We have been told that when Mia starts methotrexate (DMARDs - disease -modifying anti-rheumatic drug), she will need to take daily folate to reduce the side effects of the drug (liver damage, nausea, vomiting, mouth sores, hair loss, etc.):
Methotrexate hinders the absorption of folate. However, if you take methotrexate for RA, you can use folate supplements safely. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of more than 400 people with RA, folate supplements helped curb the side effects of methotrexate, including liver inflammation. A double-blind study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reports stroke patients who took folate and vitamin B-12 has a lower risk of hip fracture compared with those taking placebo.
Besides starting Mia on a daily supplement to prevent these horrible side effects, I started looking into other alternatives to getting folic acid into her system. One thing I thought of was, "My kid loves smoothies." So, in my research I discovered a bunch of new smoothies that are loaded with folic acid. Going a little further, I noticed that many of them contained papaya.
Not only do papayas contain folic acid, but they also help reduce inflammation in the body, boosts the immune system (because JA IS actually "Autoimmune Arthritis"), and protects against rheumatoid arthritis:
Anti-Inflammatory Effects
Papaya contains several unique protein-digesting enzymes including papain and chymopapain. These enzymes have been shown to help lower inflammation and to improve healing from burns. In addition, the antioxidant nutrients found in papaya, including vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene, are also very good at reducing inflammation. This may explain why people with diseases that are worsened by inflammation, such as asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis, find that the severity of their condition is reduced when they get more of these nutrients.
Immune Support
Vitamin C and vitamin A, which is made in the body from the beta-carotene in papaya, are both needed for the proper function of a healthy immune system. Papaya may therefore be a healthy fruit choice for preventing such illnesses as recurrent ear infections, colds and flu.
Protection against Rheumatoid Arthritis
While one study suggests that high doses of supplemental vitamin C makes osteoarthritis, a type of degenerative arthritis that occurs with aging, worse in laboratory animals, another indicates that vitamin C-rich foods, such as papaya, provide humans with protection against inflammatory polyarthritis, a form of rheumatoid arthritis involving two or more joints.
The findings, presented in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases were drawn from a study of more than 20,000 subjects and focused on subjects who developed inflammatory polyarthritis and similar subjects who remained arthritis-free during the follow-up period. Subjects who consumed the lowest amounts of vitamin C-rich foods were more than three times more likely to develop arthritis than those who consumed the highest amounts.
Below is a great smoothie I found that is loaded with folic acid and joint-friendly fruit, papaya:
Orange-Papaya Shake Break
Whip up a quick batch of this smooth drink for an afternoon pick-me-up.
1 8-ounce carton vanilla low-fat yogurt
¾ cup frozen Florida orange juice concentrate, thawed
1 small papaya or mango, seeded, peeled, and chopped
½ cup skim milk (I substitute with rice milk because we are a DF house)
2 tablespoons honey
8-10 ice cubes
Place yogurt, thawed concentrate, papaya or mango, milk, and honey in a blender container. Cover and blend until smooth. With the blender running, add ice cubes, one at a time, through hole in lid. Blend until smooth. Garnish each serving with a skewer of fresh fruit.
Makes 3 (about 8-ounce) servings.
Nutrition facts per serving: 194 calories, 5 g protein, 42 g carbohydrate, 1 g total fat (1 g saturated fat), 4 mg cholesterol, 1 g dietary fiber, 52 mg sodium. Daily Value: 172% vitamin C, 11% vitamin A, 13% thiamin, 12% riboflavin, 11% calcium, 16% potassium, 104 micrograms folic acid.
For more great folic acid boosting smoothies, go here.
Just thought I'd share this with all of my JA friends out there who are fighting the same daily fight that our family is. Hope this helps in your fight!!
Papaya is really good in our health and it really helps a lot. Thanks for sharing the recipe. I would try it at home.
ReplyDeleteHelpful post, I have serious pain and inflammation in joints, its really hard to walk, I am on medication but still I will implement your tips.
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