strategies that I and functional health practitioners will utilize to help individuals with rheumatoid arthritis.

Change Your Diet:

Eating an anti-inflammatory diet rich in nutrient-dense foods is the first best thing you can do to prevent autoimmunity and chronic inflammation. First, eliminate all inflammatory foods, including refined sugar, gluten, refined oils, deep-fried and processed foods, conventional dairy, grain-fed meat and eggs, soda and sugary drinks, and foods that you are sensitive to.

Instead, it is important to eat an anti-inflammatory diet that is rich in nutrient dense vegetables, low glycemic index fruits, herbs, spices, healthy fats, grass-fed meat, and wild-caught fish.  I also recommend a ketogenic approach for individuals with rheumatoid arthritis conditions.  Getting into ketosis will enhance mitochondrial function and significantly reduce inflammation in the body.

Test For Food Sensitivities:

Most people with autoimmune conditions have leaky gut and food sensitivities.  These sensitivities can be hard to pinpoint as they result in delayed symptoms that are not life threatening.

The most common food sensitivities include gluten, corn, dairy, soy, peanuts, and sugar.  Some other potential food sensitivities to consider include all grains, eggs, nuts, seeds and nightshade vegetables (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and eggplant).

It can be helpful to do a 28-day elimination diet where you remove all of these and then slowly add these back in one at a time.  You can also do both biofeedback and blood testing to determine what foods are causing stress in your system and an elimination diet to test how you are responding to eliminating certain foods for periods of time.  You can also

Intermittent Fasting:  

Intermittent fasting is a form of fasting cycle between not eating (fasting) and eating (feasting) over a period of time. The benefits of intermittent fasting benefits include cellular repair, autophagy, immune regulation, inflammation levels, and insulin sensitivity.

It also helps to lower the risk of developing autoimmune and chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.  Going 16–18 hours between dinner and breakfast is one of the best ways to improve mitochondrial production.  Your body improves energy efficiency by increasing and strengthening the mitochondria during periods of fasting.  Consume your meals in a 6-8 hour window such as 11 AM–7 PM or 12–6 PM.

When you do this you enhance cellular healing and joint cell regeneration.  Intermittent fasting helps to reduce pain, swelling, and damage to the joints in individuals with RA (43, 44). To learn more about the benefits of intermittent fasting and best intermittent fasting practices, I recommend this article.

Reduce Stress:

Reducing stress is critical for reducing inflammation and improving immune health. I recommend that you reduce stressors from your life as much as possible. Turn off the news, and only look at it once a day or a few times a week for a specific period. Reduce your social media use and time on the internet.

Avoid people and situations that bring you down. Surround yourself with loving and uplifting people. Engage in uplifting and relaxation-promoting activities. Read, try some arts and crafts, play cards or board games, sing, and dance.

Spend time in nature and do some grounding walking barefoot on grass.  Practice daily gratitude and try positive affirmations.  Practice self-love and laugh with friends and family. Meditate, pray, journal, and try daily breathing exercises. Be grateful and smile more.

Improve Your Sleep:  

Prioritizing good sleep is just as important as reducing your stress levels. Develop a regular schedule of going to bed and getting up at the same time every day to support your circadian rhythms.

Avoid electronics, sugar, caffeine, heavy foods, and stress close to the bed. Engage in relaxing activities, including stretching, relaxing baths, meditation, and prayer. Make sure that you have a supporting bed, pillow, and bedding, and sleep in a dark calming room.

Power Up Your Nrf2 Pathway:

Nrf2 (NF-E2-related factor 2) is a transcription factor in humans encoded by a specific gene that regulates the expression of a set of antioxidant and detoxifying genes.  This pathway is activated under times of oxidative stress to enhance the expression of a multitude of antioxidant and phase II liver detoxification enzymes that restore homeostasis to the ox/redox cycles in the body (45, 46, 47).

