Top Rated Joint Supplements

• Maintain Joint Tissue and Cartilage  and  Integrity

• Support for Joint Mobility and Joint Function

• Bioavailability and Absorption In The Body

• Helps Joints From Incurring Further Damage

If  the supplements you bought to help ease arthritis pain hasn’t helped, the reason might be that the pills don’t contain the ingredients they’re supposed to have.

Lack of monitoring is the big problem, said Dr. Joan Von Feldt, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

“These nutraceuticals aren’t monitored or regulated in the same way as prescription drugs are,” said Von Feldt, an arthritis specialist. “And this issue has been identified with a lot of  joint supplement products. And it’s not just a problem with the dose of the therapeutic agent, but also with the possibility of contaminants.”

For further details visit www.JointHealthReviews.com

Arthritis Pain Relief Medications

Arthritis is a disease that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints of the body. There are over 100 different types of arthritis, one or more joints of the body, they can also affect muscles and other organs.

Regardless of what causes it the excruciating pain is the most common characteristic of arthritis. Pain is the primary symptom of many diseases and pain relief is fundamental and essential to any treatment program. Joint pain relief for arthritis has a significant impact on the day to day activities of patients and improves quality of life of a person dramatically.

Arthritis pain can take the form of acute or chronic can turn out to be chronic during the course of the disease. The pain affects the general health, body movement and the emotional side of it can be very distressing. Pain relief is a #1 concern for the patient and not to fight against the disease.

Pain management helps to increase mobility and releive joint discomfort. It plays an important role to play in against the vicious circle of pain, stress and depression. All forms of pain should be treated under strict medical supervision. The painkiller widely prescribed for chronic pain is a simple analgesics or NSAID’s (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory). In severe cases, steroids are used under specialty medical care.

Analgesics can give you pain relief, but bear in mind that they have no control over the disease itsel. Painkiller by its nature, reduce pain or reduce the inflammation. The selection of ideal painkillers varies from person to person and depends on the degree of joint inflammation. In the absence of swelling and pain as a major symptom, an analgesic, such as paracetamol or tramadol can be used safely. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen, indomethacin, under different brands worldwide relief of pain, reducing inflammation. COX-2 inhibitors can be used for people with arthritis and is less likely that the adverse gastrointestinal effects of NSAIDs times.

Analgesics have some common side effects such as acidification, abdominal pain, stomach ulcers and bleeding tendencies. In some cases, there may be swelling in the feet, high blood pressure, allergic skin rashes, and more. Proper advice on the use of medicines to ensure a proper balance between the effects and side effects of medications is critical. Symptomatic relief is important, but the exact diagnosis and treatment of disease is important. An additional treatment with medicines, nutritional supplements and lifestyle changes are useful for arthritis and health of a person

For Arthritis Pain Relief Supplements click here.

Glucosamine

Description:
Glucosamine is an aminopolysaccharide (a combination of an amino acid – glutamine and a sugar – glucose). Glucosamine is concentrated in joint cartilage where it is incorporated in longer chains known as glycosaminoglycans and finally into very large structures known as proteoglycans. The proteoglycans function to attract water into the joint space for lubrication of the cartilage during movement.

Claims:

Reverses osteoarthritis

Protects joints and tendons from injury

Decreases inflammation

Theory:
The principle behind glucosamine supplementation is that the glucosamine is delivered to the joint space and incorporated into proteoglycans of joint cartilage to maintain structure and repair damage. Glucosamine may also stimulate chondrocytes (cartilage cells) to begin producing healthy new cartilage matrix (both collagen and proteoglycans).

Scientific Support:
There are numerous European studies showing a clear benefit of glucosamine supplements for relief of joint pain and stiffness associated with arthritis. Many of the studies have been criticized for lack of scientific control, short duration and small size, but recent meta-analyses of the smaller studies have supported the beneficial role of glucosamine supplements as a safe and effective approach to treating osteoarthritis. In general 1-3 months of glucosamine supplementation seems to be more effective than a placebo and at least as effective as analgesic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), like acetaminophen and ibuprofen, in reducing the joint pain of osteoarthritis. Until more rigorous studies are conducted in the United States, the Arthritis Foundation has stated that it cannot recommend glucosamine supplements as a treatment for osteoarthritis, but this stand has not stopped the Foundation from accepting financial support from the producer of the best selling brand of glucosamine supplements on the market – Rexall Sundown’s Osteo-Bi-Flex. Perhaps the supplements with the best clinical substantiation are Dona from Rotta Labs and Cosamin from NutraMax Labs.

