For the first time in a long while, I felt I had some control over my body. Now, six years after my diagnosis, I no longer have to take medications for my arthritis. I initially became a vegetarian for medical reasons, but eventually I evolved, taking up the ethical cause and becoming a vegan. Although I don't recommend that individuals forgo medical treatment altogether, I do suggest that they educate themselves and make positive lifestyle changes such as vegetarianism as soon as possible. In some cases, doing so may alleviate the symptoms of the disease making traditional therapy unnecessary.
Vegetarian diet is also high in fibre, another substance that detoxifies the body.
Additionally, fibre is filling, making it difficult to overeat. Overeating leads to obesity, a condition that places major stress on the body's joints. Vegetarian diet tends to be lower in fat and cholesterol than the standard North American diet, making obesity less likely. Vegetarians, in general, are less likely to be overweight than their meat-eating counterparts, which translates into less stress on joints. Vegetarians report to posses an overall sense of well-being.