Although the focus has been on Covid this last year… there are still other health issues that have not gone away. Many are improved with simple treatments and dietary changes and in this series I am going to look at some of the more common issues.
I know that many of you who follow the blog will have seen the arthritis posts before but for those new to Smorgasbord, I hope you find useful.
Last week I covered rheumatoid arthritis and today a look at two more of the over 200 forms of the disease.
Osteoarthritis and Gout.
Osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease is one of the oldest types of arthritis. It is basically wear and tear. It is the breakdown of the joint’s cartilage. Cartilage is the cushion in the joint that prevents the two ends of the bones from rubbing together. When this pad of cushioning is worn away and the fluid that normally lubricates the joint has gone – the two ends grind together causing pain and inflammation.
The actual physical process is an increase in water content of the cartilage and a reduction of protein in the tissue as we age. It mainly affects the weight bearing joints such as the ankles, lower back, knees and hips but can also affect the hands. Those most likely to suffer from the condition are middle aged or elderly. In some cases however if a younger person has had a very physically demanding lifestyle the symptoms can set in earlier.
A wearing down of the cushion in the joint where the two bones meet. – Pixabay.com
What are the most common causes of this type of arthritis?
You can be affected by being overweight most of your life as I was, or leading a particularly energetic sporting life – football, rugby or athletics. It is most common as we get into our 40’s and 50’s when a lifetime of activity can catch up with us. People you have suffered accidents in the past with broken bones may find that the damage is worsened as they get older.
There is a school of thought that believes there is a genetic pre-disposition to Osteoarthritis particularly when it develops in the hands. It could be caused by defective cartilage or defects in the way the bones join together.
What are some of the symptoms of osteoarthritis?
It is purely a disease of the joints. Unlike rheumatoid arthritis it does not affect the organs of the body. The most common symptom is pain in the joint particularly after a lot of activity. It is usually worse later in the day obviously. Also you may find that your back and hips and knees are painful after sitting for long periods of time and that getting up in the morning is painful and takes some time for you to regain mobility. Some of the joints will swell, especially if you have twisted the joint during activity. Knees are particularly vulnerable to stairs and explains why the sale of stair lifts is on the increase. It is not uncommon for the symptoms to come and go depending on a number of factors: Weight, heat and activity levels.
What happens if the condition is not treated?
If the pain and the immobility becomes too severe there are now some surgical options. There are new techniques available that are less extreme than joint replacement but that needs to be assessed on an individual basis. Depending on the type of joint replacement, they will last around the 15 to 17 years. This means that if you have surgery in your 50’s you are probably facing another in your 70’s and 80’s.
The problem is that the friction between the bone ends causes mobility problems which often lead to more weight gain which is one of the leading causes of the condition in the first place.
Also inflammation of the cartilage can sometimes stimulate new bone outgrowths called spurs around the joint, which cause even more discomfort and lack of mobility.
The bottom line is that it is a very painful condition and most sufferers are forced into taking very strong painkillers such as cortisone.
What about nutrition and osteoarthritis
Collagen needs to be maintained both between the joints and as connective tissue such tendons and ligaments. Normally when we damage connective tissue the body will produce collagen to repair them. However, if you look at connective tissue that is attached to proteins that you are preparing to cook; you will see that they tend to be very pale in colour… This is because there is a poor blood supply to them. This means that the components necessary to heal them completely are unable to reach them effectively.
Collagen is also a component of our skin so as our face begins to wrinkle and loose formation the process is mirrored internally.
To assist the body in producing new collagen for a more youthful looking skin and healthier joint padding, ligaments and tendons that hold that joint in place; you need a diet rich in the following elements.
Vitamin C rich foods are essential. Part of the issue with age related connective tissue damage is that we tend to eat less food as we age. This is not just related to a lack of appetite but the condition of our teeth. How many of you have noticed that you avoid certain fruits such as apples and pears because they are now tough to eat and chew? If this is the case then you need to substitute other softer but high vitamin C vegetables and fruit. You also need to explore options with your dentist to improve your ability to chew all foods as this is a fundamental part of the digestive process.
If you do not have rheumatoid arthritis you can enjoy the nightshade family such as red peppers, tomatoes and potatoes but also berries, watermelon, broccoli and papaya. Citrus fruits such as mandarins which are less acidic are also excellent.
