The Best Supplements for Arthritis
Millions of Americans suffer from joint pain that stems from arthritis every single year. Arthritis can affect your ability to move large joints and the small joints in your fingers. This means that it can affect every aspect of your daily life, and dealing with the constant and persistent pain can be challenging to manage.
Fortunately, there are a variety of supplements that can help to ease this pain and give you some relief. When these supplements are used with an overall health plan, they can help you increase mobility and reduce pain. The ability to move again can add to your quality of life and allow you to enjoy interacting with the world around you.
Understanding Arthritis
There are several different types of arthritis, so it may be essential to understand what specific conditions cause or make your symptoms worse. The general diagnosis of arthritis is inflammation or swelling in the joints. While there are over 100 different types of arthritis, the two most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The causes of arthritis can be diverse but are most commonly associated with age or injury to a joint.
Arthritis can be a progressive condition. You may notice that what started as a dull ache and some soreness when moving can become a debilitating inability to move specific joints.
What You Can Do
When you begin to take a new supplement, it is vital to work closely with your doctor to monitor your current medications. Doing so ensures that specific supplements will not interfere with your prescriptions. In addition, your doctor can help suggest an overall routine that utilizes the benefits of supplements and combines the action with additional therapies.
Many different commercially available supplements tout their ability to combat the effects of arthritis. However, four specific supplement types appear to have more ability to fight arthritis than other approaches.
Turmeric and Curcumin – Turmeric is commonly used as an ingredient in a variety of different dishes such as sauces, teas, and smoothies. However, the active ingredient, curcumin, only make up three percent of the turmeric blend, so many physicians suggest that you look for a specific curcumin supplement. You should look to consume between 200 to 1,000 mg. of curcumin daily to experience the best results.
Ginger – Like turmeric, ginger is another root that contains anti-inflammatory ingredients to help combat arthritis. Ginger can be consumed fresh or in a supplement form. When you take ginger as a supplement, you should aim for between 100 and 225 mg. doses. You should specifically work with your doctor when you start taking ginger because it can interact with medications, specifically blood-thinning medications.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids – These supplements are often marketed as fish oil. This is due to the fact that fish like salmon contain high levels of Omega-3’s. This substance works very well for fighting inflammation and has a variety of other health benefits too. Many people do not eat enough fish as part of their normal diet to get the full advantage. However, you can find a variety of options over the counter supplements. Experts recommend that you consume somewhere between 250-500 mg. of fish oil per day.
Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate – All of the other options on this list help to fight the effects of arthritis, inflammation, and swelling of the joints. Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate do not help with swelling and arthritis, but instead, help to repair and form the cartilage in the joints. Many people take this mixture as a preventative from arthritis because of their ability to help strengthen the joints. However, the current reviews have been more mixed on this supplement, so you should discontinue use after six months if you do not see an improvement.
Overview
Several different supplements can help you feel better and take control of your life. However, using supplements alone may not be enough. You should work closely with your doctor to identify a supplement regimen combined with other therapeutic methods to control your arthritis.
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