The Nrf2 pathway has been researched to be a key player in the development or prevention of chronic inflammation and autoimmune activity.  Adding in clinical dosages of resveratrol, curcumin, quercetin, sulfuraphane and green tea (EGCG) can be extraordinarily beneficial for driving up the Nrf2 Pathway.

Include Magnesium & B Vitamin Rich Foods:  

Magnesium helps to improve blood sugar signaling patterns and improves mitochondrial health.  The best magnesium and B vitamin rich foods include dark green leafy veggies, avocados, grass-fed animal products, raw cacao, and pumpkin seeds.

You can also do Epsom salt baths to support your magnesium levels.  It would also be wise to supplement with a good magnesium and B complex supplement.  Look for magnesium L-threonate which is the best form of magnesium for crossing the blood-brain barrier.

When it comes to B vitamins, it is best to look for one with pre-activated forms such as methyl-folate, methyl-cobalamin (B12), Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate form of B6, and Riboflavin-5-phosphate form of vitamin B2.  The methyl groups are in the active form and will be better utilized by the body.

Focus on Deep Breathing:

Improving your posture, seeing a high-quality chiropractor, and optimizing your breathing patterns are highly recommended.  Taking time to slow down your breathing and take long-deep breaths for a few minutes every hour will help reduce the sympathetic, fight or flight part of the nervous system.

The better we breathe, the better we will heal and the more blood flow we will get, and the better our immune and inflammatory health will be.  Follow these tips here to improve your breathing patterns.

Use Antioxidant Rich Herbs:

Carminatives are herbs that help to improve digestive health by reducing pathogens in the gut, stimulating the production of stomach acid, bile, and pancreatic enzymes, and modulating the gut microbiome.

Examples of these herbs include turmeric, ginger, oregano, garlic, basil, thyme and rosemary.  These herbs help to improve digestion, reduce inflammation, and support a healthy brain.  There are a number of ways to use these that I discuss in the following image.  I like putting herbs on foods and using herbal teas, fermented foods, and essential oils.

Ground Your Body:

In our society, we are surrounded by toxic electromagnetic frequency’s (EMF’s).  These EMF’s increase stress and inflammation within the body and can be a trigger for autoimmune activity in some individuals.

By going outside daily and walking barefoot on grass, dirt, or sand you absorb natural EMFs from the ground that balance your electrical rhythms.  Follow the steps in this article here.

Supplement With Omega 3’s:

Omega 3 fatty acids and in particular the long chain variety EPA and DHA are critical for stabilizing blood sugar, reducing inflammation and autoimmunity improving joint health. Consume grass-fed meat, grass-fed butter, wild-caught fish, seafood, and spirulina to get it in your diet.

Plant based omega 3’s such as flax oil only contain the small chain omega 3 called ALA and do not have any DHA.  It is very hard for our body to convert ALA into DHA so it is best to get a high quality fish or krill oil that is rich in EPA and DHA.  You want to find a brand that is molecularly distilled to take out any heavy metals and other unwanted contaminants.

Be sure to discuss with your physician before using fish oils have a blood thinning effect and can be contraindicated if you are on blood thinning medications.

Improve Your Mitochondria:  

The mitochondria are the energy powerhouses of every cell.  When someone has an autoimmune disorder, it is a clinical sign that they have dysfunctional activity going on in the mitochondria.

Support your mitochondria with clinical doses of CoQ10, L-carnitine, N-acetyl cysteine, creatine monohydrate, B vitamins, magnesium, alpha lipoic acid, and D-ribose.  You can find mitochondrial support supplements that have most if not all of these key nutrients.

Optimize Your Vitamin D:  

Low vitamin D3 is associated with chronic inflammation and autoimmune conditions.  Vitamin D is arguably one of the most powerful nutrients responsible for modulating and coordinating the immune system.

In autoimmune disease, the immune system has a hard time differentiating itself from non-self (foreign invaders). Vitamin D helps the immune system make this important distinction, which reduces autoimmune disease formation (48).  Vitamin D also helps to modulate the immune system to reduce inflammation throughout the body (49).