Protein is also a very important component and you should be including sufficient daily including lean meats, oily fish, poultry, eggs, as well as beans and vegetables such as squash.
Vitamins A, B-Complex, C and E are very important anti-oxidants but also have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body which reduces swelling. These can be found in whole grains, oily fish, brightly coloured vegetables and fruit
Most people understand that keeping hydrated is very important for the suppleness of our skin and this applies to our internal collagen health as well. Please do not listen to the aqua sceptics! Although you do take in good amounts of fluids from most of the foods that we eat, it is not sufficient to counteract central heating, air conditioning, exercise and the high levels of sugar and salt in our diets.
However….. do not drink fizzy chemical concoctions as they are loaded with additives and sugars that are not naturally found in any of our connective tissues and will only compound the damage.
Aim for eight cups of tea, coffee, herbal teas and pure water per day… The occasional glass of juice is okay as long as it is freshly made and diluted with water. I drink diluted cranberry juice once a day.
Supplementation
Glucosamine in supplements is often used to treat joint pain along with another ingredient, Chondroitin; both naturally occurring in connective tissue. There is research into the effectiveness of taking in supplementary form but do make sure that your research the brands carefully and cheap is not necessarily the best option. Sometimes the added fillers in the tablets can cause side effects.
Some people take Aloe Vera gel daily as it is very nutritional and great for a number of health issues, but it does also contain glucosamine and I find more effective taken in this type of carrier than in tablet form. Aloe Vera also has other minerals that help promote enzyme reactions in the joints which may help them heal faster. It also has an anti-inflammatory effect that helps relieve the pain.
Is there any specific health advice for someone who is suffering from this form of the disease?
Hard though it may seem for someone who suffers from Osteoarthritis- exercise is one of the ways to help improve flexibility and increase muscle strength to support the effected joints. Obviously sports that require flexing of the joints such as tennis or squash are not a good idea, golf could also be a struggle as you are using your lower back, hips and knees. Walking and swimming are usually very helpful although you will need to adjust your leg movements for certain swimming styles. Do remember that you need to rest as well as exercise and if you have a very active daily routine, even brisk walking, you are putting strain on your joints. Add a form of exercise, such as swimming that reduces the amount of stress on the joints.
Gout can effect just the big toe or the whole foot which becomes inflamed and painful – Pixabay.com
What is gout?
Gout, contrary to popular belief, does not just affect old men who drink too much port. The actual condition is caused by crystals of uric acid depositing themselves into the tissues of the body.
When the condition is chronic hard lumps of uric acid are deposited in and around the joints – these lumps can also lodge in the kidneys leading to decreased kidney function and kidney stones.
It can be hereditary – an inherited abnormality in the body’s ability to process uric acid. We all produce Uric acid, which is a by-product of purines, which are present in most of the foods that we eat.
Which part of the body does gout normally affect?
The kidney problems are separate – it becomes gout when one of the joints is affected. It is usually in the foot and particularly the big toe. But other joints can be affected too.
Unlike the other forms of arthritis – this is a more sudden onset of the problem and is usually linked to immediate causes rather than a systemic problem. The reason the joint at the base of the big toe is most affected is that as the uric acid crystals are carried through the system they collect at the lowest point of the body – i.e. the big toe. Some people will also suffer a fever with the outbreak and the attack can last anything from a few hours to weeks or months. It is recurring depending on how acute the condition and largely down to your lifestyle.
It really is prevention rather than cure with this one. And particularly keeping the correct fluid balance. This is essential for your kidneys anyway to ensure that all the toxins that you are taking in are flushed out. If you are dehydrated uric acid will build up and crystallise so that is why taking in sufficient fluid rich foods and liquids each day is important.
It is also important to maintain a healthy weight with less sugar in your diet. Sugar is acidic and disrupts our natural alkaline/acid balance in the blood which is of course flowing around the body including the joint areas.
What about nutrition and Gout?
For this type of arthritis, Purine rich foods can increase the production of uric acid so some of the foods to avoid are shellfish, liver and kidneys. Funnily enough, dairy intake has been shown to be beneficial in some research.
