Glucosamine - Information on how glucosamine actually works, the science backing glucosamine, and how to select the best glucosamine product...

Glucosamine and Osteoarthritis
by J.R. Rogers

Information on how glucosamine actually works, the science backing glucosamine, and how to select the best glucosamine product...

As I stated in my article "Osteoarthritis Explained" healthy cartilage requires four things. 
These are:
1. Water for lubrication and nourishment
2. Proteoglycans to attract and hold water
3. Collagen to hold proteoglycans in place
4. Chondrocytes to clean away old proteoglycans and collagen plus produce new ones.

When any one of these elements is missing, cartilage can deteriorate and osteoarthritis will begin to develop. However, with effective treatment, much of this can be prevented and also rehabilitated if you are currently suffering from osteoarthritis.

We recommend Synflex 
(Syn-flex) liquid glucosamine 
for effective osteoarthritis pain 
relief.

The Info on Glucosamine

One of the most effective supplements for osteoarthritis is a compound called glucosamine. Glucosamine is an amino sugar produced from the shells of chitin (shellfish) and is a key component of cartilage. Glucosamine works to stimulate joint function and repair. It has been proven effective in numerous scientific trials for easing osteoarthritis pain, aiding in the rehabilitation of cartilage, renewing synovial fluid, and repairing joints that have been 
damaged from osteoarthritis.

Each person produces a certain amount of glucosamine within their bodies. When people grow older, their bodies lose the capacity to make enough glucosamine. Having ample glucosamine in your body is essential to producing the nutrients needed to stimulate the production of synovial fluid, the fluid which lubricates your cartilage and keeps your joints healthy. Without enough glucosamine, the cartilage in their weight-bearing joints, such as 
the hips, knees, and hands deteriorates. The cartilage then hardens and forms bone spurs, deformed joints, and limited joint movement. This is how the debilitating disease of osteoarthritis develops.

So How Does Glucosamine Figure Into Healthy Cartilage?

Glucosamine is…

1. A major building block of proteoglycans
2. Needed to make glycosaminoglycans, proteins that bind water in the cartilage matrix
3. A source of nutrients for the synthesis of proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans
4. A stimulant to chondrocytes
5. A key factor in determining how many proteoglycans are produced by the chondrocytes
6. Needed to spur chondrocytes to produce more collagen and proteoglycans
7. A regulator of cartilage metabolism which helps to keep cartilage from breaking down.

In addition, glucosamine has been shown to reduce pain for osteoarthritis sufferers and improves the joint structure.

As you can see, glucosamine is a very important factor in maintaining healthy cartilage and rehabilitating cartilage that has deteriorated. It has been

shown to be beneficial in the treatment for osteoarthritis. However, glucosamine products can be very different.

When purchasing glucosamine, you must make sure you look for a product which:

1. Is the highest quality glucosamine available
2. Is a liquid - for quicker and fuller absorption
3. Contains other beneficial ingredients like chondroitin, boswellin, bromelain, manganese, yucca, etc.

Do remember that while glucosamine is beneficial in the treatment of osteoarthritis, it has shown to significantly reduce pain in about 4 out of 5 people;

and also, that the quality, delivery system, and synergistic ingredients can make a huge difference on whether or not you receive relief.

If you have been putting off buying glucosamine, I would very much encourage you to not wait any longer. If you've tried glucosamine in capsule form or are currently taking glucosamine in capsule form, I would very much recommend giving a liquid glucosamine product a try.