Salmon Recipe & Tips for Managing Arthritis

My friend had just given birth to her second child when it struck.  Her hands betrayed her and she could not hold her own newborn.  It was difficult to move at all.  And it scared the hell out of her.

She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).  I thought arthritis was something that came with age, but after reading The Complete Arthritis Health, Diet Guide & Cookbook by Kim Arrey, BSc, RD with Dr. Michael R. Starr, MD, FRCPC, my eyes became opened.

Did you know there are over 100 forms of arthritis?  (Me neither.)  The book focuses on the two main types: Osteoarthritis (OA) which tends to affect athletes and older people in single joints like the knee and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA,) which “is different in that it not only affects the joints, but it can also affect the whole body, and it usually strikes in the prime of life, between the ages of 30 and 60.”

Symptoms of both include pain in the joint(s), inflammation, swelling, muscle weakness and reduced range of motion.  The reason why I like this book so much is because it offers a plethora of techniques to help a person with arthritis take control of their health via lifestyle changes, medications, surgery, complementary and alternative medicine (like acupuncture and meditation,) nutritional supplements and medicinal herbs.

The remaining bulk of the book is dedicated to explaining the benefits of dietary therapy, outlining specific foods that are anti-inflammatory that will help reduce pain, and offers over 125 healthy recipes, one of which I will post at the bottom.  They also provide a chart of the 20 most common anti-inflammatory foods that explains why it decreases inflammation and the best way to eat it to maximize the benefits.  Here are a few foods from the list:

1. Salmon

   

2. Broccoli
3. Blueberries
4. Ginger
5. Avocados

Eating an anti-inflammatory diet is also heart-healthy and can help maintain weight at normal levels, which is important because extra weight causes more stress on the joints, causing more pain, and who needs that?

If you or someone you know has arthritis, I highly recommend this book.  It is informative, easy to read, and helps you feel empowered to manage your condition.  Here is a recipe for Maple Ginger Salmon

Excerpted from The Complete Arthritis Health & Diet Guide by Kim Arrey © 2012 Robert Rose Inc. www.robertrose.ca All rights reserved: May not be reprinted without publisher permission.

Maple Ginger Salmon, page 273, fish & seafood

Here’s a North American twist on an Asian classic. Maple syrup has fewer calories than the same amount of honey and contains the minerals manganese and zinc.

Makes 4 servings

•           Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C)

•           Rimmed baking sheet, lined with foil

• 4          skinless salmon fillets 4
• 1⁄4 cup            pure maple syrup        60 mL
• 2 tbsp  rice vinegar     30 mL
• 1 tsp    finely grated gingerroot           5 mL

1. Place salmon on prepared baking sheet.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together maple syrup, vinegar and ginger. Pour over fillets.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until fish is opaque and flakes easily when tested with a fork.

Nutrients per serving

• Calories            319
• Fat            12 g
• Carbohydrates  14 g
• Protein      37 g

FYI -I was given a copy of this book for free to review and the opinions are my own.  I was not given any compensation to write this.

Lisa

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