Support Gut Health

In order to reduce inflammation and autoimmunity, you have to repair and heal your intestinal lining.  I recommend eating a gut friendly diet that works best for your body type.  For some individuals with RA, a low oxalate diet is very helpful.

Consuming liquid nutrition is great for stimulating the digestive process, increasing nutrient absorption, and improving gut health. Liquid nutrition does not require as much energy to digest, so your body can focus on healing and repair. You can combine liquid nutrition with fasting strategies for quicker healing.

Using a good quality bone broth collagen in a shake or smoothie is a great way to include liquid nutrition in your diet. Collagen contains amino acids, including glycine and glutamine, which are essential for healing leaky gut. These amino acids seal the holes in the gut by healing damaged cells and building new tissue. Collagen also makes up the villi, small finger-like structures on the intestinal wall, and assists with water absorption in the intestines.

Additionally, I recommend taking a daily probiotic supplement.  Probiotics help to optimize your gut health and improve your nutrient absorption while reducing gut related inflammation.  When gut inflammation goes down it also reduces inflammatory mediators that impact joint health.

Reduce Toxin Exposure

Reducing your toxic exposure is critical for improving liver function and reducing inflammation. Buy organic food as much as possible. Stop using conventional beauty, body, and household products, and replace them with organic, natural, or homemade alternatives.

Use glass, stainless steel, wood, and bamboo products instead of plastic. Spend time in nature and breathe in the fresh air. Use a good indoor air filtration system. Make sure that you drink clean, toxin-free water by using a high-quality reverse osmosis system.  Add a slice of lime for some extra flavor.

Support Detoxification Pathways

It is not enough to put good things into your body, you have to make sure that the bad things come out as well. Drink plenty of water to support detoxification through sweating and urine. Support your detoxification pathways to protect your body from brain inflammation.

I recommend using infrared saunas to promote detoxification through sweating. Try rebounding and dry skin brushing to support your lymphatic pathways.  Support two major detoxifying organs, your kidneys and liver with herbs like milk thistle, parsley, dandelion, and bioactive carbons which can penetrate and remove toxins from deep within the tissues and cells.

Final Thoughts

Rheumatoid arthritis is a serious issue that affects millions of people around the world. The symptoms of RA include joint pain, impaired joint function, fever, weight loss, anemia, and fatigue. To protect yourself from chronic inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, follow the recommendations in this article.  You may notice improvements in your pain, energy, and overall health.

If you want to work with a functional health coach, I recommend this article with tips on how to find a great coach.  On our website, we offer long-distance functional health coaching programs. For further support with your health goals, just reach out and our fantastic coaches are here to support your journey.

Inflammation Crushing Ebundle

The Inflammation Crushing Ebundle is designed to help you improve your brain, liver, immune system and discover the healing strategies, foods and recipes to burn fat, reduce inflammation and Thrive in Life!

As a doctor of natural medicine, I have spent the past 20 years studying the best healing strategies and worked with hundreds of coaching clients, helping them overcome chronic health conditions and optimize their overall health.

In our Inflammation Crushing Ebundle, I have put together my very best strategies to reduce inflammation and optimize your healing potential.  Take a look at what you will get inside these valuable guides below!

Sources For This Article Include:

1. Gibofsky A. Overview of epidemiology, pathophysiology, and diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Am J Manag Care. 2012 Dec;18(13 Suppl):S295-302. PMID: 23327517

2. Gabriel SE. The epidemiology of rheumatoid arthritis. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2001 May;27(2):269-81. PMID: 11396092

3. Silman AJ, Pearson JE. Epidemiology and genetics of rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Res. 2002;4 Suppl 3:S265-72. PMID: 12110146

4. Dhawan SS, Quyyumi AA. Rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disease. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2008 Apr;10(2):128-33. PMID: 18417067

5. Pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis Link Here

6. Baka Z, Buzás E, Nagy G. Rheumatoid arthritis and smoking: putting the pieces together. Arthritis Research & Therapy. 2009;11(4):238.