Safety:
Occasional symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort have been noted, but no significant adverse effects have been noted with glucosamine supplementation. Although there have been no long-term safety studies conducted in humans, animal studies on glucosamine have found it to be non-toxic. Diabetics may want to exercise a degree of caution when using glucosamine supplements, as there have been several animal studies and one small human pilot study that have suggested an increase in blood sugar levels during regular glucosamine consumption (though most of the animal studies have used injections of glucosamine).

Value:
Glucosamine supplements tend to be among the more expensive products on the shelf. A one-month supply of capsules can range from $15 to well over $100. Because they have to be consumed for 1-3 months before any noticeable benefit is apparent, you may need to invest a significant amount of money before you realize any benefits. However, because arthritis pain is one of the most debilitating conditions, most people dealing with such pain would gladly invest a dollar or so per day in a supplement that relieved their discomfort and helped repair their damaged cartilage tissue. For people with existing chronic joint pain, glucosamine supplements are probably worth the significant dollar investment for the benefits that they deliver. For those individuals with intermittent joint pain or those with more mild joint stiffness, the high cost associated with glucosamine supplements may not be justified – and the money might be better spent on other more relevant supplements.

Dosage:
No dose-response studies have been conducted with glucosamine supplements. Virtually all oral supplementation studies on glucosamine have used 1500mg per day – usually in 3 divided doses of 500mg each. While this level appears to be an effective dose, there is no information to suggest that a higher does would work better or faster – or that a lower dose would be less effective. A common supplementation strategy, which can decrease the daily cost of supplements, is to consume 1500mg of glucosamine per day for the first 60-90 days of your regimen, followed by a reduced intake of 250-750mg per day as a “maintenance level.” Following the initial 60-90 day period, dosage levels can be increased or decreased based on individual pain and stiffness levels.

Glucosamine Joint Pain Supplements

References:
1. Barclay TS, Tsourounis C, McCart GM. Glucosamine. Ann Pharmacother. 1998 May;32(5):574-9.
2. da Camara CC, Dowless GV. Glucosamine sulfate for osteoarthritis. Ann Pharmacother. 1998 May;32(5):580-7.
3. Deal CL, Moskowitz RW. Nutraceuticals as therapeutic agents in osteoarthritis. The role of glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and collagen hydrolysate. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 1999 May;25(2):379-95.
4. Delafuente JC. Glucosamine in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2000 Feb;26(1):1-11.
5. Denham AC, Newton WP. Are glucosamine and chondroitin effective in treating osteoarthritis? J Fam Pract. 2000 Jun;49(6):571-2. 6. Donohoe M. Efficacy of glucosamine and chondroitin for treatment of osteoarthritis. JAMA. 2000 Sep 13;284(10):1241; discussion 1242.
7. Houpt JB, McMillan R, Wein C, Paget-Dellio SD. Effect of glucosamine hydrochloride in the treatment of pain of osteoarthritis of the knee. J Rheumatol. 1999 Nov;26(11):2423-30.
8. Leeb BF, Schweitzer H, Montag K, Smolen JS. A metaanalysis of chondroitin sulfate in the treatment of osteoarthritis. J Rheumatol. 2000 Jan;27(1):205-11.
9. Leffler CT, Philippi AF, Leffler SG, Mosure JC, Kim PD. Glucosamine, chondroitin, and manganese ascorbate for degenerative joint disease of the knee or low back: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study. Mil Med. 1999 Feb;164(2):85-91.
10. Mautone G. Efficacy of glucosamine and chondroitin for treatment of osteoarthritis. JAMA. 2000 Sep 13;284(10):1241; discussion 1242.
11. McAlindon TE, LaValley MP, Felson DT. Efficacy of glucosamine and chondroitin for treatment of osteoarthritis. JAMA. 2000 Sep 13;284(10):1241.
12. McAlindon TE, LaValley MP, Gulin JP, Felson DT. Glucosamine and chondroitin for treatment of osteoarthritis: a systematic quality assessment and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2000 Mar 15;283(11):1469-75.
13. Rindone JP, Hiller D, Collacott E, Nordhaugen N, Arriola G. Randomized, controlled trial of glucosamine for treating osteoarthritis of the knee. West J Med. 2000 Feb;172(2):91-4.
14. Towheed TE, Anastassiades TP. Glucosamine and chondroitin for treating symptoms of osteoarthritis: evidence is widely touted but incomplete. JAMA. 2000 Mar 15;283(11):1483-4.

