Members from the Arthritis Foundation support group, Penrith branch, handed out material and gave help to shoppers on the different forms of the disease.

Shoppers, soothed by music and tai chi demonstrations from Emerald Dragon Martial Arts, stopped to watch and learn that arthritis can be helped through breathing and gentle exercise.

Handouts of vegetarian magazines by the health director at Natural Health Society of Australia, Roger French, were popular again with many people curious to know how natural remedies can help.

One of the most interesting observations was that a lot of people didn't know what kind of arthritis they had.

The most common is osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease, the result of trauma to the joint, infection or age.

Other forms are rheumatoid arthritis and arthritis itself, auto-immune diseases in which the body attacks itself.

Apparently some vegetables such as capsicum, potatoes, and eggplant can make arthritis worse, especially if the patient is not also exercising.

See you at the next Healthy Penrith stall in April.