WebMD Chat Transcript: The Arthritis Cure Cookbook

[Guest guest]

WebMD Chat Transcript: "The Arthritis Cure Cookbook" with Adderly, M.H.A.

http://my.webmd.com/content/asset/chat_transcript.526392

Mike_WebMD Please welcome Adderly, M.H.A. She is co-author of The New York Times #1 bestseller, "The Arthritis Cure" is a health reporter and writer who uncovers the latest medical breakthroughs. Ms. Adderly began her career as a staff assistant under C. Everett Koop at the U.S. Public Health Service. She has published 13 books to date, covering several topics including: arthritis, chronic pain, memory, massage for babies, nutritional supplements, prostate health, and libido. Today's discussion is regarding her latest book "The Arthritis Cure Cookbook". A book designed to help arthritis sufferers alleviate pain and help rebuild damaged joints. Hello Ms. Adderly!

B_Adderly Hello!

Mike_WebMD You mention in the cookbook that "free radicals" attack healthy tissue and have a part in causing arthritis. What are "free radicals" and how do we stop them?

B_Adderly Free radicals are unstable molecules that randomly roam throughout the body attacking both healthy and unhealthy tissue. If you have osteoarthritis, the joint cartilage can be particularly vulnerable to free radical damage. In order to stop free radical damage, the main thing that you can do is to eat foods that are high in antioxidants. In The Arthritis Cure Cookbook, we focus on foods that are high in antioxidants. Antioxidants are found in several fruits and vegetables. But first, the easy way to remember the most powerful antioxidants is "The 4 ACES" That is, vitamins A, C, E, and selenium. Would you like to know some of the foods that contain the 4 ACES?

rwallace Please.

B_Adderly Vitamin A: liver, eggs, and orange-colored fruits and vegetables. Vitamin C: Bell peppers, for example, have a higher amount of vitamin C than citrus. Other foods -- cabbage, and of course the citrus fruits. Vitamin E: look for this vitamin in asparagus and spinach, to name a couple. And selenium is found in swordfish, sunflower seeds, salmon, and shrimp. In the Arthritis Cure Cookbook, we have lots and lots of recipes with foods that are high in antioxidants.

rwallace Are there a lot of vegetarian dishes with anti-oxidants?

B_Adderly Yes, in fact, we have a section just on vegetarian entrees. In addition we have a Vegetable section.

rwallace Excellent.

B_Adderly The Cookbook is a wonderful recipe book, even if you don't have osteoarthritis.

mold28 Will the foods in this diet also benefit members in my family that don't have arthritis?

B_Adderly Yes, In fact, my dad, who is a real meat and potato man, looked at the recipes and said, "Even I like these recipes!" The recipes are healthy, low fat, nutritious, and most of all, delicious.

mold28 Will this diet help me lose weight?

B_Adderly Yep, the recipes are designed to be low in calorie and fat.

rwallace Can these recipes have a preventative effect?

B_Adderly Great question. Yes, if you don't yet have arthritis these recipes are great, because they are supplying your joints with necessary vitamins/nutrients. And because they are low in fat content you don't have to worry about gaining weight, which is something that often provokes arthritis, or makes it flare up.

rwallace That's excellent because I'm worried about getting it from playing guitar.

B_Adderly Do you have a family history of arthritis?

rwallace No, but I've heard that playing guitar is tough on the joints in the fingers.

B_Adderly You're ahead of the curve to think about preventing arthritis in your hands.

rwallace Well, my guitar teacher now has a problem with it. Diet seems like a great preventative approach.

B_Adderly Your teacher may want to consider glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate which are the two supplements I wrote about in the first book, The Arthritis Cure. We do talk briefly about these supplements in the Cookbook.

rwallace Thanks, I'll mention it to him.

B_Adderly They are really the foundation for helping to stop arthritis, and the recipes in the cookbook are important for boosting the effectiveness of glucosamine and chondroitin.

Mike_WebMD Are there different benefits associated with frying, baking or steaming?

B_Adderly Oh yes. In the Cookbook, we really focus on baking, steaming, broiling foods instead of frying. The main reason for staying away from fried foods, besides major calories and fat, is that the oils used for frying can cause inflammation or irritate joint tissues. There ARE good oils... Olive oil, flaxseed oil... are far better to use than butter or margarine or lard.

rwallace Are there any foods that should be avoided?

