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Certo and Grape Juice Ease Joint Pain

Q. I have been using Certo in purple grape juice for arthritis pain and it really works. But I wonder if there are any side effects. For example, since Certo is a thickening agent, does it thicken the blood? This sounds silly, but if oatmeal can lower cholesterol maybe Certo also has some effects on the body.

A. Certo is a brand of liquid fruit pectin used by home canners to help thicken jams and jellies. It is unlikely to “thicken” blood.

Your oatmeal example is on target, however. Pectin, like oatmeal, contains soluble fiber, so we suspect that Certo might lower cholesterol modestly the way oatmeal can.

Certo also contains citric acid and potassium citrate. A pharmacist suggested that this combination may help ease the inflammation of arthritis. Citrate may also be helpful in preventing kidney stones (Journal of Urology, June 2007).

We discuss various recipes for this home remedy and offer many other non-drug approaches to easing joint pain in our Guide to Alternatives for Arthritis.

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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