Heal-n-Soothe and Systemic Proteolytic Enzymes

How Can You Benefit from Them?

By Steven Hefferon, CMT, PTA, CPRS

Proteolytic enzymes, also referred to as “proteases,” are enzymes that break down proteins into their smallest elements. If this breakdown of proteins happens in your gut, we call the enzymes “digestive,” because they help us digest our food. Systemic proteolytic enzymes, however, have a completely

different purpose, so please don’t confuse the two.When taken on an empty stomach, proteolytic enzymes will pass through the stomach or intestine lining and enter the circulatory system. This is why they are called “systemic” – once they enter the circulatory system, they circulate throughout the body.

Why are systemic proteolytic enzymes important?

The most important thing that systemic proteolytic enzymes do is to break down excess fibrin in your circulatory system and in other connective tissue, such as your muscles. These enzymes bring nutrients and oxygen-rich blood that remove the metabolic waste produced by inflammation and excess fibrin.

For example, If you have an injury or are recovering from a painful condition of any kind and your blood flow is restricted, you will have a longer recovery process. In addition, the exchange of nutrients and oxygen in your body will be limited, and there will be not only a longer recovery but an increase in pain and inflammation.

One more important thing to understand: Whenever you’re recovering from a muscle irritation, injury, or surgery, the body uses fibrin to help heal itself. This is normal and healthy. The only problem is that with poor blood flow and a lack of enzyme activity, that fibrin will start to accumulate. If the area in question is slow to heal, an excess of fibrin will appear as clumps of scar tissue in the muscle or at the surgical site. Once this happens, you acute condition becomes chronic.

Now that you know that excess fibrin throughout your circulatory system will severely limit the amount of blood flow to areas that need it the most, you may be wondering how the body tries to compensate for this restriction. The answer is simple: by forcing the heart to work harder and increasing your blood pressure.

How do you know if you have too much fibrin?

As I have noted, the body will do what it needs to do to keep us alive – sometimes at great cost to your overall health. Some possible indicators of excess fibrin in your system include:
chronic fatigue, slow healing, inflammation and pain, and elevated blood pressure. There is also a medical test to measure something called “blood monomers.”

The dangers of too much fibrin…

The medical community has long known that excess fibrin presents a cardiac and stroke risk. Finally, they have acknowledged a link between excess fibrin and chronic systemic inflammation, the true root cause of virtually every disease and painful condition know to man.

Which conditions do proteolytic enzymes help and how?

The list below is only a sample of the types of conditions that can be addressed with systemic proteolytic enzymes. If you are still wondering how one little substance can support all of these conditions, remember that they all have one thing in common – excess fibrin, which causes a reduction in blood flow.

Arthritis
Atherosclerosis
Back Pain
Chronic Fatigue
Chronic Pain
Fibrocystic Breast
Fibromyalgia
High Blood Pressure

Herniated Disc
Hyper-coagulation
Sciatica
Spinal Stenosis
Strains and Sprains
Post-operative Scar Tissue
Traumatic Inflammation
Uterine Fibroids

Which would you rather take – a pain killer or a healing enzyme?

Truth is, very few pain killers help heal the body, and in most cases the side effects are rather unpleasant. On the other hand, systemic proteolytic enzymes support the body’s ability to heal itself, and they reduce the signs and symptoms of a chronic condition.

Can proteolytic enzymes be used with other pain meds?

I knew you were going to ask. Yes, enzymes can used if you are taking low-dose non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), as long as they are taken 60 minutes apart.

How about clinical research?

Where is the proof? There are untold numbers of clinical studies that have been done on proteolytic enzymes, and we have 76 of the most relevant studies listed on our site. Let’s not forget that these enzymes have been in use in Europe for more than 50 years. And in Japan, some proteolytic enzymes are classified as
prescription drugs.

Where do proteolytic enzymes come form?

Some are animal-bases, some are plant-based – such as Bromelain and Papain – and some are fungus-based, such as Serrazimes®.

Which types are best and why?

I recommend plant- and fungus-based enzymes because they tolerate the gastric environment better, so more of the enzymes make their way into the circulatory system.

