Many people take supplements to support various parts of their mind or body. Joint issues like pain, fragility, and tightness can often be a problem for us, and supplementation of particular vitamins, minerals, or other compounds is a great way to prevent these issues. While some prevent the pain from occurring, others ease pain post injury. Below you will find all you need to know about supplements that can strengthen your joints.
Collagen
Collagen is a naturally occurring substance within our bodies, and it plays a crucial role in the building of cartilage in the joints. It has this property due to being extremely rich in amino acids. Some studies have also shown collagen supplementation to have anti-inflammatory effects, which could help relieve swelling and tenderness in joints. Collagen in supplement form comes from the bones of animals such as fish, beef, or pork bones. The health pros recommend a premium bovine collagen powder, as these have been shown to have great rapid absorption rates into the body. Take collagen powder daily by mixing it in with any hot food or water.
Glucosamine
Glucosamine is an amino sugar, again formed naturally in the body like collagen. It also has some very similar properties to collagen. It is known to be important in the building of cartilage in our joints and potentially help relieve inflammation. Study results vary, but glucosamine sulfate has almost unanimously been shown to help joints in these ways. This supplement is traditionally made by crushing the shells of cuttlefish into a fine powder. However, these days, there is a synthetic version available, so vegetarians and vegans can also take glucosamine daily.
Turmeric
For many years turmeric has been supplemented, drank, or added to food. It is rich in orange color and contains the active compound curcumin. Curcumin has been proven in plenty of studies to have extremely effective anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, many people report the same level of pain relief when taking curcumin as they do when taking over the counter anti-inflammatory medicines. This allows your joints to move more freely, giving you the time to stretch, strengthen, and supercharge your joints. Black pepper aids the absorption of curcumin, so if you’re supplementing yourself with smoothies or juices, make sure to add a little pepper.
Fish Oil
Fish oil has been a health food store staple for years, and with good reason. Not only does fish oil - rich in Omega-3 fatty acids - have anti-inflammatory properties, it is also crucial for the rebuilding of tissues within the joints. The fatty cells are amazing at helping our bodies’ joints recover and strengthen. Alongside the inflammation reduction and decrease in joint pain, this makes fish oil a staple of many people’s supplement shelves. If you are vegan and don’t want to consume fish oil, new studies show that algae oils rich in omegas are also great at providing the same kind of help.
Take some or all of these four supplements to help promote healthy and strong joints. Each of them can be picked up at a supermarket, pharmacy, or health food store. Care for your joints now, and they will thank you later!
