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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. Anyone who would like a copy, can download it for $2 from the Website: www.peoplespharmacy.com.
I was looking for some help combatting infection from a chigger bite and came across this article. I just had to say: My mother was rapidly becoming more and more achy. She didn't even like the thought of getting out of a vehicle. She happened across the grape juice/pectin recipe in a book. Joint pain disappeared! It's been a couple years now but she keeps a supply of pectin in her cupboard (get's it when it's out of season markdowns). It even helps my husband who's only in his mid 40's. There's no doubt it works well for certain applications and well worth a try.
S.D.
i have been doing the certo, and grape-juice 3 times a day for exactly 2 weeks today, and have not noticed any difference with my arthuitus. does it take longer for some people?
You mentioned oatmeal as being right on target. Not true--my wife ate oatmeal every day for three months.
She also went to Curves three times a week.
When she went back to the doctor, her cholesterol was exactly the same as before.
We are both taking Certo and grape juice and it appears to have lowered BOTH our blood pressures.
I came accross the grape juice/pectin remedy in a flyer for the peoples pharmacy, so because of my osteo arthritis thought I would give it a go. I bought the juice but could not find the certo, so have just been taking the juice 1 glass a day, and it has certainly made a significant improvement even without the certo, wonderful, normally I can only limp around first thing in the morning, but now I can walk normaly. I will try to get an equivelent to certo if they do not sell it in Australia.
I have heard that grape juice and certo are also helpful in improving blood circulation. Is this true? If it is, how much certo would you add to your grape juice and how often do you need to drink it?
I've been in terrible pain with osteoarthritis in neck and shoulders. Then I read about the golden raisins and gin. Been on that about 2 weeks and can't believe the difference. I bought certo and grape juice to try now but there were 2 packages of certo in the box. Do I put both packages in 64 oz. of grape juice?
I was wondering how much certo one mixes with how much juice. Really sounds like something I'd like to try.
Would like to know where I can purchase Certo products.
My 91-year-old mother heard about the Certo and Welch's grape juice combination, over twenty years ago, as a treatment for osteoarthritis. She already had nodes on most of the joints in her fingers that were beginning to deform at that time. She has taken the combination most every day for all these years and hardly shows any signs of the osteoarthritis.
I have just begun showing symptoms of osteoarthritis myself, and have just started taking the combination too.
In 64 ounces of grape juice, use one packet of Certo. Certo can be found in the baking aisle of the grocery store usually.
I JUST TRIED THE CERTO/ GRAPE JUICE FOR KNEE PAIN. I WAS AMAZED AT THE RESULTS . THE FIRST DAY I TOOK 3 TSP. IN 3 OZ. OF GRAPE JUICE 3 TIMES . I DIDN'T WAKE UP DURING THE NIGHT WITH THE PAIN THAT I AM ACCUSTOMED TO. AND THE NEXT MORNING NO PAIN OR STIFFNESS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY MONTHS. I ONLY WISH I HAD TRIED IT SOONER. I HAVE NEVER KNOWN ANYTHING TO WORK SO QUICKLY.
I've had relief with certo and grape juice, but I'm worried about sodium intake. I notice sodium benzoate in the list of ingredients in certo. Is this a concern for me?
My husband starting taking the grape juice and certo, and it certainly worked for him, but he also started getting constipated. So he stopped taking it, the constipation went away, but the joint pain is back. What can he do to combat the constipation and still take the grape juice/certo combination?
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: There are several options for combating constipation, including psyllium (Metamucil, Serutan, etc), flaxseed (Uncle Sam’s Cereal) and sugarless gum.
My mother-in-law came across this article in our local newspaper; (Okla.) I have degenerate joints along with osteo arthritis and brittle, bulging, compact disks on my pelvis. I won't be 39 until April 2009 and have suffered everyday since I was 30. My knee joints are so bad that my knee caps are on the side of my knees instead of being centered.
I often fall when I walk due to my knee caps popping out since there isn't much to hold them in place. I started taking the certo & grape juice just a few weeks ago and can already feel a difference. I was taking it once or twice a day not knowing how much I could take but after reading up on it I plan to use it more often. Yes, I still have meds I take for pain but not as many.
Is the certo grape juice ok for someone with diabetes? if
so how much grape juice and how much certo?
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: SOME DIABETICS HAVE PUT CERTO IN LESS CALORIC BEVERAGES THAN GRAPE JUICE AND FOUND IT HELPFUL. CERTO HAS VERY FEW CALORIES BUT THE JUICE WILL NEED TO BE COUNTED AS PART OF YOUR DAILY "FRUIT" INTAKE.
I noticed constipation from the Certo also. Since it makes juice into jelly, it makes sense that it could firm up the liquid in your intestines, too. I have been giving it to my 90-year old mother. A glass of prune juice every other day works for her. Or try drinking a glass of water after the grape juice/Certo mixture.
I have osteoarthritis in my knees and started taking Certo and diet grape juice 5 weeks ago and it made a world of difference. I was so pleased until I read that if one is taking Lovastatin for cholesterol which I am, the combination can increase LDL's so I stopped with the Certo. The pain was back within 24 hrs. I am wondering if it inhibits all statins or just Lovastatin.
I have been taking certo and grape juice for a couple of week and have seen some improvement, but I also am having to go potty a lot with pain. I ended up in the ER and Urgent care because I could hardly walk. So I stopped it and was put on an antiboitic... was feeling better, so I thought I would try it again, and low and behold the pain is back and the need to go is almost every 20 minutes with pain. So I am going back off it and see if I improve. My knees are better but now its hard to walk because of this other thing I think it is doing to me.
I am thinking of trying the grape juice & certo. I use the raisin & gin and it really helps with the pain from spinal fusion. The one concern I have is will this bother my kidney function. My kidney function is low.
Thanks
We are using 3/4 cup grape juice and 2 teaspoons certo. It working for me and I have lots of arthritis, husband is now trying it. Will take at least 2 weeks to feel the difference
Good luck
Hi June,
Woolworths, Coles or Franklins sell a Pectin powder called jam setter, I couldn't find Certo in Australia. Unfortunately, the jam setter contains 68% sugar. It's in the cake section and it is around $1.55 for a 50 gram packet in Sydney Australia. However, you can purchase 100% green apple Pectin online from Health food suppliers in Queensland for $70 per kilogram. It all works out expensive if you need to take 1 table spoon with 250 mls grape juice three times per day. Not to mention the high sugar intake. Any suggestions?
Have been taking Certo and grape juice for arthritis just once a day. Yes, this is expensive, but I'm wondering if there are any side effects reported from people taking Certo?
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: ONE OR TWO PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED LOOSE BOWELS. WE'D BE INTERESTED IN OTHER SIDE EFFECTS PEOPLE MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED.
would the Certo/Grape juice work for someone with Fibromyalgia???
Has anyone used it & had positive results???
I was told to take one tablespoon of Certo liquid pectin in one 8 oz. glass of 100% organic grape juice for my arthritis/joint pain. It worked for my gout after injuring my spine and worked for my joint/knuckle stiffness and pain in my fingers. The other thing that worked for me was the Organic Apple cider vinegar (it has to be the organic kind or it won't work!) and RAW Honey (it has to be raw or it won't work), 1 tsp Organic ACV to 1 cup of distilled water up to 3-5 times daily.
I only used it once a day. Raw honey contains many vitamins and minerals including Vit.K which heals the body. When my joint pain went away after using the Certo liquid and grape juice I did not need to use it for years!!! It is good to keep up with the Organic Apple Cider Vinegar and Raw Honey mixture to help prevent gout and arthritis.