
Choose natural solutions instead of potentially lethal medicine
Rheumatic diseases and aching joints are extremely common. One in eight Europeans takes arthritis medication, thereby increasing his or her risk of numerous side effects and premature death. Rheumatism and aching joints are typically caused by inflammation. Research shows that the problems can often be treated with dietary changes and the use of supplements that address the underlying causes and make the pain vanish by itself.
Arthritis drugs take more lives than diabetes and traffic accidents. 7-8% of Europeans use anti-inflammatory painkillers that increase their risk of sensitive gastro-intestinal mucous membranes, indigestion, bleeding ulcers, heart disease, and thrombosis. Calculations show that arthritis drugs take more lives every year than traffic fatalities and diabetes together, making this type of medicine a far greater threat. Most people are unaware of this.
The immune system initiates vital inflammatory responses in the attempt to fight infection, poisoning, and cell damage. However, it is important that the immune system does not overreact or "shoot beside the target", as this may increase the risk of various arthritic conditions plus chronic, painful inflammation.
In the body, it is the essential omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that are generally responsible for regulating the body's infectious and inflammatory processes. If there is a fatty acid imbalance, or if we lack essential nutrients such ad vitamin D, selenium, and glucosamine, it increases our risk of inflammation and rheumatic diseases.
A group of leading international experts (ESCEO) says in a new report that glucosamine sulfate in a pharmaceutical grade is safe and effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis and that it can be recommended as a basic treatment of this disorder. Also chondroitin is recommended.
The new expert report provides guidelines for physicians treating patients with osteoarthritis based on the latest research published in recognized scientific journals. The aim is to optimize treatment and to build consensus among doctors about these guidelines.
Effective treatment of osteoarthritis with glucosamine
Osteoarthritis makes life difficult for many people but with glucosamine both the symptoms (pain and tenderness) and the breakdown of joint cartilage is effectively halted. The better our joints work, the easier it is to stay physically active and enjoy all the activities that help to keep us youthful and in good shape.
Glucosamine - always with sulfate
It is vital that glucosamine is always combined with sulfur (as glucosamine sulfate), whether you take it as a dietary supplement or as a pharmaceutical drug. Sulfur ensures that glucosamine is effectively transported into the articular cartilage. In the United States there seems to be a tradition for attaching glucosamine to hydrochloride which does not contain sulfur, yet in scientific studies there is a significant difference between glucosamine sulfate and glucosamine hydrochloride. Glucosamine sulfate is without discussion a superior form.
Some patients use the sulfur compound MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) along with glucosamine, but this is only necessary if you take glucosamine hydrochloride. Like MSK, sulfate is a sulfur compound and both are equally effective when combined with glucosamine.
Patients who take glucosamine for their osteoarthritis have a bonus effect: The preparation also lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a large population study published in the science journal British Medical Journal. Always choose pharmaceutical-grade glucosamine so you are sure to obtain the desired effect.
Combined supplementation with chondroitin sulphate and glucosamine could help to reduce knee joint pain, stiffness, and functional disability of people with osteoarthritis, according to new research published in the top rheumatology journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
The study was a double-blind Multicenter Osteoarthritis Intervention trial called "MOVES" In total 606 patients with knee osteoarthritis and moderate-to-severe pain participated in the trial. The patients were recruited from France, Germany, Poland, and Spain. The patients were randomised to receive 400 mg condroitin sulfate (GS) plus 500 mg glucosamine hydrochloride (GLU) three times a day or 200 mg celecoxib every day for six months.
Celecoxib is an anti-inflammatory drug of the NSAID type used to treat among others the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis and acute pain in adults.
The primary objective of the study was to reduce the score from a standard questionnaire called WOMAC used by health professionals to evaluate the condition of patients with osteoarthritis.
For decades, glucosamine has been used to prevent and treat osteoarthritis. According to a new study that is published in Nutrients, glucosamine supplements may also improve your digestion by counteracting abdominal bloating, constipation, and lumpy stools. It even looks as if glucosamine has other health benefits.
Osteoarthritis is a widespread disease that eventually affects the majority of us. The symptoms often feel worse during the wintertime. A European group of experts now recommends glucosamine sulfate as first-line treatment, before painkillers, as glucosamine sulfate is the only remedy that can prevent further progression of the disease and therefore effectively reduces the pain.
More than half of those older than 40 years of age and everyone above the age of 60 are believed to suffer from some degree of osteoarthritis. In many cases, people are completely unaware of it. For that reason, it pays off to prevent the disease by preserving the cartilage tissue or stopping further progression of the disease with help from glucosamine sulfate. But what is osteoarthritis? And how can osteoarthritis in one place lead to symptoms somewhere entirely different? How does glucosamine sulfate work? And how is it possible to improve the treatment during the winter? You will find all the answers if you continue reading.
Increased intake of magnesium from dietary sources or from supplements is associated with significantly healthier knees, including improvements like thicker cartilage. But many people lack magnesium and that most likely helps explain the widespread problems with knee osteoarthritis, according to a study that is published in the journal Nutrients. If you already have osteoarthritis, taking pharmaceutical-grade glucosamine may help.
Vitamin D deficiencies are very common. They increase children's risk of developing weak bones, but they also make adults more prone to osteoporosis.
Besides causing pain in joints, osteoarthritis may lead to neck pain, headaches, back pain, tennis elbow, and other symptoms, many of which we normally wouldn't associate with osteoarthritis. It is therefore vital to address the underlying cause. An increasing number of studies show that glucosamine can halt the progression of osteoarthritis and, subsequently, slam the brakes on the accompanying pain. It is, however, important to choose glucosamine in drug form with the type of glucosamine called glucosamine sulfate in order to obtain the desired effect.