Protein from vegetable sources such as broccoli does not seem to have the same effect as Purine from animal protein so lots of fresh fruit and vegetables are essential.
Alcohol however does cause increased risk of uric acid output particularly beer and spirits. Wine did not seem to be as much of a problem. Again I think that gout attacks in the past have been more associated with the dehydrating effects of alcohol rather than drinking too much Port. Plus the fact that the usual sufferers tended to be wealthy males who consumed large amounts of meats at every meal.
What else can we do to ease the symptoms of arthritis?
All three of the arthritis strains will benefit from some physical support such as Acupuncture – I had that for a time and it certainly was beneficial in the healing process. Yoga, which involves gentle stretching, is excellent provided you have a good teacher and also the same with Tai Chi.
A warm bath using mineral salts to relax and ease muscles can be helpful.
Exercise is essential both for weight management and to build a strong muscle structure to compensate for the joint weakness. Also endorphins are released during exercise which acts as a natural painkiller. Remember to rest and to take care of your structural health.
©Sally Cronin Just Food for Health 1998 – 2021
I am a qualified nutritional therapist with twenty-three years experience working with clients in Ireland and the UK as well as being a health consultant on radio in Spain. Although I write a lot of fiction, I actually wrote my first two books on health, the first one, Size Matters, a weight loss programme 20 years ago, based on my own weight loss of 154lbs. My first clinic was in Ireland, the Cronin Diet Advisory Centre and my second book, Just Food for Health was written as my client’s workbook. Since then I have written a men’s health manual, and anti-aging programme, articles for magazines, radio programmes and posts here on Smorgasbord.
If you would like to browse my health books and fiction you can find them here: My books and reviews 2021
Thanks for visiting and I am always delighted to receive your feedback.. stay safe Sally.
Gout is such a painful condition as my mum and son can confirm although luckily neither gets an attack very often at all…They take preventative measures and keep an eye on their diet and avoid or moderate purine-rich foods…Excellent, Informative post, Sally…Pressed this for later today hugs xx
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Sorry that they have had to suffer through attacks but sounds like they are doing a great job in avoiding triggers.. It does lend to the genetic link and it usually does skip a generation.. thanks for sharing later.. hugsxx
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My pleasure…I think with Jay he doesn’t like the pain so the least sign of it he then adjusts his diet…he has it down to a fine art Hugs x
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Makes such a difference when you are in tune with your body…xx
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I think so, Sally 💕
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Wonderful and elaborate post on arthritis Sally.
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Glad you found interesting Sowmya.. it is a painful and unfortunately a too common problem xx
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Yes Sally. My dad suffers from arthritis. I know for sure how it affects the quality of life for a person with arthritis.
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I am sorry to hear that Sowmya… and it is not helped always by the medication which comes with some side effects.. I hope that your father has help with the pain side.. xx
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Yes Sally. He doesn’t take pain killers but manages it very well and has accepted it gracefully
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That is great…x
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I really appreciatec This post, Sally. I have some arthritis in my right hip and knee, and in my thumbs, too. It’s not too bad at the moment, so your post will help me keep it that way.
My husband has suffered from gout since his twenties, but wasn’t diagnosed until he was about 40. By trial and error he has found the foods that trigger it in him, but they aren’t completely the same as what he was told. Beer doesn’t seem to trigger it, but offal does. He used to eat a lot of liver, kidney and even heart, but now never touches them.
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Glad helpful Viv and I am afraid offal although packed with nutrients is particularly high in purines.. They use to blame port for the gout over the centuries for gout in the well off, but it was their huge consumption of processed meats and offal from breakfast onwards that caused the problems. Being a carnivore is fine in moderation but for some who have an intolerance for purines too many cause a problem..hugsxx
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We now make sure we don’t have meat twice in any one day, and have at least one vegetarian day every week. And eat more chicken and poultry rather than red meat.