B_Adderly Good question...

rwallace (from the standpoint of arthritis)

B_Adderly You've probably heard of arthritis diets that recommend that you avoid certain foods. Well, we advocate eating a variety of foods because you can get all of the nutrients necessary. Plus, if you eliminate certain foods, you're eliminating choice, and eating the same foods gets very boring. And no research studies have shown that a category of food can negatively affect arthritis.

mold28 Are meats cooked rare or medium rare more effective than meats cooked to well, medium well?

B_Adderly It really depends on your personal preference. In the Cookbook, we have a section on beef, pork, and lamb entrees and you can prepare the dishes to your preference, although we may make suggestions on the best way to cook a certain type of meat. For example... there's a recipe for leg of lamb that says you should adjust the baking time for taste preferences. Then we have "Colorful Steak Fajitas" or "Grilled Southern Pork Tenderloins" and "Bring Back Your Mother's Liver 'n Onions"... I'm getting hungry just reading the recipes!

mold28 Is there an ethnic cuisine that is better than others for arthritis treatment?

B_Adderly Interesting question. In the Cookbook, we cover many different cuisines -- Mexican, Polish, Japanese, Italian, Mediterranean...the point is to focus on foods that are high in antioxidants, low in calorie and fat -- and oh, by the way, taste great.

mold28 What's the name of the cookbook again?

B_Adderly The Arthritis Cure Cookbook.

Mike_WebMD Will drugs interfere with the diet?

B_Adderly Yes. Drugs, such as painkillers can take away vital nutrients from the body. For example, many common NSAIDS or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs deplete levels of vitamin C in your body. So we have recipes in the book to counter this phenomenon, because people with arthritis often take painkillers to ease the joint pain. Another thing we focus on in the book is how to put together an "arthritis friendly kitchen. There are many things you can do to make cooking and preparing meals easier than you currently are doing them. In fact, I've incorporated several of the tips into my kitchen to make my life easier in the kitchen.

B_Adderly Here are some tips... Wear an apron with pockets to carry the utensils you most frequently use, so that they will be handy when you need them. This prevents you from moving around, opening drawers, reaching over into cabinets. Another great tip is get a sprayer hose for your kitchen sink so that when you, for example, are making pasta you can set the pot on the counter and fill it with water instead of having to bend down into the sink to lift out a heavy pot of water.

mold28 I've found the Henckal 5-star series knives to be quite comfortable for chopping and dicing. Are there other utensils that use the same ergonomic features?

B_Adderly Yes, there are many lines of kitchen utensils that are designed for people with arthritis -- the wide handles are a great invention not just for people with arthritis, but for anyone who spends time cooking. The other thing to keep in mind when cooking is that you want to keep your energy level up. So bring a chair into the kitchen that allows you to sit at a counter to prepare foods. Also, to the extent that you can, buy pre-cut foods and use labor-saving devices such as a food processor, blender, electric can opener.

Mike_WebMD I spent about ten years working in kitchens and found that rubber mats on the floor made standing for long periods of time more comfortable. Is there a commercially available product available that would have the same affect?

B_Adderly I'm sure there are, but I'm not familiar with any in terms of brand name. You're right, a softer surface is great on the back. You can also compensate by wearing comfortable shoes.

mold28 How do I adhere to the diet when I dine out?

B_Adderly Good question. What you should keep in mind is to have sauces on the side, look for steamed or broiled or grilled entrees, and minimize the amounts of deep-fried foods.

mold28 I don't always have time to cook do frozen dinners have the same benefits?

B_Adderly Yes, some of the low-fat entrees may have some of the same benefits but to the extent that you can, buy pre-cut, prepackaged salads -- which is what I do and try to balance out your meals with as much fresh fruit and vegetables if you can. So if you eat a frozen dinner, have a salad with it.

Mike_WebMD Are organic products better for the arthritis diet?

B_Adderly Yes, anything that minimizes additives is a good thing. And the taste is so much better with organic foods.

Mike_WebMD Well ,our time is up... I would like to thank Adderly for being here. It was a wonderful chat and a wonderful cookbook!

B_Adderly Thanks, it was a pleasure. Listen in at www.audiouniverse.com to hear my health tip of the day!

mold28 Thanks!

[Guest guest]

Where do we order this recipe book?

