A number of nutritional supplements have shown promise in relieving pain, stiffness, and other symptoms of arthritis. Glucosamine and chondroitin, omega-3 fatty acids, SAM-e and curcumin are just a few of the natural products that researchers have studied for osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This amino sugar is a natural part of joint cartilage. Taking it as a supplement can help delay cartilage loss, as well as ease stiffness, swelling, and pain.
You can find it in capsules, tablets, in liquid or powder form. Your doctor may recommend that you take it in combination with another supplement, chondroitin. This substance is a natural part of the connective tissue of bones and cartilage. When you take it as a supplement, it can help increase collagen in your joints to help you better absorb shocks.
It can also help retain water in the cartilage. This can make the fabric work more smoothly. A little more chondroitin may also help protect you from cartilage loss. The supplement form comes from animal cartilage.
Scientists studying rheumatoid arthritis have found that people who have it often lack vitamin D. Low levels of this essential nutrient can cause chronic pain. When you take it as a supplement, it could help your arthritis treatment work better. This spice gives curry its yellow color.
It may also ease your pain a little. A chemical in turmeric called curcumin blocks certain proteins that can cause inflammation. Over time, it can help your joints hurt less and help you move better. This borago plant seed extract is high in gamma linolenic acid, a fatty acid that fights inflammation in the body.
Daily borage oil supplements can help treat rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and even reduce the dose you need from prescription treatments for joint pain and swelling. Vitamin C is known to prevent winter colds, but it is also a powerful antioxidant that fights inflammation by serving as a cofactor in the synthesis of collagen, the main protein in both joint tissue and bone. Vitamin C also fights infections that can cause joint inflammation and is highly recommended for people with a weakened immune system, especially those with rheumatoid arthritis, which can wreak haunt the joints. Sometimes, when you're deficient in a certain vitamin, your body lets you know.
Such is the case with vitamin D. When you are not consuming enough, you may experience joint pain. The anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin D help relieve joint pain. Vitamin D may also help control autoimmune conditions that affect joints, such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 1 diabetes.
A vitamin D deficiency in the body causes bones to lose strength and soften, a condition known as osteomalacia in adults and rickets in children. Deficiency can also contribute to conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis and fractures. What do kale salad, a glass of cold milk and a salmon steak have in common? In addition to being delicious and great for you, each one contains calcium, an essential nutrient for preventing osteoporosis and strengthening joints. As a natural anti-inflammatory, calcium reduces the risk of rheumatoid arthritis and keeps bones strong and healthy.
Instead of wearing copper-infused clothing to keep your body healthy, consider consuming it. However, there's no need to worry about eating a penny, because you can get copper from guts, potatoes, legumes, and dark leafy greens. The anti-inflammatory properties of copper are well known and can help counteract joint pain caused by inflammation. As an added benefit, copper has been shown to reduce both heart disease and Alzheimer's disease.
A handful of almonds, peanuts and cashews, or a peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat bread, are more than hearty snacks. They can also help strengthen bones, maintain nerve and muscle function, and strengthen articular cartilage. That's because these and other easy-to-find foods, such as potatoes and spinach, contain magnesium, which is known to relieve arthritis and joint pain and inflammation. Folate, also known as folic acid, found in green leafy vegetables, whole grains and fruits, is a B vitamin that promotes healthy cell growth, relieves joint pain and inflammation, and prevents DNA changes that could cause cancer.
Glucosamine is a natural compound found in cartilage, the hard tissue that cushions joints. Vitamin D is a vital nutrient for bone health. Several studies show that low levels of vitamin D can cause increased joint and muscle pain, but research to date is inconclusive. Estrogen therapy is generally not given specifically for joint pain, unless the woman experiences additional menopausal symptoms.
Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are one of the most common combination supplements that I recommend to women with joint pain, especially knee pain. Postmenopausal women with low estrogen levels may complain of joint pain and stiffness as the main symptoms of menopause. There are many reasons to follow an anti-inflammatory diet, even if you don't have joint pain, but if you have joint pain, it's critical that you follow an anti-inflammatory diet. As a result, many people believe that vitamin D plays a role in relieving joint pain, especially when inflammation is the cause.
Vitamin D deficiency seems to be prevalent in patients with RA, and lower vitamin D levels may also contribute to the severity of joint pain. When it's harder to spend time in the sun, such as during the winter months, it's much more difficult to get enough vitamin D from sunlight, so it may be necessary to get this vitamin from dietary sources instead. If you have joint pain, the highly trained and board-certified doctors at Spectrum Orthopedics will work with you to develop a treatment plan that may include supplements, pain management, and other orthopedic and rehabilitation services. Talk to your doctor before trying supplements of any kind, even if you've heard that they're good for joint pain.
However, most of my patients over 50 years of age have a low vitamin D level (in blood tests with a 25-hydroxyvitamin D test). Here are some key supplements you can consider adding to your health regimen to ease joint pain. Because tendons, joints, and cartilage do not have direct blood vessels, movement in the form of activity, specifically aerobic exercise that increases the heart rate, is important for spreading oxygen and nutrients to the joints. Some studies have shown no benefit with glucosamine, while others have demonstrated a reduction in joint pain, especially the glucosamine sulfate salt.
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