By Admin – Steroidal.com
Good joint health is important for good health overall. If you can’t exercise without pain and inflammation, you’ll become less active. That can have a host of downstream effects, including weight gain that puts even more strain on your joints. When your joints are healthy, it’s easier to stay in shape.
Much of the medical research on joint health has been concentrated on conditions that are common in the elderly, like osteoarthritis. Good joint health is important for everyone, however, and competitive athletes and bodybuilders are especially interested in the science of good nutrition to keep their joints limber and working smoothly.
Joint Health Doesn’t End With Bone Health
Because of the focus on older joints in previous research, bone health was considered the most important part of overall joint health, but that’s quickly changing to a more holistic approach. Ligaments, cartilage, and muscles in the joints are just as important as the bones they’re anchored to for peak athletic performance. This has led to a shift in the dietary advice for joint health away from big doses of calcium and Vitamin D to more anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds.
Nutritionists have much more information to work with than in years past, and there are many effective formulations of dietary supplements for bone health available in any health food store or nutrition center. While the particular blends vary to appeal to different users with different needs, many contain a lot of the same ingredients. Here are a few that are included in the most common dietary supplements for joints:
Omega 3
Omega 3 is what is called a fatty acid. The use of Omega 3 dietary supplements actually predates our knowledge of how it works. People have been taking fish oil for their health for hundreds of years, even though they didn’t know exactly why it made them feel better. Omega 3s have been shown to have substantial anti-inflammatory effects when taken in substantial doses.
Many doctors suggest adding Omega 3 to your diet if you suffer from conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. In most cases, Omega 3 allows people with chronic joint pain to lower their intake of painkillers like aspirin or Tylenol, and it can also cut down on the need for corticosteroid treatments. Anti-inflammatory properties aren’t just useful for older joints. Avoiding swelling and soreness in the joints allows athletes to train harder and recover faster, which makes Omega 3 an important part of dietary supplements for joint health for fitness buffs.
Doctors once counseled patients to get their Omega 3 from cold-water fish with dark flesh like salmon or mackerel, but they now suggest that you take fish oil supplements instead. That’s because there’s a risk of mercury poisoning if you eat too much fish.
Cissus
Cissus is known by many names. You might see it listed on dietary supplements for joints under the names asthisonhara, chadhuri, C quadrangularis, CORE, veld grape, or dozens of others. While it’s not as talked about as supplements like Omega 3, cissus is one of the most common dietary supplements prescribed in Southeast Asia.
Cissus has been shown to have many of the same effects as anabolic steroids, and has become a favorite among bodybuilders that need to work out heavily without causing inflammation in the joints that slows recovery time. It’s also used to treat cardiovascular conditions and to lower cholesterol. It also appears to be useful for strengthening bones, another important part of joint health. It’s a safe compound, and can be taken by almost anyone. It’s not recommended for people who are being treated for low blood sugar, as it can lower blood sugar even more.
Glucosamine
It’s slightly harder to measure the effectiveness of glucosamine on joint health than dietary supplements like Omega 3. Glucosamine is often added along with a similar compound named chondroitin. These compounds have less of an effect on soft tissue and bones than other dietary supplements for joints, but they seem to work better on one important part of the joint: cartilage. When taken as a dietary supplement, glucosamine has been found to improve cartilage health, expand joint mobility, and slow damage to the joints due to aging.
Both glucosamine and chondroitin are very safe and can be taken in large doses, but they can interact or interfere with drugs or compounds for thinning the blood, or with diuretics, so it’s best to consult with a doctor before taking them if you’re on any kind of medication already.
