• 80% alkaline-forming, and as rawer as possible. All fruit and vegetables fit this category except plums, cranberries, asparagus, peas, broad beans, Brussels sprouts and canned or sulphured fruits.
• Other alkaline-forming foods are millet, buckwheat, yoghurt, whey, fresh coconut, soya products and egg-white.
• Grains – millet, rice, spelt, quinoa and corn are the best. Use oatmeal and rye in moderation. Wheat causes major problems for many arthritics, so a slice of bread is to be reserved for treats unless it really does not increase stiffness.
• Bananas, pineapples, apples and grapes.
• Fruits and vegetables of special value are: all the berry fruits, blueberries, blackberries, cherries and hawthorn berries. These are flavonoid fruits which are powerful antioxidants to joints.
• Carrots, cell beetroot, parsley, cress, alfalfa, asparagus, yams, garlic, endive, mushrooms, avocado.
• Spirulina and wheatgrass, as a potent source of vitamins, minerals, protein and plant pigments. .
• Sprouted grains, seeds and nuts.
• Nuts and seeds (raw and fresh), especially sunflower, sesame, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, almonds and flaxseeds for the essential polyunsaturated oils.
• Oily fish, twice weekly if desired mackerel, herring, sardines, fresh salmon or trout. Some of this may be canned, but remove all surrounding oil.
• Dressings: use only extra-virgin olive oil or guaranteed cold-pressed polyunsaturated oils.
• Kelp and seaweeds, for rich sources of minerals.
• Goats’ milk or soya milk, eggs and cottage cheese (home-made) in moderation – twice weekly each.
• Cook with turmeric and ginger as often as possible.
• Herbal teas, freshly-pressed juices, mineral water, vegetable broth, rooibosch tea grain coffee and naturally-brewed miso. Add powdered barley greens to juice daily.