Fatty Fish May Reduce Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk

It's been widely covered in the news and on many health blogs - fatty fish (rich in Omega-3 fatty acid) is a great nutritional way to keep your heart healthy. Now the results of a 7 year study conducted in Sweden have shown that Omega-3 fatty acids can help lower your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. That's right!

The women who participated in the study and who consistently ate at least one serving of fatty fish a week cut their risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis by half! This compared to women who ate little or no fish.

It appears that the potential benefits received from consuming Omega-3s comes directly from the fish instead of a fish oil supplement.

You might consider that when planning meals by incorporating fish into your diet. You don't need to eat a serving of fish everyday - up to twice a week should be fine. Eating one portion of fatty fish, such as mackerel or salmon, could cut your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis by fifty percent.

These are some fish you might consider when planning meals:


Oily fish - 1x per week

• Salmon
• Sardines
• Halibut
• Scallops
• Shrimp
• Achovies
• Herring
• Mackeral
• Pilchards
• Trout
• Fresh tuna
• Whitebait

Lean fish - up to 4x a week

• Cod
• Haddock
• Halibut
• Monkfish
• Plaice
• Pollock
• Sea Bass
• Tinned Tuna
• Plaice
• Dover Sole
• Skate

There are many resources online for delicious grilled fish recipes. I found this one on the Mayo Clinic's website.

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Melinda's Tips for Preparing Fish

• To help hold the fish in place when cutting try sprinkling salt on your cutting board and also dip fingers into salt for stability, the salt should be rinsed off fish when complete -  if you are watching your sodium intake. 

• Using a simple dish cloth wrapped around the knife handle and secured with a rubber band makes the perfect fit for the arthritic hand. 

 

• The perfect fish recipe is so simple:  

1. Season a fish filet with a little lemon juice salt and pepper 
2. Place fish in parchment paper
3. Top with a thin slice of onion and tomato
4. Wrap like a sandwich bake at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes (longer for thick cuts of fish)
5. Allow to stand in paper sealed for additional 5 minutes serve in paper. 
6.  

It is fun for family and guests to open the delicious package!

Kids with Juvenile Arthritis: Ways to Help Them Enjoy Time Off

 

Activities

Pain sometimes limits activities for kids with juvenile arthritis. Maintaining a regular exercise program is really beneficial in the long run. Exercise keeps the joints mobile and builds muscle strength. Through regular exercise, everyday movements like walking and dressing become less stressful and less painful.

• Swimming is a good activity because it uses many joints and muscles without any weight bearing pressure.
  
  
• Walking is also a good way to exercise without putting too much stress on the joints.
  
  
• Download Exercise Tips for Kids (a printable pdf)
  

 

Meet Other Kids with Arthritis

Sometimes a kid with juvenile arthritis can feel isolated. Meeting other kids with the same or similar conditions opens up a whole new perspective. Suddenly there are other kids who feel the same way, experience the same pain and understand what it’s like to live with JA.

To connect with other families contact the Arthritis Foundation 1-800-283-7800 or visit www.arthritis.org to find an office close to you.

Juvenile arthritis camps are developed specifically for kids with arthritis. Camp activities encourage camaraderie and lifelong friendships. The Arthritis Foundation holds a national Juvenile Arthritis Conference annually. The location changes each year. The opportunities to meet with other parents and kids, to learn important information and bond with family are great reasons to attend.

Here’s a sample the fun and educational surprises at the Juvenile Arthritis Conference.

“Kids Get Arthritis Too - Flash Mob at Disney!”
The Young Adult Program at the national Juvenile Arthritis Conference is a program designed to empower young adults (18-30) with arthritis with the skills and information they need to live the life they want and deserve....and it's a heck of a lot of fun! Siblings and significant others join in as well to learn how they can better support the people in their lives.

Connect with Others

• The Girl with Arthritis
  This lovely young woman has Juvenile Psoriatic Arthritis. She's an aspiring artist who is just trying to get by day to day without too much pain. Her goal is to help other kids and adults with arthritis reach out and feel accepted.
  
  
• RArainbow
  A resource blog for young women living with (Juvenile) Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Kids Get Arthritis Too
  The Arthritis Foundation's online home for the 300,000 families living with juvenile arthritis.
  
  
  

Preparation - Meat, Poultry & Fish ​

 

If you are unable to use your hands to hold the meat in place, I find the following methods very useful when butterflying meats, fish, or poultry. Place the meat flat on a cutting board. Using a fork or large carving fork with a thick handle (if you are unable to use your hand to hold a standard size fork, use the large carving fork), spear the meat right in the middle.

Preparation Method - Peeling & Coring

Cutting and/or coring and removing skins apples, pears, potatoes, small summer squash, mangoes—things of that nature—can become a challenge. There is a simple solution to cubing when your hands just are not up to par. Using an apple cutter works miracles. To cut any of the above (except

There is a simple solution to cubing when
your hands just are not up to par.
Using an apple cutter works miracles.

mangoes), use a mango cutter when cutting mangoes. Simply place an apple cutter/corer on the top of the item you would like to chop or dice, position the cutter so that one handle is next to your body and the other is away from your body, and place your forearms on the handles, using your weight of your body. Firmly press down. The item is not only sliced, but cored. If any item will not stand firmly, remove a thin slice off the bottom for stability.

Preparation Method - Heavy Items

Get a cup any size you can handle
and scoop the batter from the bowl
into your pan. A small plastic
measuring cup works wonderfully.​

When making cakes, soups, and stews, I find it hard to lift heavy batter bowls and pots with liquid in them. To make this problem go away quickly, simply get a cup any size you can handle and scoop the batter from the bowl into your pan. A small plastic measuring cup works wonderfully. When you get to the bottom, use a spoonula. This is a spatula that has a spoon/spatula appearance. It’s the perfect tool for that last little bit remaining in the bowl.

Preparation Method - Cutting & Chopping

When there is a lot of chopping and shredding involved in a recipe, of course a food processor would be the easiest and quickest means of completing the task. Some of us simply do not own a food processor. If you have the means to purchase one, it would definitely be worth its weight in gold to the physically challenged!

Preparation Method - Mixers ​ ​​

This is a fairly simple process. Let the mixer do all the work. If you are unable to whisk by hand, use a small, handheld drink mixer. This works wonderfully with no pain to you. The drink mixer has a

Substiuting a hand whisk
for an electric drink mixer
or immersion blender

thick top that makes for easy grasping for those sore hands that do not close. They are very affordable—under ten dollars. If you have a problem holding the drink mixer in you hands, place the mixer in the bend of your arm at the elbow and squeeze tightly to hold in place. This allows you full control with no use of the sore hands.​

Preparation Method - Zesting & Juicing

ZESTING  is a method to remove the slightest bit of peel off of citrus. The peel or skin of citrus contains a great deal of natural oils, which carry bold flavor that will enhance any dish. Zesting can be a difficult task for people with arthritis and individuals who have limited use of their hands or arms.
​

To zest fresh citrus, fresh coconuts or
other food item, use a long micro
plane with a thick handle.

To zest fresh citrus, fresh coconuts or other food item, use a long micro plane with a thick handle.