If you suffer from arthritis or just from joint pain in general, you might be at your wit’s end.
After all, if you have inflammation in the joints, it means that you are hurting, and this can make it hard to do anything, especially when you have arthritis in your legs, feet, and hands.
Moreover, as we age, our joints naturally start to deteriorate. Various substances such as collagen and glucosamine are produced in smaller amounts as we age, and these are substances which our bones and joints need to be healthy and pain free.
We mentioned glucosamine, but what is it and is it good for your joints? The simple answer is that yes, glucosamine is good for the joints.
Let’s take a closer look at exactly what glucosamine is and what it can do for your joints.
What is Glucosamine?
Glucosamine is a naturally occurring substance which is found in cartilage, the tough and rubbery tissue found in between the joints.
Your cartilage is what cushions your joints and stops them from rubbing together. There are two main types — glucosamine sulfate and glucosamine hydrochloride.
The problem is that as you age, your body will produce less and less glucosamine on its own, and therefore, cartilage can start to wear down.
When cartilage degrades and wears down, the joints no longer have adequate cushioning between one another, and therefore it causes swelling, inflammation and pain when your bones rub together.
The official term for this cartilage breakdown is osteoarthritis, and it can cause extreme pain and stiffness in the joints.
The Benefits of Glucosamine – What it Does
What is interesting to note is that experts are sure that glucosamine is good for the joints, although exactly how remains a bit of a mystery.
What is known is that glucosamine is required to maintain healthy cartilage. For one, it is a building block of cartilage, so it’s needed for the maintenance of that cartilage.
Moreover, it is also thought that glucosamine is effective at preventing the degradation and wearing down of the cartilage in between your joints.
This is why glucosamine is often used as a treatment for both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis; your body needs glucosamine to maintain healthy cartilage and to prevent it from wearing down.
Glucosamine as a Preventative
It has been shown that glucosamine can be used as a preventative measure to stop cartilage from breaking down.
Research shows that glucosamine intake is directly related to the degradation of type 2 collagen. Type 2 collagen is one of the main building blocks of cartilage and bones alike.
If collagen production goes downhill, so does joint health, and therefore, taking glucosamine can prevent collagen degradation, which in turn helps prevent bone and joint issues from occurring.
How is Glucosamine Made?
When it comes to the glucosamine supplements that you might find in stores, there are various ways in which it can be made. Scientists have formulated synthetic glucosamine, which tends to be the best way.
However, glucosamine can also be extracted from fungi and from the shells of shellfish. For this reason, if you are allergic to mushrooms or shellfish, you do need to be careful when choosing a glucosamine supplement.
What is Glucosamine Used to Treat?
There are many different bone- and joint-related conditions which can benefit from using glucosamine as a treatment, as well as other health conditions. Glucosamine is often used in an attempt to treat the following conditions:
- Osteoarthritis
- Glaucoma
- Weight loss
- Interstitial cystitis
- Jaw pain
- Basic joint pain
- Back pain
- MS
- HIV and AIDS
How Much Glucosamine Should I Take?
How much glucosamine you need to take in order to prevent joint issues from occurring, as well as to treat joint issues depends on your body, and it is recommended that you consult your physician before starting any sort of regimen.
However, in general, the typical dose is 1,500 mg per day, divided into 3 doses — so 3 doses of 500 mg. The recommendation is that glucosamine be taken with meals, as it can cause upset stomachs, so it should not be taken on an empty stomach.
Risks and Side Effects
There are some risks and side effects associated with increased glucosamine intake, so let’s go over these quickly.
- Heartburn
- Drowsiness
- Upset stomach
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Headache
Glucosamine may also not be ideal to take if you suffer from diabetes, kidney conditions, bleeding disorders, high blood pressure, and heart conditions.
Moreover, glucosamine can also negatively interact with blood thinners, diabetes drugs, heart medicines, and even with drugs like Tylenol (acetaminophen).
Conclusion
The bottom line is that glucosamine has various benefits for joint and bone health, and it’s something that can help prevent serious joint issues from occurring in the future.