Main Dishes
Mackerel and Parsley Sauce |
This makes a nice light lunch and is a superb recipe for joint problems as it is high in omega 3 fatty acids and diuretic parsley, both of which play an important role been discussed at the beginning of this chapter. This recipe is suitable for the treatment of any inflammatory joint condition, but its diuretic activity makes it a great addition in the treatment of RA.
Ingredients
1 large mackerel (this can be prepared however you prefer, whole, headed, or filletted)
For the sauce:
1 tablespoon of soya margerine (NON HYDROGENATED!!)
1 tablespoon of rice flour
2 cloves of garlic finely chopped
200ml soya milk
2.5 tablespoons of parsley
Method
Place the mackerel in a foil basket and squeeze a little lemon juice over it and season it with black pepper, then close the top of the foil baskett so that the fish is encased. Bake the Mackerel in a preheated oven (gas mark 5) for around 30 minutes. It is advisable to check the fish often as cooking times can vary greatly with different appliances.
Whilst the mackerel is cooking, it is time to prepare the sauce. Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the garlic and let it cook over a low heat for 3 minutes. Add the flour and seasoning and blend well. Add the milk, little by little, stirring continuously until the sauce is thick and creamy. Remove from heat and stir in the parsley.
Remove mackerel from the oven and place on a plate. Top with sauce and serve immediately with a serving of power salad.
Therapeutic benefits
Mackerel
This tasty fish is a very rich source of the Omega 3 fatty acids. These fats are vital in all inflammatory conditions, especially those that arise in the joints. Most of the inflammation in such disorders arises because of the presence of molecules made by the body that I discussed at the beginning of this chapter - the series 2 prostaglandins. The omega 3 fatty acids enable the body to produce the anti-inflammatory type prostaglandins, otherwise known as series 1, and series 3. When these chemical messengers are present, the inflammatory response is greatly inhibited. In light of this it is important for anyone suffering with such inflammatory conditions to ensure they have an adequate intake of omega 3 and omega 6 in order to keep inflammation at a minimum.
Parsley
This herb, apart from being an amzingly rich source of vitamin C, is an effective diuretic. I have explained the benefit of diuretics in the introduction to this chapter and in the risotto recipe that came before this. Parsley has this diuretic effect because part of its chemistry very gently irritates a region of the kidney called the nephron. The substances responsible for this are apiol ond myristicin, which make up the essential oil fragment of the herb. This gentle irritation of the kidney filtration system causes an increase in urinary output. There is also evidence that parsley somehow prevents sodium re-absorption in the nephron of the kidney, which increases the amount of fluid that leaves the kidney.
Increasing urinary output in such a way aids the body in the removal of metabolic waste that can accumulate as a result of the inflammatory activity that arises in arthritic conditions.