Saturday, February 7, 2009

Arthritis Dietary Supplements

By Amy Clark

Presently, Osteoarthritis or OA is one of the most prevalent conditions affecting individuals across the globe. Osteoarthritis is especially predominant among old people, and also among people who have excessive pressure on the joints, or back, knee, neck, and various joint injuries.

One more form of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is quite rare, affecting only about 1 percent of people worldwide. However, it is said that we have encountered rheumatoid arthritis in one form or another.

Luckily, a range of nutritional supplements are now available to help arthritis sufferers alleviate the painful and debilitating symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Below are certain nutritional supplements that have been proven successful in arthritis treatment:

Omega-3 fatty acids: These generally function as anti-inflammatories that can block the progression of rheumatic arthritis. Omega-3 fatty acid supplements are also able to treat osteoarthritis symptoms, and at times lessen dependency on NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

EPA/DHA: Clinical research has revealed that 1,400mg of EPA per day plus 1,000 mg of DHA per day can reliably treat both osteoarthritis and rheumatic arthritis. The Super Omega-3 EPA/DHA is a particularly powerful supplement, since it includes such natural ingredients as Sesame Lignans and Olive Fruit Extract.

Curcumin: Curcumin is an anti-inflammatory derived from Tumeric that inhibits various harmful enzymes, consequently treating the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. On the other hand, various types of Curcumin lack sufficient quantities of Piperine, a black pepper component. As a consequence, those who take Curcumin do not receive the appropriate dosage they need for successful treatment.

This is the activated form of methionine, a type of amino acid. Since it functions as an activated form, SAMe is naturally transformed to cysteine within the body. In consequence, it contains anti-oxidants that help combat OA and RA, as well as suppress harmful enzymes in the cartilage.

Chondroitin: Chondroitin sulphate, a component of the articular cartilage, plays an important role in cartilage formation and development. The Chondroitin supplement has been proven effective in restoring mobility and relieving pain, thus ultimately treating osteoarthritis. In addition, it also prevents further damage that results from OA.

Glucosamine: Glucosamine is a natural product that is necessary in joint cartilage formation. In osteoarthritis cases, the synthesis of glucosamine is faulty, hence hampering the growth of cartilage. For this reason, using a Glucosamine supplement will enhance joint cartilage growth. In addition, Glucosamine effectively treats RA as it serves against inflammation and protects the joints.

MSM (methyl sulfonylurea methane): The MSM molecule is found in some tissues of the human body. It consists of the same sulphur that supports our body's structural molecules. Therefore, MSM works well in treating OA.

Green Tea: Green tea compounds have been proven to be reliable in inhibiting some cytokines, thus impeding the progression of both RA and OA. Green tea also works to treat inflammation.

Vitamin C: Crammed with important anti-oxidants, Vitamin C fights oxidative stress and keeps the body free from harmful radicals. Subsequently, it curtails the symptoms of RA and OA. As your body does not produce Vitamin C naturally, it is very important that you consume it from different sources.

Vitamin E: This vitamin is also a potent anti-oxidant that isn't only fundamental in OA and RA treatment, but also in enhancing your everyday health and general wellbeing. - 15437

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