Georgina <gmckin@...> wrote:

WebMD Chat Transcript: "The Arthritis Cure Cookbook" with Adderly, M.H.A.

http://my.webmd.com/content/asset/chat_transcript.526392

Mike_WebMD Please welcome Adderly, M.H.A. She is co-author of The New York Times #1 bestseller, "The Arthritis Cure" is a health reporter and writer who uncovers the latest medical breakthroughs. Ms. Adderly began her career as a staff assistant under C. Everett Koop at the U.S. Public Health Service. She has published 13 books to date, covering several topics including: arthritis, chronic pain, memory, massage for babies, nutritional supplements, prostate health, and libido. Today's discussion is regarding her latest book "The Arthritis Cure Cookbook". A book designed to help arthritis sufferers alleviate pain and help rebuild damaged joints. Hello Ms. Adderly!

B_Adderly Hello!

Mike_WebMD You mention in the cookbook that "free radicals" attack healthy tissue and have a part in causing arthritis. What are "free radicals" and how do we stop them?

B_Adderly Free radicals are unstable molecules that randomly roam throughout the body attacking both healthy and unhealthy tissue. If you have osteoarthritis, the joint cartilage can be particularly vulnerable to free radical damage. In order to stop free radical damage, the main thing that you can do is to eat foods that are high in antioxidants. In The Arthritis Cure Cookbook, we focus on foods that are high in antioxidants. Antioxidants are found in several fruits and vegetables. But first, the easy way to remember the most powerful antioxidants is "The 4 ACES" That is, vitamins A, C, E, and selenium. Would you like to know some of the foods that contain the 4 ACES?

rwallace Please.

B_Adderly Vitamin A: liver, eggs, and orange-colored fruits and vegetables. Vitamin C: Bell peppers, for example, have a higher amount of vitamin C than citrus. Other foods -- cabbage, and of course the citrus fruits. Vitamin E: look for this vitamin in asparagus and spinach, to name a couple. And selenium is found in swordfish, sunflower seeds, salmon, and shrimp. In the Arthritis Cure Cookbook, we have lots and lots of recipes with foods that are high in antioxidants.

rwallace Are there a lot of vegetarian dishes with anti-oxidants?

B_Adderly Yes, in fact, we have a section just on vegetarian entrees. In addition we have a Vegetable section.

rwallace Excellent.

B_Adderly The Cookbook is a wonderful recipe book, even if you don't have osteoarthritis.

mold28 Will the foods in this diet also benefit members in my family that don't have arthritis?

B_Adderly Yes, In fact, my dad, who is a real meat and potato man, looked at the recipes and said, "Even I like these recipes!" The recipes are healthy, low fat, nutritious, and most of all, delicious.

mold28 Will this diet help me lose weight?

B_Adderly Yep, the recipes are designed to be low in calorie and fat.

rwallace Can these recipes have a preventative effect?

B_Adderly Great question. Yes, if you don't yet have arthritis these recipes are great, because they are supplying your joints with necessary vitamins/nutrients. And because they are low in fat content you don't have to worry about gaining weight, which is something that often provokes arthritis, or makes it flare up.

rwallace That's excellent because I'm worried about getting it from playing guitar.

B_Adderly Do you have a family history of arthritis?

rwallace No, but I've heard that playing guitar is tough on the joints in the fingers.

B_Adderly You're ahead of the curve to think about preventing arthritis in your hands.

rwallace Well, my guitar teacher now has a problem with it. Diet seems like a great preventative approach.

B_Adderly Your teacher may want to consider glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate which are the two supplements I wrote about in the first book, The Arthritis Cure. We do talk briefly about these supplements in the Cookbook.

rwallace Thanks, I'll mention it to him.

B_Adderly They are really the foundation for helping to stop arthritis, and the recipes in the cookbook are important for boosting the effectiveness of glucosamine and chondroitin.

Mike_WebMD Are there different benefits associated with frying, baking or steaming?

B_Adderly Oh yes. In the Cookbook, we really focus on baking, steaming, broiling foods instead of frying. The main reason for staying away from fried foods, besides major calories and fat, is that the oils used for frying can cause inflammation or irritate joint tissues. There ARE good oils... Olive oil, flaxseed oil... are far better to use than butter or margarine or lard.

rwallace Are there any foods that should be avoided?

B_Adderly Good question...

rwallace (from the standpoint of arthritis)

B_Adderly You've probably heard of arthritis diets that recommend that you avoid certain foods. Well, we advocate eating a variety of foods because you can get all of the nutrients necessary. Plus, if you eliminate certain foods, you're eliminating choice, and eating the same foods gets very boring. And no research studies have shown that a category of food can negatively affect arthritis.

mold28 Are meats cooked rare or medium rare more effective than meats cooked to well, medium well?

