Glucosamine Sulphate
Glucosamine is the all around joint pain treatment, shown to be effective for:
- Reducing Pain in Joints
- Increasing Lubrication
- Reducing Breakdown and Repairing Cartilage
- Reducing Inflammation
What is Glucosamine?
Glucosamine is a sugar protein that helps the body create various proteins and lipids that improve the body's tissue strength. It can be found in the exoskeletons of crustaceans as well as in mushrooms and other fungi, but can also be extracted from wheat and corn.
Health Benefits of Glucosamine Sulfate
Glucosamine Sulfate is a well known treatment for joint pain and osteoarthritis. It has been widely used in alternative medicine due to its ability to create new cartilage and improve joint strength. Adding Glucosamine sulfate to one's body has been shown to improve the cartilage and tissues in your joints, while also helping to keep cells strong by reducing cell degradation.
Glucosamine also helps reduce the risk of further joint pain because of its anti-inflammatory properties. By preventing inflammation, joint cartilage does not wear down as quickly. In addition, Glucosamine inhibits enzymes that damage cartilage and articular chondrocytes (collagen found in joints and tissues). The latter of these two is important, because collagen loss is one of the leading causes of joint tissue injury.
The lubrication properties of Glucosamine help joints work better, with less friction causing less inflammation and damage.
Safety of Glucosamine Sulfate
Glucosamine Sulfate appears to have no side effects. Some Glucosamine can be extracted from shellfish, so those that are allergic to shellfish do risk an allergic reaction, though this risk is rare because the allergen is found in a different part of the animal than the area the Glucosamine is extracted from.
The European League Against Rheumatism and the OsteoArthritis Research Society International rated Glucosamine sulfate an incredibly safe supplement, with near zero toxicity. Both of those organizations recommend using Glucosamine for moderate cases of osteoarthritis.
How is Glucosamine Taken?
The standard doses are 500 - 1500mg, and oral supplements are shown to be more effective than the alternative, so most Glucosamine supplements come in pill form.
What Kind of Joint Pain is Glucosamine Sulfate Good For?
Glucosamine is effective for the following types of joint pain:
- Osteoarthritis in the knees (mild to moderate)
- General Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Temporomandibular joint disorders
Overall, Glucosamine is one of the most effective natural remedies for arthritics and joint pain, helping to increase cartilage, prevent cartilage breakdown, and keep joints working more smoothly.
