Cooking with arthritis: 8 ways to make preparing a meal easier

From bt.com

Painful hands can make cooking a tricky task for people with arthritis. We found out some useful tips to make things easier.

1. Use a plant stand for heavy pots

Filling a pan with lots of water can make it heavy.
One great tip is to put the empty pan on a plant stand with wheels and fill it with water using a measuring cup.
Then you can wheel it back to the hob to reduce the amount of lifting involved.

2. Use an apple corer

Keep chopping and slicing vegetables to a minimum with an apple corer. Use your forearms to put weight on the corer to slice through any vegetables you need to chop.

3. Make stirring easier

If you have difficulty stirring, switch to an electric handheld blender with a whisk. Try and find one that’s lightweight and easy to use.

4. Separate eggs the easy way

Separating egg whites from the yolk can be fiddly and frustrating. Crack an egg into a funnel over a bowl. This way the whites will run through the funnel into the bowl while the yolk stays put.

5. Hang pots and pans

This way you won’t have to bend down or move things around to get to them in cupboards.

6. Buy jars with easy-open lids

Thankfully, there are a number of brands that are making jars that are easier to open.
Jam-makers Duerr's has introduced the innovative easy-open Orbit lid across its range of jams and marmalades nationwide.

7. Keep an easy to use kettle

The Studio by Dualit Kettle is designed to be lightweight, has an easy-grip handle and gives the easiest of pours thanks to its low pouring angle preventing dangerous spills.

8. Open cans the easy way

Culinare’s nifty OneTouch Can Opener is the gadget you need if you struggle with fiddly tins.
The magnet button lifts and releases the lid easily for disposal and is ideal for those with limited hand mobility.

http://home.bt.com/lifestyle/house-home/home-hacks/cooking-with-arthritis-8-ways-to-make-preparing-a-meal-easier-11364189780934

Arthritis symptoms: Eating THIS twice a week could help painful joints

From express.co.uk

Eating oily fish one to two times a week can prevent or help existing arthritis, according to research.
Examples of oily fish include salmon, herring, sardines and mackerel.
It’s because they’re rich in omega-3 fatty acids which protect both the heart and brain.
White fish, such as cod, are less rich in the nutrient, but do contain some.
Indeed, a 2013 study published in journal Annals of Rheumatic Diseases found that eating at least one portion of oily fish a week could have halve rheumatoid arthritis risk.
It’s though that omega-3’s anti-inflammatory properties helps combat the joint disorder.
Paul Chamberlain, Head of Nutrition at Solgar, said: “Omega-3 family of fats play an important role in controlling inflammatory processes in the body.
“Hence those with any kind of ‘itis’ will often benefit from eating more omega-3 rich foods.

“Research also suggests that omega-3 fatty acids reduce the expression of cartilage-degrading enzymes, cyclooxygenase-2 and inflammatory cytokines that are involved in the progression of joint disorders.”
Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common types of arthritis, alongside osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis.
The researchers from the 2013 study suggest that fish oil supplements may also be beneficial.
Chamberlain said: “Many people do not eat the recommended one to two portions of oily fish per week meaning they may lack omega-3 in their diet.”
This means that taking supplements may be an easy way to get the protective joint benefits.
The Arthritis Foundation recommend choosing fish oil capsules with at least 30 per cent EPA and DHA - the active ingredients - for arthritis-related conditions.
If you’re vegetarian, there are other dietary sources.
“Chamberlain added: “As well as oily fish, omega-3s are derived from some nuts and seeds such as walnuts and flax.”

http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/812261/arthritis-rheumatoid-osteoarthritis-symptoms-pain-joints

Excessive Texting May Lead to 'Smartphone Thumb' or Thumb Arthritis

From ndtv.com

The times we live in, a smartphone is of utmost importance. Sure, it helps us stay connected with a large network of people, but too much of it could also start showing negative implications of one's health and well-being. Ever heard of 'Smartphone Thumb'? Well, it is real, and it is one of the consequences of excessive texting. Doctors have warned that people who spend too much time texting may be at increased risk of having "smartphone thumb", a painful condition caused by repetitive movements of typing that may lead to arthritis in the thumb.

Formally known as tendinitis, the condition was earlier only seen in factory workers. It causes the tendon that bends and flexes the thumb to become inflamed. But with increased use of smartphone for our daily activities, this type of pain has become more common over the years in the US, according to a CBSNews.com report.

"One of the hypotheses is that, you know, the joints get loose and lax, and because of that the bones kind of move differently than they would in a normal situation," Kristin Zhao, a biomedical engineer at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester was quoted as saying by CBS Minnesota.

"The movements we require our thumbs to make as we hold our phones are awkward. It's also a movement that requires some force through the thumbs. It's not just free movement in space," she explained. "Our hypothesis is that abnormal motion of bones in the thumb could be causing pain onset and eventual osteoarthritis."

The ways to prevent the problem include giving your thumbs a break, using your forefinger sometimes, and doing daily stretching exercises to keep your tendons limber, among others.

Inputs from IANS

http://food.ndtv.com/health/excessive-texting-may-lead-to-smartphone-thumb-or-thumb-arthritis-1705749