What causes arthritis?
One-third of American adults suffer from arthritis. Yet arthritis is not genetic, and its not an inevitable part of growing older.

Arthritis is the swelling of a joint. Some arthritis is caused by infection. But in the past, doctors didn't know what caused most arthritis. The only treatment was painkillers.

Now, exciting new studies suggest that most arthritis is caused by environmental factors such as diet.

How can arthritis be beat?
By studying who gets arthritis, researchers have found a way to prevent and treat this painful affliction. People who eat natural low-fat diets based on whole grains, fruits and vegetables rarely develop arthritis. Also, arthritis sufferers often experience dramatic relief when they adopt this healthy diet and avoid harmful drugs.

Read on to discover five steps to beating arthritis.

STEP ONE: Go Vegetarian
Studies show that animal products, especially milk, aggravate arthritis symptoms. By eliminating all animal products, including eggs and milk, many arthritis sufferers are able to completely stop taking pain medications. Because a vegetarian diet is high in fiber, nutrients and water, vegetarians avoid many other health problems associated with animal-based diets.

STEP TWO: Go Natural
Grocery stores stock tons of highly processed foods that are low in nutrition and high in price. By eating fresh whole foods, you give your body the phytochemicals and antioxidants that fight disease and keep your joints healthy. So, head for the produce department!

STEP THREE: Go Low Fat
All fats, including so-called "good fats," aggravate arthritis. You probably already know to avoid animal fats and hydrogenated oils. But you should also avoid all vegetable and fish oils, including olive, canola and primrose oils.

STEP FOUR: Stop eating Allergenic Foods
If you follow an all-natural, low-fat vegetarian diet for two weeks with no improvement, food allergies may be causing your arthritis symptoms. Start by eliminating wheat and corn, which frequently cause problems. Many processed foods contain some form of wheat or corn, so consult an allergy book to learn how to spot them in an ingredients list.

If you still have not improved within tow weeks, more aggresive action may be called for: Temporarily pare down your diet to sweet potatoes, brown rice, non-citrus fruits, and green and yellow vegetables. Drink only water. If you see improvement within two weeks, add back one food at a time to see if it causes problems. Space out these additions far enough so you can know for sure which foods cause problems.

STEP FIVE: Stop Taking Harmful Drugs
Arthritis sufferers often take drugs such as Advil, Motrin and Naprosyn to fight pain. These are called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Although they may temporarily reduce pain, they aggravate the causes of arthritis and should be avoided. Aspirin and nabumetone may be used instead if needed and stopped when symptoms improve.