November 3, 2006, Friday / Arthritis Support Group Meeting

REMINDER: Next Meeting December 1st, 2006, Friday

Arthritis Support Group of South Lake County

DATE: December 1st, Friday

TIME: 12:00 – 1:30 PM FEE: Free

LOCATION: National Training Center
Education Department
1109 Citrus Tower Blvd.
Clermont, FL 34711

TOPIC: "Tips 'n Tricks on how to Survive the Holidays"

Welcome to everyone that is effected by Arthritis (100 + Types),
Family, friends, medical, community businesses & college students.

Eliminating Nightshade Foods Will Reduce Inflammation in Arthritis and Chronic Illness!

I received an email this week from a new friend in our Arthritis Support Group asking more about certain foods that cause inflamation and pain. She told me after eating some eggplant she experienced an increase in her pain level. Knowing that one of our group topics was about the "No-Nightshades Diet" she asked for more information. Here is my reply to her:

Thanks or the email and I am so sorry you hurt after eating an eggplant sub-sandwich! Maybe the Nightshades Diet will be good for you too. I have been on this "food plan" for almost a year and it has really helped me (I don't use the nasty word "diet"... yuk!). Reduction of inflamation / chronic pain can occur by eliminating the NightShades food group for many people.

Certain foods can help us stay healthy - but they can also create problems with Chronic Illnesses such as Arthritis each day.

The Nightshades food group includes:

Tomatoes
Potatoes
Peppers (except black pepper – it’s O.K.)
Eggplant (as you probably found out L)

Use Hellman’s Mayonnaise because it doesn’t have paprika in it.
Hot dogs are out because they have paprika in them.
No more spicy foods that have peppers in them (boo).

I find it helpful to bring my own foods to parties and make special requests in restaurants. On airlines plan ahead and order a special diet plate too.

Several of our Arthritis support group members have purchased and started using the recipes in a No-Nightshades cook book called: Arthritis-Free Cooking by Joan Vogel and Pat Claudio.

Here are some web pages and attachments above that I hope will help you with your new journey in Arthritis and learning about eliminating foods that are called Nightshades:

Nightshades Research Foundation

I personally do NOT believe the Nightshades food group causes arthritis or takes it away. I take everything I learn about Arthritis and chronic pain with a "grain-of-salt", use what helps me and I don’t believe all that I hear from others. Be cautious. There are some insane websites and false cures out in the real world that are myths and filled with quackery.

When it comes to chronic pain I really believe we can live a more comfortable and less painful life by watching what we eat, include vitamins and supplements, choose open minded doctors, find medical treatments and therapies that help us as individuals. Be careful to NOT do what everyone else is doing – it could be a quack or a fad for the moment. Also exercise whenever we can. This is a healthy journey I would prefer to take for my OA, FMS, CFS, SS, DDD. Yes, chronic pain is also a pain in the a$$ (butt) too! A sense of humor helps a lot… LOL!

I do realize you are a busy woman with work, being a college student and a single mom. I want to share with you that at times I have to re-evaluate my life and clear my plate off occasionally by putting some goals on the "back burner" for awhile. That is to say ~ NOT ‘quit’ but maybe return to those plans later when I am feeling better.

For instance, I do love reading, college and sculpture (I am a frustrated artist) but I am not able to do all of them right now. After 5 years of adjusting to my life's new journey - I am just starting to read books again and I joined a book club this fall. I am going to return to my other goals at later dates. I have seen other people with Arthritis do the same. This keeps ‘hope’ in our lives by not dashing our dreams but still keeping them in sight for the future. I also want to learn to scuba dive! Of course with a little help because of my disabilities. I will sign up for a scuba diving class next summer, God willing. :-)

Sometimes we are doing too much at the initial onset of our Arthritis / Chronic Pain and need to simplify our life until we settle in with our new journey. Oh, yes… I know it is NOT at all pleasant initially when painful diseases land on our doorstep and refuse to leave. That’s the GRIEF process we will need to go through. Maybe Arthritis / Chronic Pain support groups could consider having a special guest speaker attend their meetings and discuss the grieving process for people with chronic pain. It is a life process that can not be ignored in order to gain a healthy balance in our lives again. This has been proved over and over gain.

Hope this information helps lift yor spirits, friend. All that I share is from my personal experience and researching Chronic Pain for many years. Our Arthritis Support Group of South Lake County in Clermont, FL, is a vital part of my healing process and getting on with my journey in life. All of the group members spiritually inspire me every month that we meet and for that I thank them dearly. See you December 1st, Friday, at our next monthly Arthritis Support Group meeting.

Until then,my friend ...

Warm Thoughts and Breezes,
Meg King
Volunteer Support Group Leader
Arthritis Support Group of South Lake County, FL

Reminder - Next Meeting 11/3, Friday

November 3rd, 2006, Friday

Arthritis Support Group of South Lake County

monthly meeting @ 12-1:30 PM

National Training Center

1109 Citrus Tower Blvd., Clermont, FL 34711

* Guest Speaker: Dan Bordenkircher, Manager of Sego’s Home Medical Equipment, 120 Citrus Tower Blvd. Suite #135, Clermont. (352) 242-9004 Web site: http://www.segohomemedicalequipment.com/

Topic – “Gadgets and Devices to Use at Home and Traveling”