B_Adderly It really depends on your personal preference. In the Cookbook, we have a section on beef, pork, and lamb entrees and you can prepare the dishes to your preference, although we may make suggestions on the best way to cook a certain type of meat. For example... there's a recipe for leg of lamb that says you should adjust the baking time for taste preferences. Then we have "Colorful Steak Fajitas" or "Grilled Southern Pork Tenderloins" and "Bring Back Your Mother's Liver 'n Onions"... I'm getting hungry just reading the recipes!

mold28 Is there an ethnic cuisine that is better than others for arthritis treatment?

B_Adderly Interesting question. In the Cookbook, we cover many different cuisines -- Mexican, Polish, Japanese, Italian, Mediterranean...the point is to focus on foods that are high in antioxidants, low in calorie and fat -- and oh, by the way, taste great.

mold28 What's the name of the cookbook again?

B_Adderly The Arthritis Cure Cookbook.

Mike_WebMD Will drugs interfere with the diet?

B_Adderly Yes. Drugs, such as painkillers can take away vital nutrients from the body. For example, many common NSAIDS or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs deplete levels of vitamin C in your body. So we have recipes in the book to counter this phenomenon, because people with arthritis often take painkillers to ease the joint pain. Another thing we focus on in the book is how to put together an "arthritis friendly kitchen. There are many things you can do to make cooking and preparing meals easier than you currently are doing them. In fact, I've incorporated several of the tips into my kitchen to make my life easier in the kitchen.

B_Adderly Here are some tips... Wear an apron with pockets to carry the utensils you most frequently use, so that they will be handy when you need them. This prevents you from moving around, opening drawers, reaching over into cabinets. Another great tip is get a sprayer hose for your kitchen sink so that when you, for example, are making pasta you can set the pot on the counter and fill it with water instead of having to bend down into the sink to lift out a heavy pot of water.

mold28 I've found the Henckal 5-star series knives to be quite comfortable for chopping and dicing. Are there other utensils that use the same ergonomic features?

B_Adderly Yes, there are many lines of kitchen utensils that are designed for people with arthritis -- the wide handles are a great invention not just for people with arthritis, but for anyone who spends time cooking. The other thing to keep in mind when cooking is that you want to keep your energy level up. So bring a chair into the kitchen that allows you to sit at a counter to prepare foods. Also, to the extent that you can, buy pre-cut foods and use labor-saving devices such as a food processor, blender, electric can opener.

Mike_WebMD I spent about ten years working in kitchens and found that rubber mats on the floor made standing for long periods of time more comfortable. Is there a commercially available product available that would have the same affect?

B_Adderly I'm sure there are, but I'm not familiar with any in terms of brand name. You're right, a softer surface is great on the back. You can also compensate by wearing comfortable shoes.

mold28 How do I adhere to the diet when I dine out?

B_Adderly Good question. What you should keep in mind is to have sauces on the side, look for steamed or broiled or grilled entrees, and minimize the amounts of deep-fried foods.

mold28 I don't always have time to cook do frozen dinners have the same benefits?

B_Adderly Yes, some of the low-fat entrees may have some of the same benefits but to the extent that you can, buy pre-cut, prepackaged salads -- which is what I do and try to balance out your meals with as much fresh fruit and vegetables if you can. So if you eat a frozen dinner, have a salad with it.

Mike_WebMD Are organic products better for the arthritis diet?

B_Adderly Yes, anything that minimizes additives is a good thing. And the taste is so much better with organic foods.

Mike_WebMD Well ,our time is up... I would like to thank Adderly for being here. It was a wonderful chat and a wonderful cookbook!

B_Adderly Thanks, it was a pleasure. Listen in at www.audiouniverse.com to hear my health tip of the day!

mold28 Thanks!

[Guest guest]

Hi Jona,

It's a best-seller so you should be able to find it at virtually any bookstore ... but if you'd like to order online, here's a link for it at Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0895262193/ref=pd_sxp_elt_l1/102-7137828-0948158

I hope na had a good day today : )

Take Care,

Georgina

----- Original Message -----

From: jona cox

Where do we order this recipe book?

WebMD Chat Transcript: "The Arthritis Cure Cookbook" with Adderly, M.H.A.

http://my.webmd.com/content/asset/chat_transcript.526392