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Better, Safer, Natural Alternatives
If you are part of the quickly-expanding aging population, then you know the most pervasive ailments facing each of us is arthritis. Traditionally arthritis has been treated with stronger doses of medication like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like those found in Motrin or Aleve. These medications, though helpful in the short-term, come with troublesome side-effects over the long term. As the ranks have swelled among those facing arthritis, demand for safer, more effective treatments have pushed amazing discoveries. The key ailments this area of science is trying to remedy include the pain, swelling, and functional limitations brought on by osteoarthritis. Three ingredients that have come to forefront in recent years are glucosamine, MSM, and CFAs.
The most well-known of these three is probably glucosamine, due to its reported success in promoting joint health. However, do you know why it has been so successful? Glucosamine is actually a natural substance found in cartilage. Cartilage, a tissue softer than bone, covers the ends of bones and allows joints to move smoothly without pain. When cartilage wears away, the condition is diagnosed as osteoarthritis. In fact, physicians can diagnose osteoarthritis by measuring the thickness of cartilage on an x-ray. Glucosamine may work to help the body keep cartilage healthy. Studies show glucosamine may be effective in reducing the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis. It may also improve movement, especially in knees.
MSM, short for methylsulfonylmethane, is a naturally occurring sulfur compound found in fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, fish, and grains. MSM is therefore found in the normal human diet, but as foods are processed, MSM is destroyed. It is commonly combined with glucosamine in supplements made to treat osteoarthritis. Some studies have shown that a regular dose of MSM is helpful to relieve osteoarthritis symptoms of pain and swelling. According to one study, using glucosamine and MSM together led to more rapid and significant improvement in symptoms than either compound alone.
CFAs or cetylated fatty acids, are a relatively new option for managing osteoarthritis symptoms. CFAs are naturally occurring fatty acids, like those that line cell walls in soft tissues throughout your body. They have been cetylated or flash heated to keep them from breaking down. Like glucosamine and MSM, CFAs have also been shown in university studies to be effective in improving symptoms of osteoarthritis. Researchers believe that CFAs may help the body heal and maintain cell walls, thus reducing and even preventing inflammation. This may be how it helps with arthritis and other inflammatory conditions such as strained muscles and stressed or sprained joints.
As you consider options for treating arthritis pain, you may want to try a combination of these options. CFAs are combined with five homeopathic anti-inflammatory ingredients in Myo-Med for topical pain relief. MSM and glucosamine are combined in Bioforce’s Joint Plus supplement, along with HA (hyaluronic acid) which is an amazing new discovery deserving of an article all its own. With all these safe, natural alternatives, there's no longer any reason to suffer the pain of osteoarthritis.
Copyright © 2009 Lisa Hill, M.D., A Myo-Med Info Article. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reprint this article on your website without alteration if you include this copyright statement and leave the hyperlinks live and in place.
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