How long does it take to start to work?

Enzymes go to work immediately. The big difference between enzymes and vitamins is the way they are measured. Enzymes are not measured by weight; they are measured in Units of Fibrolytic Activity, which
means how much fibrin they break down in a set amount of time.

The questions you really want answered are: “How long will it take to get pain relief and reduce my inflammation?” and “How fast will my healing happen?” Truth is, there is no simple answer because the
healing process and outcome will be different for everyone.

There are a number of factors that bear on how fast the enzymes will work for you, including dosage, quality of sleep, diet, and physical activity. Even the very treatments you are undergoing to try to get better could be holding you back.

Are proteolytic enzymes safe for continued use?

Yes, proteolytic enzymes should be considered safe for continued use. There are three suggested usage protocols: one is a rotation of 12 weeks on and 4 weeks off; two is to take them continuously; and three
is to take them on as-needed basis.

Who should not take proteolytic enzymes?

1. Individuals taking prescription blood thinners (Coumadin, Heparin,
Plavix)
2. Anyone who will be having surgery in less than two weeks
3. Individuals with known ulcers of the stomach
4. Individuals with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.(GERD)
5. Pregnant or lactating women
6. Individuals currently taking antibiotics
7. Individuals with an allergic reaction to pineapples or papayas

Are there any side effects?

Proteolytic enzymes have an excellent safety record, with no significant side effects reported. With any supplement, however, there is always the risk of developing an allergy to one or more ingredients. If this
happens, you should discontinue use.

Choosing to try systemic proteolytic enzymes.

Remember, the enzymes are supporting the healing process, so recovery from any condition is going to take time. You don’t just take the enzymes and expect to get better immediately. By using these enzymes as
part of a well-planned recovery process, you’re making a commitment to doing what it takes to make improvements in your life.

Everything I’ve told you so far I learned from people who are far more knowledgeable than I am about the role enzymes play in helping us achieve optimal health.

So, when I say that I had a hand in creating Lifezyme – albeit a small hand – I nevertheless did my part, which was to find the world’s best enzyme formulators. Once I had done that, I told them to make me the
best product in the world – and that’s exactly what they did.

Without question, the Lifezyme Plus formula has the highest fibrolytic activity of any product in the world per dose. Our formulators blended 11 ingredients that would have a cascading effect, which means that
they help support the work of the enzymes and deliver even more beneficial results.

I’m not a big fan of taking a lot of supplements. I drink my multivitamin and pop my enzymes – that’s it. I know that trying to figure out which supplements to take can be overwhelming and that taking supplements can get expensive. Still, I look at supplements as a long-term investment toward achieving optimal health.

So, if working toward optimal health is your goal and you think that your life and your body would benefit form having less fibrin and better blood flow, then you should seriously consider enzymes.

If you do decide to try enzymes, do me one favor: Never – ever – buy an enzyme that lists the dose in milligrams (mg) or has “Proprietary Enzyme Blend” on the label.

Enzymes are not measured in mg and should not be sold in mg. “Proprietary Enzyme Blend” is a shady way of not telling you the consumer how much enzyme is in the product, so don’t support a company that cannot be honest with you. Demand full disclosure on the label.

Reduce Inflammation and Pain Fast… And Without Harmful and Addictive Drugs!

You don’t have to rely on dangerous medications… there is a safer alternative and it’s called Lifezyme Plus and it’s THE world’s strongest, all-natural pain and inflammation reducing formula. And unlike medications which mask the pain, this powerful formula reduces inflammation in part by replacing enzymes that the body loses as we age.

Click here for more about  Heal-n-Soothe to learn more about how Lifezyme Plus can help you get your life back!

***These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug
Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or
prevent any disease.***

What is Inflammation and How Does It Cause Pain?

I’ve got a great article for you today about the “hidden cause” of so many diseases and conditions like chronic pain, heart disease, stroke, alzhiemers and others.

If you suffer from any type of ache or pain, whether it’s big or small, acute or chronic, or if you want to learn about how you can reverse and prevent damage caused by these diseases and conditions, then you I’m sure you are going to find this quick read very eye opening.

What is Inflammation and How Does It Cause Pain?

Inflammation is a response from your immune system in response to an irritant.

For example, if you sprain your ankle, your immune system creates a protein called a Circulating Immune Complex (CIC for short).

