A simple diet, which is very low on calorie and high in protein combined with regular exercise could end the misery of arthritis for millions of sufferers, according to new research. A relatively small weight loss can have a dramatic effect by reducing swelling, relieving pain and even helping prevent further deterioration of the joints.
Researchers in Denmark found that patients on the strict diet for 16 weeks lost radical amounts of weight and reported a huge improvement in their pain levels, the Daily Express reported. The drastic diet is based on an intake of as little as 440 calories a day, as compared to the recommended 2,500 for a man and 2,000 for a woman. Despite the method being controversial, the results of the study were described as a revelation by the team leader.
Volunteers ate special shakes, soups, bars and porridge and took mineral and vitamin supplements to ensure that they received key nutrients. Moreover, the fat loss did not cause any reduction in the bone mass density. “It was a fantastic surprise that patients with little or no mobility could lose that amount,” Professor Henning Bliddal, of Frederiksberg Hospital in Copenhagen, said. “Thanks to the diet they were able to reduce their dependence on painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs.”