Arthritis is a disease caused by the inflammation of the joints. The main effect of arthritis is the pain, swelling and stiffness of the joints in the ends of the fingers, thumbs, lower back, arms and hips. There is no cure for arthritis, but it can be improved and managed through a change in lifestyle and proper nutrition.
There are many types of arthritis and the most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis:
- Osteoarthritis happened when the cartilages wear away with age. As the joints rubs against each other causing the surrounding fluid to release enzymes that cause further damages to the joints, producing bony growth.
- Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, whereby the immune cells attack the body’s own healthy tissues causing chronic inflammation of the joints and organs in the body.
Proper nutrition and supplements can improve the effects and reduce the pain. Here are top 3 nutrients that can help to improve the condition of arthritis:
1) Glucosamine
Glucosamine is found naturally in the body. It is made from glucose combining with amino acid to form glycosaminoglycan, which is a type of collage. Glycosaminoglycan is important in the formation and repair of cartilage. Production of glycosaminoglycan slows down with age.
You cannot find glucosamine naturally in food. So, it is necessary to take it as a supplement to increase the body’s ability to manufacture collagen and rebuilding of joints and enhance the lubrication
Glucosamine is mainly made from chitin that is derived from shells of crabs and shellfish. Pure glucosamine is unstable, so, it is normally stabilized in the form of glucosamine suphate or glucosamine hydrochloride.
Take care of potential interaction of glucosamine if you are on Wafarin (blood thinning drug) or diabetic medication. Consult your doctor before starting this supplement.
2) Chondroitin
Chondroitin is also naturally occurring in the body. It is a major component of the cartilage that consists of tough connective tissues that cushions the bone. Chondroitin keeps the cartilage healthy by absorbing water and blocking enzymes that break down cartilage.
Similar to glucosamine, you cannot find chondroitin from natural food. So, you can only obtain it from supplements. Chondroitin sulphate is the most common form of supplement and it is normally supplied together with glucosamine.
Take care of potential interactions of chondroitin. Chondroitin has a blood-thinning effect, so be careful when you are on blood thinning drugs. NSAIDs ( Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) dosage need to be reduce when taking chondroitin.
If you are a vegetarian, you can look for source of chondroitin from algae.
3) Cetyl Myristoleate
Harry W. Diehl was researching for a way to treat arthritis and realized that mice are 100% immune to arthritis. He set out to discover the compound in mice that give such immunity and found it to be Cetyl Myristoleate.
The mechanism of action against arthritis is unclear. It is similar to essential fatty acids such as linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid but has a longer lasting effect in the treatment of arthritis.
The 4 main effects Cetyl Myristoleate has in treating arthritis are:
- It has lubricating quality, which reduce the stiffness of the joints in the morning
- It is anti-inflammatory, which can reduce the swelling of the joints
- It is an immune regulator, which calms down the immune response
- It has pain killing effect.
Cetyl Myristoleate can be found in fish oil, whale oil and dairy butter. But you can find this in supplements that support joint health.
It is important that you purchase these supplements from reputable source as some low quality or low price products do not contain the said amount of ingredients as indicated in the label.
Have you tried these nutrients to manage your arthritis problem? Share with me in the comment box below.
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