Early symptoms of arthritis include joint pain, joint swelling, stiffness (especially in the morning), and redness of the skin around the affected joint. In most cases, symptoms don't develop overnight but over a long period of time (months or even years). Other common symptoms most people affected by arthritis often experience loss of appetite, energy loss, slight fever, and red blood cell count decrease. Recognizing the symptoms of arthritis and seeing the physician is an extremely important part of the treatment because both, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can cause severe joint deformity if left untreated. Osteoarthritis is caused by the reduction in the normal amount of cartilage tissue surrounding the joints. This reduction, furthermore, can be caused by normal wear, different infections, injuries, etc. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disease of the synovium inside the joints. Although the exact cause of autoimmune diseases is unknown, rheumatoid arthritis occurs when our own immune systems attack the soft tissue in joints. It is important to point out that both types of arthritis are directly related to the types of food we eat, body weight, and overall health. A healthy diet, anti-inflammatory foods loaded with healthy nutrients, fresh fruits and vegetables, plenty of good proteins and healthy carbs are the first step in preventing and treating both types of arthritis. For this reason, I have decided to create this fantastic collection of arthritis preventing and curing recipes. Try them all. | 100 Arthritis Salad and Meal Recipes by Joe Correa, Paperback | Indigo Chapters