The CIC travels down to the injured ankle and causes pain and swelling.

The pain you feel is to inform you of the injury or damage. And the swelling is protective as it prevents you from moving it and causing more irritation.

This is also your body’s way of running to the problem with fresh blood, antibodies and vital cells in order to begin healing and repairing the damage.

Then what normally happens is our bodies produce proteolytic enzymes which counteract the inflammation, and things return to normal. That’s why a sprained ankle as a young child heals within a few weeks at most, but can take six weeks or more for an adult of say 45.

The problem is, after around age 25, our production of these enzymes drops off almost completely so there is nothing to tell the body to stop the inflammation. These enzymes are also responsible for cleaning the blood, fighting off viral and bacterial infections and breaking down excess fibrin (scar tissue).

You can learn more about proteolytic enzymes and how they work here

In addition to the decrease in production of proteolytic enzymes, there are also numerous other things that contribute to the build up of inflammation in our bodies.

Here is just a short list of factors that contribute to inflammation:

• Un-addressed pain and injuries
• Toxins and chemicals in our air, water and food
• Poor nutritional habits
• Bacterial or viral infections
• Allergies
• Prescription medications
• Auto-immune diseases
• Negative mental and emotional stress
  

Over time, inflammation continues to increase in our bodies causing damage to all of the tissues and organs, often without us even knowing it’s happening.

If inflammation is not controlled and the body continually fights this battle, symptoms of chronic inflammation can show itself as arthritis, colitis, chronic fatigue, sinusitis, cataracts, chronic pain, hair loss heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s and dozens of other ailments and conditions.

Inflammation is what slowly kills us.

More and more research is coming out now that proves this. For example, here’s a quote from a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine: “there is convincing evidence that inflammation is strongly linked to heart attacks and stroke.”

And in another study published in The Annals of Neurology, the researchers concluded, “inflammation is linked to Alzheimer’s and other dementing diseases.” And a recent Harvard study found that “half of all heart attacks are caused by inflammation”.

We know that reducing inflammation is critical to eliminating pain and preventing disease and illness, but how do you do it safely and naturally?

Here are just some of the things you can do:

• Make dietary changes – be sure to read Dr Chilton’s book “Win the War Within”
  
• Learn how to eliminate negative emotional stress
• Minimize the amount of junk that enters your body – and not just food but toxins and other chemicals
• Replace lost proteolytic enzymes with supplementation

Remember, the key is to keep in inflammation under control because it does far more than just cause swelling and pain.

Inflammation and joint health

Eating Right to Treat Hurting Joints

Super Foods to Fight Arthritis

The good old saying stands valid, you are what you eat. With some thought and effective planning it’s possible to get nutrient rich food into your system, believe me your body will thank you for it. The battle against arthritis should from start from inside your body, with so choices sometimes we take things for granted. Here are some of conscious choice you could make when it comes to battle against arthritis and full pain relief.

Salmon as you might know is full of omega 3 fatty acid, the good fat which your body requires on a day to basis. Eating salmon gives you a double edge advantage , it is good for your cardiovascular health , it has been known to raise the levels of good cholesterol, bringing your blood pressure down.

Bananas – one of the richest sources of potassium and sudden energy booster, its great drink any time of the day , best of all you it doesn’t need any preparation, its easy as peel and go. The specific arthritis fighting nutrients like folate and vitamin B6 is in the right proportion in a banana. Again banana has dual benefits; it contains a high fibre content which will give you the full feeling faster than other food groups there by helping you lose weight as well. Wouldn’t you eat a banana if you can achieve full pain relief ?

If you are a seafood lover like me, don’t ignore the importance of shrimps. They contain the hard to get vitamin D, in fact it contains more Vitamin D than a cup of milk. Just like salmon it contains Omega 3 fatty acids the vitamins B12 which keeps you in good all round health. In general for full pain relief include a wide range of deep sea food.

Green tea has recently come into the lime light as super food; it’s a known fact that green tea is an effective anti oxidant and has various other properties which will help you not only in curing arthritis but also help a whole raft of other health related problems. If you were to pick one among the discussed super foods, it would be green tea.

Little planning goes a long way when it comes to your intake of food and controlling arthritis. Don’t make the common mistake which people make, they stick to good food for a week or so and then revert back to old ways, the trick is to be always conscious of what you put into your system.

Pain in Joints?

Super Anti-Inflammatory Foods