Monday, February 16, 2009

Supplements For Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis

By Amy Clark

Presently, Osteoarthritis or OA is one of the most prevalent conditions affecting individuals across the globe. Osteoarthritis is especially predominant among old people, and also among people who have excessive pressure on the joints, or back, knee, neck, and various joint injuries.

Another form of arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis (a.k.a. RA), is fairly rare, only affecting roughly 1% of patients worldwide. Nonetheless, we may have all encountered rheumatoid arthritis in one form or another.

Luckily, a range of nutritional supplements are now available to help arthritis sufferers alleviate the painful and debilitating symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Below are certain nutritional supplements that have been proven successful in arthritis treatment:

Omega-3 fatty acids: These acids primarily act as anti-inflammatories that will suppress RA progression. Omega-3 fatty acids can also treat the symptoms of osteoarthritis, and sometimes lessen the need for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

EPA/DHA: Scientific research has revealed that 1400mg of EPA daily along with 1,000 milligrams of DHA daily can effectively treat both rheumatic arthritis and osteoarthritis. The Super Omega-3 EPA/DHA is an especially powerful supplement, as it incorporates such ingredients as Sesame Lignans and Olive Fruit Extract.

Curcumin: This is an anti-inflammatory based on Tumeric that suppresses certain harmful enzymes, hence alleviating the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. On the other hand, several forms of Curcumin lack sufficient amounts of Piperine, a component of black pepper. Consequently, those who use Curcumin rarely obtain the appropriate level they need for an effective treatment.

S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe): This pertains to the active form of an amino acid called methionine. As it appears in an activated form, SAMe is naturally changed to cysteine in your body. Consequently, it is full of anti-oxidants that help fight OA and RA, as well as suppress harmful enzymes in the cartilage.

Chondroitin: Chondroitin sulphate, which makes up the articular cartilage, plays an important role in the formation of cartilage. As a supplement, Chondroitin has been established to be effective in restoring mobility and pain relief, ultimately treating OA. Additionally, Chondroitin also averts further joint damage caused by erosive OA.

Glucosamine: This is a naturally occurring substance that is essential in cartilage development. In osteoarthritis patients, the synthesis of glucosamine is defective, thus impeding cartilage growth. Because of this, using a Glucosamine supplement will improve joint cartilage growth. Moreover, Also, this supplement effectively treats rheumatoid arthritis because it functions against inflammation and further protects the joints.

MSM (methyl sulfonylurea methane): The MSM molecule is present in some tissues of your body. It has a type of sulphur that functions as structural molecules. It is for this reason that MSM works well in treating osteoarthritis.

Green Tea Compounds: Green tea has been proven to be reliable in blocking some cytokines, thus fighting the progression of both RA and OA. Green tea also works to treat inflammation.

Vitamin C: Abundant with valuable anti-oxidants, Vitamin C combats oxidative stress and eliminates destructive radicals. Subsequently, it relieves rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis symptoms. Since we do not produce Vitamin C naturally, it is essential that you consume it from other sources.

Vitamin E: This vitamin is also an important anti-oxidant that is not only essential in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis treatment, but also in improving your health and wellbeing.

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