I went on a search for joint pain supplements after being sidetracked by Glucosamine. You can read all about that in my article, “Glucosamine, a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” Here are three powerful supplements that help eliminate joint pain without side effects. All of the supplements surprised me at their effectiveness. Two of them completely eliminated my symptoms, and one of them substantially reduced the symptoms.
Vitamin C
Let’s start out with one people don’t think about: vitamin C. What got me hooked on vitamin C is my family history of rheumatoid arthritis. I think I’m the only one in the family who doesn’t have the rheumatoid arthritis nodules on my fingers. Yet, I was starting to get these nodules. Concerned and not feeling really positive about potential finger joint arthritis, I began researching what I could do to help reverse them.
Vitamin C is an anti-oxidant and is excellent for immune support. But, did you know it can also help with joint pain? Joint pain can come from high uric acid levels in the blood. Typically, your kidneys will remove uric acid from the body. Protein and high fructose corn syrup breakdown in the body into purines, and purines form uric acid in the body. To see more how high fructose corn syrup impacts the body, check out this article.
High intakes of protein or high fructose corn syrup can form more uric acid than the kidneys can remove. The excess uric acid can be deposited in the joints causing inflammation and pain. Vitamin C helps reduce uric acid levels in the blood and can reduce the joint pain and swelling due to uric acid levels in the blood.
The second way Vitamin C can reduce joint pain is through the synthesis of collagen in the body. This vitamin is critical to the synthesis of collagen in the body, and the only way we can get Vitamin C is through consumption. The body does not make vitamin C.
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body. Collagen is especially plentiful in cartilage, tendons, and bone. The first signs of a deficiency in vitamin C are skin manifestations such a bruising and slow wound healing. These symptoms are due to a reduction in collagen synthesis.
Omega 3’s
The second supplement which can help reduce joint pain is Omega 3’s. Omega 3’s are another supplement well known for their anti-inflammatory effects and ability to raise high-density lipoproteins (HDL’s), the good cholesterol.
Studies of Omega 3 supplementation indicated an ability to slow disease progression in arthritis or chronic, long-term joint pain.
There are three types of Omega 3’s. DHA and EPA come from cold-water fish, and ALA comes from seeds and nuts. Research indicates DHA and EPA Omega 3’s may suppress the protein responsible for the arthritis inflammation response in individuals.
Hyaluronic Acid
The last supplement to help with joint pain is hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is one of the three commonly used supplements for joint pain. The other two are Glucosamine and MSM. Glucosamine has potential side effects, which will preclude its use in some individuals. I’ve never had much success with MSM. Because MSM is a methyl-donor, it seems this supplement would be beneficial in individuals needing a methyl-donor. Hyaluronic acid appears to be helpful in all users.
This supplement is highly correlated with the quality of the supplement. Quality is the truth of all supplements. Yet, I found hyaluronic acid to be even more demanding in its requirement for quality. I had taken many hyaluronic acid supplements and found little benefit.
My sister had recommended a product called Lubrisyn. Check out their website for research and testimonials. My sister and her clients swore by it. My sister was a horse person. If you know anything about horse people, horse people find their pharmacy in their tack room. A horse person’s adage is, “If it works for my horse, its gonna work for me.” Lubrisyn had started out as a product for horses. The product was highly successful, and the company formulated the product for humans.
I tried Lubrisyn and was surprised at its effectiveness. I’ve ridden horses my whole life. The most common complaint in riders is their feet. Every long-term, horse rider gets foot pain. That strange stiff walk horse riders have is because their feet hurt. The pain probably comes from those narrow stirrups placing so much pressure on the balls of the feet.
After a month of taking this supplement, I was able to run across concrete with no pain. I couldn’t remember the last time I had been able to do that, and it was amazing to be able to run across concrete again.
Summary: Quality Matters
There you have it. Here are three killer supplements that you can take to reduce or eliminate joint pain.
And remember, quality matters. If you’re going to buy your supplements at your local grocery store or wholesale warehouse store, the quality will be questionable. I mention Lubrisyn because I’ve tried other hyaluronic acid supplements and they never worked. My husband has tried many times to use supplements from our local wholesale warehouse and when he runs out, he uses my supplements. Each time he comments that my supplements change his energy levels by the next day. So, go to your local alternative health practitioners to find quality supplements. If you’re curious about quality and herbs check out, “GMP Certification Explained.”