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you'd like to help create a webpage that is unique to you. The years of teaching high impact aerobics are catching up with
me. Sure it's been great for the ticker, but the knees on the
other hand are showing signs of age and making icky noises. What
my Physical Therapist friends call "creep" and "crepitus" (which
is just nice technical way of saying "grinding") had become loud
enough to be heard by the naked ear! At the rate I was going - I
was sure I'd need a knee replacement by 40. Of course this just
won't do. So I've taken to doing leg extensions regularly and...
taking glucosamine.
Glucosamine - What's That?
"Glucosamine" is a natural constituent of cartilage which has
been shown to stimulate the production of connective tissue! In
more technical terms, glucosamine is considered an "amino
sugar." An amino sugar is the component of a carbohydrate which
does not contribute to the body's energy - instead it gets
incorporated into body tissues, forming such structures as
tendons, ligaments, bones, skin, nails, eyes and heart valves.
What is Glucosamine Used For?
Glucosamine supplements have been used most recently (according
to the research I consulted) for everything from joint pain to
connective tissue repair. It's best know for its contribution to
tendon and ligament support, for building joint cartilage as
well as reducing destruction of cartilage. It has also shown
promise in reducing inflammation due to asthma and bursitis,
lessen the incidence of food allergies, tendonitis and skin
problems! As if that isn't enough - what I find most exciting
about glucosamine is its use in relief of osteoarthritis and
rheumatoid arthritis.
How Glucosamine Works
It's fairly basic. We produce less glucosamine as we age,
therefore our cartilage has difficulty retaining water.
Depletion of this fluid, which ads "cushion" to the joints and
other tissues, can create everything from joint pain to
arthritis. Glucosamine (together with its counterpart
chondroitin - another naturally occurring substance) - helps to
counteract this water loss as well as restore cartilage.
Side Effects
So What's the bad news? I always want to know. Here's what I
found: Since these substances are naturally occurring - they
work on the body differently than
synthetic drugs (think
Prednisone) or anti-inflam's like Naproxen. This said - it takes
a while to notice signs of joint help - more than likely it
could take up to a year of regular supplementation before the
benefits take hold. Once they do, however, 50% of all regular
users have reported definite decreases in symptoms of joint pain
- I will let you know! The only other downside I could find to
the glucosamine/chondroitin complex users were nausea and
heartburn - although they are rare and counteracted by eating
prior to supplementation.
How To?
As I've just stated, always take the glucosamine/chondroitin
complex with meals to avoid side effects. I take one, 500 mg
tablet once a day. Dr. Mindell (I am a big fan of his work: see
below) recommends taking just 1-3 500 mg. tabs daily for three
weeks (to get a boost), then take one, 500 mg. tab daily.
My Usual Disclaimer:
As always, please check with your healthcare provider before
supplementation - discuss with him/her any medications you are
taking to avoid interactions. Although herbs and other naturally
occurring substances are considered "food" (simply because they
can't be patented and trademarked thus cannot come under
scrutiny of the FDA) they are still very strong substances in
the body and should not be taken lightly! Check out more
literature - educate yourself!
My Favorite Resources (and research sources for this article)
Include:
Balch, Phyllis A., CNC. Prescriptions for Nutritional Healing.
New York: Penguin Putnam, 2004. Khalsa, Dharma Singh, M.D. Food
As Medicine. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2003. Mindell, Earl,
R.P.h., Ph.D. The Vitamin Bible. New York: Warner Books, 2004.
Mindell, Earl, R.P.h., Ph.D. Prescription Alternatives. New
York: McGraw-Hill, 2003.
About the author:
Laura Turner is a natural health practitioner and author. She
hosts http://www.beauty-and-body.com and publishes the New Body
News and Wellness Letter, The Online Magazine Healthy People
Read. ( http://www.new-body-news.com ) Subscribe for f.r.e.e.
and receive her Special Report: "Take Charge of Your Health!"
and check out her latest book: Spiritual Fitness!
Written by: Laura Turner
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