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Acting as a living shock absorber, your cartilage protects and cushions your bones from damage during the stresses of your day-to-day routine.
But overuse, injury, and age can cause tears and other damage to your cartilage. When this happens often, your body can’t rapidly regenerate damaged tissue to keep your ligaments, cartilage and tendons flexible and supple.
Over time, your cartilage will deteriorate, causing osteoarthritis – a medical condition where your bones rub directly against each other.
One of the best ways to prevent or ease the discomfort of osteoarthritis and maintain healthy cartilage is to add some vitamins for healthy bones and joints to your diet. Along with supplementation, make sure to get regular exercise and eat an anti-inflammatory diet.
With your physician’s supervision, here are some of the products you can take.
1. Glucosamine and Chondroitin
Glucosamine and chondroitin are compounds naturally found in healthy cartilage. Studies have found that a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin can improve joint mobility and relieve pain. But it is emphasized that the beneficial effects of these two substances can take several weeks of supplementation to happen.
Nature’s Bounty Flex-a-min is a supplement that combines glucosamine and chondroitin. It helps adults who desire maximum cartilage and joint maintenance and those who are looking for additional nutritional support for joint comfort.
2. Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)
MSM provides the raw material for your body to produce cartilage. It is known to be an effective treatment for osteoarthritis and arthritis. This is a structural protein found in most organic matter. It helps in building collagen that binds the tissue for bones.
When combined with glucosamine and chondroitin, MSM can promote healthy synovial joints. Remember that your synovial joints allow for a wide range of body movements.
This type of supplement work with other substances revitalize your synovial joint and to relieve joint inflammation and pain. This is a good supplement for people who need extra support for cartilage maintenance, overworked joints and joint comfort.
3. Hyaluronic Acid
An extracellular matrix connects the cells in your tissues. In your joint tissues, eyes, and skin, this matrix contains hyaluronic acid.
In fact, one of the non-fluid components of your synovial fluid is hyaluronic acid. If you don’t have enough of this, it can lead to joint deterioration. Thus, supplementation is important to prevent joint problems – this helps maintain the cushioning within your joints.
4. S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine (SAMe)
SAMe helps deliver sulfur to your cartilage which significantly helps build strong joints. Studies have shown that it can help improve joint health as well as ease symptoms of osteoarthritis.
When taking this supplement, make sure to get enough B vitamins for it to be effective.
5. Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Reduce wear and tear on your joints by including omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. It works by preventing collagenases (a type of enzyme) from damaging your joints.
These fatty acids which you can get from fish oil pills are commonly used as a supplement for reducing knee inflammation, strengthening tendons and ensuring healthy joints.
6. Collagen
Collagen helps repair the damaged tissues surrounding injured joints. Thus, supplementation with collagen is crucial to maintaining your bone health, repairing damaged ligaments and tendons, and promoting the repair of all internal joint structures.
As with many factors that affect your health, building strong bones and joints starts with proper nutrition during childhood to meet development milestones on target. But relying solely on food for proper nutrition is not enough to keep your mind and body healthy. This is especially true if you don’t have a well-balanced diet. Thus, supplementing your diet with Flex-a-min or other high-quality products is highly recommended.
Before taking any supplement, you must consult your doctor especially if you are taking other medications. Bear in mind that excessive dosage or improper use of these supplements can be toxic and even fatal.
