Arthritis prevention method #8: Avoid environmental toxins.
Scientists are investigating the link between RA and exposure to toxins such as man-made pesticides, organic solvents, compounds like formaldehyde, and heavy metals such as cadmium and mercury, Dr. Molnar-Kimber says.

Exposure to insecticides was associated with the risk of autoimmune rheumatic diseases such as RA in postmenopausal women, according to a 2010 study at the National Institute for Environmental Health Science in Durham, N.C.

The 2009 Harvard study of 90,297 women found that those who lived within 55 yards of a large road frequented by cars and trucks had a 31% increased risk for RA, compared with women who were less exposed to exhaust fumes.

What to do: "Several studies have shown that rheumatoid arthritis patients have less ability to rid their bodies of toxins due to low levels of glutathione, a protein produced by your liver that plays a key role in neutralizing [harmful] substances in the body," Dr. Molnar-Kimber says.

To beef up your glutathione activity, take a glutathione supplement; an amino acid called L-carnitine may also help raise levels. Also eat foods rich in antioxidants, such as blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, prunes, beans and pecans, which help repair cell damage, she says.

For more expert information and advice, visit our Rheumatoid Arthritis Health Center ^[1].

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Inflammation has become a hot topic over the last few years. The latest scientific research indicates that inflammation is behind more than 80% of the conditions we suffer from – everything from arthritis to heart disease. Dr. Mark Hyman, author of The UltraSimple Diet, agrees that inflammation leads to a host of health problems. Fighting it can get you on track to a healthier, happier life. Take this inflammation quiz ^[2] and find out how much you may already know.