7. Union A, Meheus L, Humbel RL, Conrad K, Steiner G, Moereels H, Pottel H, Serre G, De Keyser F. Identification of citrullinated rheumatoid arthritis-specific epitopes in natural filaggrin relevant for antifilaggrin autoantibody detection by line immunoassay. Arthritis Rheum. 2002 May;46(5):1185-95. PMID: 12115222

8. Autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis: rheumatoid factors and anticitrullinated protein antibodies Link Here

9. Lubberts E, van den Berg WB. Cytokines in the Pathogenesis of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Collagen-Induced Arthritis. Link Here

10. Agmon-Levin N, Theodor E, Segal RM, Shoenfeld Y. Vitamin D in systemic and organ-specific autoimmune diseases. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2013 Oct;45(2):256-66. PMID: 23238772

11. Proal AD, Albert PJ, Marshall TG. The human microbiome and autoimmunity. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2013 Mar;25(2):234-40. PMID: 23370376

12. Mao P, Reddy PH. Is multiple sclerosis a mitochondrial disease? Biochimica et biophysica acta. 2010;1802(1):66-79.

13. Perricone C, De Carolis C, Perricone R. Glutathione: a key player in autoimmunity. Autoimmun Rev. 2009 Jul;8(8):697-701. PMID: 19393193

14. Simopoulos AP. The importance of the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 essential fatty acids. Biomed Pharmacother. 2002 Oct;56(8):365-79. PMID: 12442909

15. Upper Cervical Vertebral Subluxation in Multiple Sclerosis Subjects with Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency: A Pilot Study Link Here

16. Bigazzi PE. Autoimmunity and heavy metals. Lupus. 1994 Dec;3(6):449-53. PMID: 7704000

17. Hess EV. Environmental chemicals and autoimmune disease: cause and effect. Toxicology. 2002 Dec 27;181-182:65-70. PMID: 12505286

18. Ercolini AM, Miller SD. The role of infections in autoimmune disease. Clinical and Experimental Immunology. 2009;155(1):1-15.

19. Stojanovich L, Marisavljevich D. Stress as a trigger of autoimmune disease. Autoimmun Rev. 2008 Jan;7(3):209-13. PMID: 18190880

20. Palma BD, Gabriel A Jr, Colugnati FA, Tufik S. Effects of sleep deprivation on the development of autoimmune disease in an experimental model of systemic lupus erythematosus. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2006 Nov;291(5):R1527-32. PMID: 16809486

21. Richardson B. DNA methylation and autoimmune disease. Clin Immunol. 2003 Oct;109(1):72-9. PMID: 14585278

22. Electromagnetic fields and autoimmune diseases Link Here

23. Conti V, Leone MC, Casato M, Nicoli M, Granata G, Carlesimo M. High prevalence of gluten sensitivity in a cohort of patients with undifferentiated connective tissue disease. Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2015 Mar;47(2):54-7. PMID: 25781195

24. Hafström I, Ringertz B, Spångberg A, von Zweigbergk L, Brannemark S, Nylander I, Rönnelid J, Laasonen L, Klareskog L. A vegan diet free of gluten improves the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis: the effects on arthritis correlate with a reduction in antibodies to food antigens. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2001 Oct;40(10):1175-9. PMID: 11600749

25. Aranow C. Vitamin D and the Immune System. Journal of investigative medicine : the official publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research. 2011;59(6):881-886.

26. Kostoglou-Athanassiou I, Athanassiou P, Lyraki A, Raftakis I, Antoniadis C. Vitamin D and rheumatoid arthritis. Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2012;3(6):181-187.

27. Hypovitaminosis D in recent onset rheumatoid arthritis is predictive of reduced response to treatment and increased disease activity: a 12 month follow-up study Link Here

28. Expansion of intestinal Prevotella copri correlates with enhanced susceptibility to arthritis Link Here

29. Scher JU, Abramson SB. The microbiome and rheumatoid arthritis. Nature Reviews Rheumatology. 2011;7(10):569-578.

30. Henriksson AE, Blomquist L, Nord CE, Midtvedt T, Uribe A. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 1993;52(7):503-510.