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Sounds great Viv and it is amazing the difference it makes… hugsx
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What fantastic advice, Sally – thank you for sharing the benefit of your knowledge. Toni x
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Glad you found interesting Toni.. thanks hugs
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An excellent post, Sally. It’s reassuring to know that good exercise and the right nutrition can make a difference when one is confronted with these issues. Thanks for sharing. Hugs
Reblogged on Improvisation – “The Art of Living”
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Thanks William.. it is at least the first steps to take before being put on medication with side effects. thanks for sharing on Tumblr..hugs
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This is such a great informative post, Sally. I have a friend in rehab right now as she recovers from a new knee. My guy has been told he has arthritis in his hip, but it’s a relief to him to know that this is “normal” and walking/exercise is one of the best things he can do. My brother, super active, is suddenly suffering from arthritis in shoulders and knees. He was a triathlete until a year ago, so no surprise. I tell them all the huge benefit of glucosamine, which I have taken for ten years now (long time runner, and now walker/dancer/yoga-er) and it helps tremendously.
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Thanks Pamela.. it is tough when you have been so active to pay the price with wear and tear in joints etc.. and certainly glucosamine often combined with chondroiton can help as can curcumin(turmeric) supplements – caution is if someone has gall bladder issues with turmeric can cause spasms. Anyway thanks for sharing your experience with this unwanted reminder of activity we loved to do..hugs
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….and unwanted reminder of aging…. ;-0
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It is I am afraid.. I do try to remember the benefits lol..xx
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😎
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Hola Sally, As ever, always an informative and thorough blog. I’ve mentioned before my involvement in Yoga, Pilates and Thai Chi and always walked a lot and quite quickly right up to my early 80s. Then, about 8 years ago, one hip started ‘playing up’ but, as quickly as the pain came, it then faded and I couldn’t believe it. However, it seems to have returned lately, so I’m off to have an x-ray soon. As I’m nearly 89., (preposterous!) I count myself very fortunate. The Spanish sun probably helped…As we’re discussing health issues, I must mention something which – with your connections and ‘long reach’ – you, & others, may find interesting. I read recently a report from a Dermatologist that there`s an increase in Eczema. As I had an outbreak on my feet and part of my arms, from a few months ago,I took note. Apparently, there is an unusual increase in Eczema cases caused by the hand gel used generally because of the virus…Several have had it on their hands, and, in others, it has spread.to other parts of their bodies. I mentioned it to a sister-in-law and a good friend in the UK and they both said they had it too! It can be very itchy and form scabs on the skin, but I have found Aloe Vera cream to be soothing and helpful. It was stressed by the expert that soap IS JUST AS GOOD re the virus, but if you do use the gel, be sparing with it. Take care. Hugs xx.
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Good mention Joy.. I use soap and I wear latex gloves when out and use the hand gel on them.. I also use a tea tree and anti-allergenic hand cream… Interesting that it has not become so common it has been indentified.. another side effect of Covid.. I hope that your hip x-ray just indentifies normal wear and tear that can be managed.. and you certainly don’t act or look 89….love and hugs.. x
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Thanks for replying so quickly, Sally. Your hand cream sounds ideal….Some days I feel ancient, but others around 40 – mentally that is!! Bless your kind words!.Hugs xx
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I have three ages Joy.. 20 without glasses, 40 with driving glasses and OMG with my reading glasses.. the key is don’t wear glasses when looking in the mirror…hugsx
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There are so many desease we as human has do deal with. Horrible. I remember one of my grandpa has had gout. Thank you for the explaination and the advices, Sally! Lets hope we will stay far away from this. Michael
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Thanks Michael.. it is worth addressing lifestyle and diet issues as many people respond but it was not until relatively recently that purines in offal and other meats don’t suit everyone…hugs
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Thats true, Sally! Never had thought on this, but since overcoming this Heliobacter thing – which forced the acids flowing too much – i am trying to stay away from food producing too much purines. Michael hugsx
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Glad you are trying to manage the helicobacter as it does not do the lining of your stomach any good. I had a bout many years ago and I began drinking cabbage juice half an hour before meals. I still sometimes make if I have any acid.. you might like to try although it is not as great tasting as tequila… https://tasteinsight.com/how-to-make-cabbage-juice/
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Great post and advice, Sally 🙂
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Thank you Denise…hugs
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Thank you for this article. My husband had a bout of gout a couple of months ago. He proudly brought home this six-pound octopus for me to cook, and thus he overindulged for several days. He is convinced that is what brought on the gout. We were really dancing around with the whole vegetable issue, depending on the source, so many vegetables were listed as best to avoid!
