7 Best Supplements For Joint Pain

It is estimated that in the United States, more than 54 million adults deal with some types of arthritis. In turn, about 25% of those people are dealing with severe joint pains, which makes their daily lives a struggle. They stay away from any physical activity, as the pain is simply too tiring. That’s why many people are willing to try out supplements, even if they have little hope that a particular product will prove beneficial.

However, it doesn’t mean that there are no supplements for joint pains that have been thoroughly studied. Supplementation won’t solve the most severe cases of arthritis, but it can soothe the pain, and make daily activities a little bit easier. Below you will find a list of seven best supplements that are worthy of recommendation for joint health.

Green Tea Extract

Green tea extract can be beneficial for people who struggle with joint pain for several reasons. First, green tea is a great antioxidant, which means that it can protect your body from free radicals.

However, apart from that, consuming green tea extract can reduce the number of molecules produced by your immune system that increase the inflammation levels in your body. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, green tea extract can reduce joint pain. Although we recommend taking green tea extract specifically, you could also just drink green tea; usually, one pill of the former has the same amount of active ingredients as one cup of green tea.

Collagen

Collagen is a protein that can be found in skin, bones, or muscles. Without it, your body would fall apart, as it is responsible for holding it together. Although collagen is usually taken by people who are concerned with the looks of their skin, it turns out that the consumption of collagen supplements, like the ones that can be found at Primal Harvest, can also be helpful if you are dealing with joint pain.

In a 2008 study, scientists have found out that people who were supplied with collagen supplements reported improvements in joint pain, both during exercises and when resting. The scientists have concluded that although this subject needs more research, the consumption of collagen-containing supplements could support joint health and reduce joint deterioration.

One example of this is colostrum dietary supplements. Colostrum dietary supplements are made from natural and chemical-free ingredients and contain a significant amount of collagen. One of the benefits of colostrum includes cellular regeneration. Colostrum, or mammals’ first milk, contains growth factors, stimulating normal cell growth and aiding in the regeneration and repair of nerve tissues, cartilage, skin collagen, and bones. Thus, taking colostrum dietary supplements can also promote joint health, which could help reduce joint pains.

Turmeric

Turmeric belongs to the ginger family, a plant native grown commercially in Southeast Asia, primarily in India. This plant’s underground stem or rhizome is a common spice in traditional medicine and culinary settings.

Turmeric is often taken by people who are dealing with depression, but it can also be helpful when it comes to treating joint pain. Curcumin, which is one of the compounds that can be found in turmeric, is a powerful antioxidant, and studies have shown that it can decrease the severity of pain and reduce joint swelling. According to other studies, curcumin can be just as effective for pain reduction as drugs such as ibuprofen.

Other studies have also shown that in certain cases, curcumin can decrease the number of cells that are responsible for breaking down bones. It means that curcumin can slow your bone density loss.

Turmeric food supplements are made from dried rhizomes that contain curcuminoids. Aside from arthritis, turmeric supplements are promoted as a food supplement for people suffering from digestive disorders, allergies, respiratory infections, liver disease, and depression.

Ginger

Ginger is yet another substance with anti-inflammatory properties, which means that it could be helpful to those struggling with joint pains. It can reduce the production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes in your body, both of which cause higher inflammation levels. Moreover, ginger is also believed to relieve joint pain associated with osteoarthritis.

Ginger food supplement products are available in different preparations such as capsules, liquid extracts, syrups, and teas. Many people believe that taking the actual root, whether it comes as minced, grated, matchsticks, or whole, provides the most benefit.

The other health benefits of ginger include treating chronic indigestion and morning sickness and regulating blood sugar levels. Apart from that, ginger is cheap, can be bought in most stores, and doesn’t have any potentially dangerous side effects.

Probiotics

It might seem surprising that the bacteria in your gut could have an effect on your joint health, but the 2017 study seems to show that gut health has an effect on your bones. Why? The scientists manipulated the microbiota of mice, which led to bone remodeling, faster bone development, or even stronger bones.

Though there are no human studies, it seems likely that our microbiota could influence our bone health as well. Certainly, it is too early to conclude which strains of bacteria could be beneficial for bone health, but if you are dealing with joint pain, you could start taking probiotics. Alternatively, you could limit foods high in sugar or add some fermented foods, such as kefir, pickles, or sauerkraut to your diet, which would be great for your gut as well.

Glucosamine

Glucosamine is a compound that can be found in cartilage. Without it, or if there’s not enough of it, bones in your body would rub against each other, which would cause you pain. As such, it isn’t surprising that glucosamine is often one of the ingredients of supplements meant to treat joint pain.

Admittedly, it isn’t entirely clear whether glucosamine hydrochloride is actually beneficial, though when it comes to glucosamine sulfate, studies are less ambiguous. It has been found that it can slow down the progression of joint deterioration, making it possible for people with arthritis to function for a longer time without experiencing severe pain.

S-Adenosyl-L-methionine

S-Adenosyl-L-methionine is a compound that can be naturally found in the human body, and its supplementation can be beneficial when dealing with depression and joint pain, but it also has been found to boost cognitive performance.

Research shows that S-Adenosyl-L-methionine could be used to protect or even repair the damaged cartilage, making the joint pain less severe. It has also been noted that it is safer than NSAIDs while providing a similar relief level to patients dealing with arthritis. NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are often used to treat joint pain, though they are reported to cause e.g. stomach ulcers when taken long-term.

Conclusion

Problems with joints can be caused by a variety of reasons, such as injuries, illnesses, or advanced age. As a result, it might get difficult to find joy in everyday activities, as they are accompanied by joint pain. Although you should first consult such a decision with your doctor, in most cases, supplements can bring at least some relief.

Your health issues won’t be miraculously cured, but with the exception of probiotics, which need further research, the supplements included in this list have been thoroughly studied. We cannot guarantee that all of them will help you soothe your pain, as our bodies can react to the same substances differently, but most of those supplements have been tested by a large number of participants, which is why we think it is worth giving them a try.