31. Dukowicz AC, Lacy BE, Levine GM. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: A Comprehensive Review. Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 2007;3(2):112-122.

32. Arrieta MC, Bistritz L, Meddings JB. Alterations in intestinal permeability. Gut. 2006;55(10):1512-1520.

33. Yacyshyn B, Meddings J, Sadowski D, Bowen-Yacyshyn MB. Multiple sclerosis patients have peripheral blood CD45RO+ B cells and increased intestinal permeability. Dig Dis Sci. 1996 Dec;41(12):2493-8. PMID: 9011463

34. Sigthorsson G, Tibble J, Hayllar J, et al. Intestinal permeability and inflammation in patients on NSAIDs. Gut. 1998;43(4):506-511.

35. M Ghafourifar P, Mousavizadeh K, Parihar MS, Nazarewicz RR, Parihar A, Zenebe WJ. itochondria in multiple sclerosis. Front Biosci. 2008 Jan 1;13:3116-26. PMID: 17981781

36. Su K, Bourdette D, Forte M. Mitochondrial dysfunction and neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis. Front Physiol. 2013 Jul 25;4:169. PMID: 23898299

37. Hassan MQ, Hadi RA, Al-Rawi ZS, Padron VA, Stohs SJ. The glutathione defense system in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. J Appl Toxicol. 2001 Jan-Feb;21(1):69-73. PMID: 11180282

38. Gambhir JK, Lali P, Jain AK. Correlation between blood antioxidant levels and lipid peroxidation in rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Biochem. 1997 Jun;30(4):351-5. PMID: 9209794

39. Dietert RR, Dietert JM. Possible role for early-life immune insult including developmental immunotoxicity in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). Toxicology. 2008 May 2;247(1):61-72. PMID: 18336982

40. Pediatric Immune Dysfunction and Health Risks Following Early-Life Immune Insult Link Here

41. Models of Vertebral Subluxation:A Review Link Here

42. Improvement in Cervical Curvature and Health Outcomes in a Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis Undergoing Chiropractic Care to Reduce Vertebral Subluxation Link Here

43. Sköldstam L, Magnusson KE. Fasting, intestinal permeability, and rheumatoid arthritis. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 1991 May;17(2):363-71. PMID: 1862245

44. Adawi M, Damiani G, Bragazzi NL, et al. The Impact of Intermittent Fasting (Ramadan Fasting) on Psoriatic Arthritis Disease Activity, Enthesitis, and Dactylitis: A Multicentre Study. Nutrients. 2019;11(3):601. PMCID: 6471071

45. Miller DM, Singh IN, Wang JA, Hall ED. Nrf2-ARE activator carnosic acid decreases mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative damage and neuronal cytoskeletal degradation following traumaticbrain injury in mice.Exp Neurol. 2014 Nov 26;264C:103-110. PMID: 25432068

46. Kärkkäinen V, Pomeshchik Y, Savchenko E, Dhungana H, Kurronen A, Lehtonen S, Naumenko N, Tavi P, Levonen AL, Yamamoto M, Malm T, Magga J, Kanninen KM, Koistinaho J. Nrf2regulates neurogenesis and protects neural progenitor cells against Aβ toxicity. Stem Cells. 2014 Jul;32(7):1904-16.  PMID:  24753106

47. Sandberg M, Patil J, D’Angelo B, Weber SG, Mallard C. NRF2-regulation in brain health and disease: implication of cerebral inflammation. 2014 Apr;79:298-306. Review.  PMID: 24262633

48. Maruotti, N., & Cantatore, F. P. (2010). Vitamin D and the immune system. Journal of Rheumatology. PMID: 21527855

49. Baeke F, Takiishi T, Korf H, Gysemans C, Mathieu C. Vitamin D: modulator of the immune system. Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2010;10(4):482-496. PMID: 20427238