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It is unlikely to be seafood but it can be an accumulation of one food eaten too frequently so painful and let’s hope it was a one off.. spread the suspect foods out to every 5 days to give the liver a chance to process any irritants.. xxx
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Thanks, Sally! That makes sense. Variety is always good for so many reasons.
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xx
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Great article, thanks Sally. I do have some wear and tear on my knees, but take Glucosamine which helps. x
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It suits a lot of people Stevie and certainly a better option than taking too much pain meds… hugsx
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Thank you for this fascinating series Sal. Scary stuff, but so good to know about ❤
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Thanks Debby.. getting more common with our aging population… ♥♥
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Sadly true ❤
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♥♥
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I have a lot of experience with this issue as I have an arthritic knee and back. I’ve had two knee surgeries in my right knee, and that had become a trouble spot. After retirement, I tweaked my knee playing pickleball (great sport) and hobbled around using a cane for several weeks. I eventually tried a cortisone shot which I understand can have mixed results. I was told some people get a lot of relief for up to six months while others see no reduction in pain. I was one of the lucky ones. It’s now been three years, and my knee has hung in there since. I haven’t felt the need to get another cortisone shot.
My back started troubling me in the last couple of years, but it was sporadic. Then, it started bothering me every day. I had an x-ray, and the doctor determined my problems were related to arthritis. After three months of being in pain each day, I tried a cortisone shot. This time I got no relief at all. After two more months of pain, I went back to the doctor, looking for answers. I said, “What about physical therapy?” He agreed, and I had eight sessions over several weeks. I had my last appointment today, and it has made a tremendous difference. I walk every day and do my stretching exercises, and I finally got relief. My only regret was that I wasn’t more proactive sooner. Now, it only hurts if I sit for too long. I now get up several times a day from the computer to stretch.
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Thanks for sharing Pete, useful for those who have similar issues, which is a lot.. my knee is ligament related but I too have to get up every hour and do some stretches for my lower back.. We have a hanging bar across one of the downstairs room and we often hang around for a few minutes stretching which does help too.. Sounds like you are putting good strategies into place..x
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In my forties I developed sudden, acute pain in my left knee. There was a massive crater in the load bearing area and I was given osteochondral transplants. It was pioneering stuff but they assured me it was very successful. They had to borrow the equipment to do the surgery… For the first few weeks, I did my exercises and was delighted to get almost full movement back – and then things went rapidly downhill. The procedure involves removing plugs of bone and cartilage from the side of the knee, drilling matching holes in the load bearing part and putting the two together. What they didn’t know at the time was that in most people, fresh holes appear around both areas. I’ve no gripes at all as they were acting in good faith. I now have osteoarthritis everywhere and the most distressing is in my hands because I can no longer play the guitar. However, I’ve had a look at Keith Richard’s hands and can’t complain!
I’ve put on weight over the last year but am losing it sensibly, and I’m following most of this excellent advice already but there are a few things that are new to me that I’m going to try. I’m lucky, really. I’m managing the situation and it’s not life-threatening. xx
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Sorry to hear Trish.. and to have felt improvement and then to have it snatched away must have been very frustrating.. Wear and tear is something most of us face, and in some part it is a reminder of how active we were for so long.. I hope some of the ideas are of help..hugsx
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Sally, you’ve covered all the bases for arthritis. Natural healing with food and supplement is great. I have arthritis in my knee. I just got hyaluronic acid (gel) shots. It’s 3 shots over 3 weeks time. And YES, it works. I felt relief at about 5 weeks. I also do EFT, Emotional Freedom Technique tapping, which is a kind of physical therapy that destresses the whole body, mind, spirit for enhanced healing. And that worked effectively on my arthritic shoulders quite well and knees. I think the whole mind-body-spirit approach, along with traditional medicine, is where true healing is going now. That you for an inspiring post today! Paula Cappa paulacappa.wordpress.com
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Thanks Paula and my first port of call is always diet and alternative therapies despite the attitude to them by many medical practitioners.. I have used acupuncture for many years and a test for that is the effect it has on animals who don’t experience the placebo effect and in my mind that proves its effectiveness.
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