Grease That Squeaky Joint!

Just like a squeaky wheel should be greased, the joints in your body need regular maintenance and lubrication to operate effectively and pain-free.  As we age, the wear and tear on our cartilage, tendons, ligaments and bones mounts up and can lead to debilitating joint deterioration and arthritis.  Those joints carrying the most weight, like the hips, knees and ankles, are especially vulnerable, particularly if we’re carrying more pounds than our lower limbs were originally designed to lug around.  Obviously, lightening the load on our legs can do wonders to save our joints and that’s remedied with proper diet, exercise and a willingness to lose weight.  But what else can we do to protect and strengthen our joints in an effort to maintain mobility and reduce arthritis pain and inflammation?

Arthritis is a complicated ailment.  We don’t necessarily know what causes arthritis but we do know what activities and conditions can contribute to the onset and progression of arthritis, especially pertaining to osteoarthritis.  And thankfully, we do know effective ways to treat arthritis that are both non-invasive and fairly easy on the wallet.  With treatment however, it’s most important to start early and take it seriously.  It’s very difficult to reverse course once joint damage has been done.  Rather than waiting to the point where joint replacement surgery is your best option, doesn’t it make sense to try some failsafe measures to prevent joint damage now?

For years, doctors and health care professionals have recommended the supplement combo of glucosamine and chondroitin for repair and maintenance of the joints.  These two molecules are the building blocks for cartilage formation, repair and resiliency.  Adequate cartilage between bones is vital to cushion and lubricate the joints for ease of movement and to reduce pain in the joints due to osteoarthritis and bone degeneration.  As such, glucosamine and chondroitin act in concert to replenish what we lose in the natural process of aging.  Athletes, whether professional or of the “weekend warrior“ variety, are especially susceptible to joint damage.  And as we’ve mentioned, those of us carrying extra weight should be vigilant in not only losing weight but adding joint supplements to their daily regimen to combat the effects of arthritis.

Now, new attention is being given to the benefits of fish oil supplements as a treatment for osteoarthritis.  Fish oil has long been recommended for the reduction of inflammation experienced in the debilitating condition of rheumatoid arthritis.  But recently, research has shown significant improvements among osteoarthritis patients who take daily supplements of EPA and DHA, both omega-3 essential fatty acids found in fish oil.  According to Dr. Sheldon S. Hendler, co-editor of The PDR for Nutritional Supplements, summarizing a new pilot study on fish oil supplements, “Osteoarthritis patients reported significant improvement in overall pain and reduction in NSAID (pain relievers) use, with no ill effects from the fish oil.  Fish oils inhibit the synthesis of substances that contribute to inflammation.  Osteoarthritis mainly involves the breakdown of joint cartilage associated with aging, not inflammation; but as it progresses, some components of inflammation appear that may be inhibited by fish oil, which may also prevent the breakdown of cartilage.”  So, what does all that science-speak mean?  It means fish oil supplements can help reduce pain and inflammation brought on by both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis!

Again, we can’t always pinpoint the exact causes of degenerative joints or osteoarthritis.  In addition, we cannot completely alleviate the effects of aging on our joints.  What we can do is supplement our diet and lifestyle with quality, all natural joint supplements to enhance our body’s ability to fight back.  So, grease those wheels with joint supplements! At the Institute for Health Living you can shop for the highest quality bone and joint supplements.  Find your solutions to healthy living today at www.shopihl.com.