How Does Glucosamine Chondroitin Help Your Body?

Glucosamine is readily produced in the human body and is necessary for the production of joint cartilage. As we age, producing enough glucosamine becomes more difficult and cartilage begins to detiorate causing stiffness and painful joints. When osteoarthritis is present, the supply of glucosamine is insufficient.

The addition of glucosamine chondroitin in supplement form can aid in stimulating cartilage repair. Glucosamine chondroitin is derived from processed shell of shrimp and crab. Glucosamine chondroitin can help your body repair its damaged or weakened cartilage by assisting your body's own natural repair abilities.

Chondroitin sulfate is a glucosaminoglycan. It is the most abundant glucosaminoglycan in articular cartilage. Chondroitin sulfate occurs naturally in the body. As a component of various tissues in the body, including tendons, bone, intervertebral disk, cornea and heart valve, glucosamine chondroitin has many important functions. When manufactured for supplementation, Chondroitin sulfate is commonly obtained from cartilage extracts, mainly bovine.

Glucosamine chondroitin aids with manufacturing cartilage, which is the protein part of a fibrous substance that holds your joints together. Collagen is a component of the shock-absorbing cushion substance that covers the ends of body joints. Glucosamine chondroitin aids with water binding in the cartilage matrix.

Clinical reports show that glucosamine chondroitin is able to boost the production of cartilage and glucosamine chondroitin also protects them from further damage.Glucosamine chondroitin also helps with cartilage repair. Chondroitin sulfate acts by attracting fluid into proteoglycan molecule and thereby flushing nutrients into the body. This fluid has powerful shock-absorbing qualities.

Chondroitin sulfate performs a structural role in binding with the collagen fibrils present in articular cartilage. Glucosamine chondroitin inhibits the formation of fibrin thrombi.

Glucosamine chondroitin blocks cartilage destroying enzymes and glucosamine chondroitin also protects existing healthy cartilage. Enzymes that prevent the transport of important nutrients are also blocked by glucosamine chondroitin. Chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine chondroitin can work in combination to control damaging enzymes.

Patients taking glucosamine chondroitin supplements should notice improvements within 2-4 weeks. Studies show that glucosamine chondroitin possesses remarkable anti-inflammatory properties without side effects. This proven ability of Glucosamine chondroitin to repair and improve joint function in addition to providing relief from pain gives glucosamine chondroitin a significant advantage compared to conventional treatments.

Glucosamine chondroitin also provides relief for pain associated with athletic injuries to the joints. Osteoarthritis affects tens of millions of people and was until recently considered to be an irreversible process of joint destruction. Modern research suggests that damaged cartilage can be replaced by healthy new cartilage.

Treatment programs should focus on stopping cartilage breakdown as well as stimulating repair, which is a primary function of glucosamine chondroitin. Glucosamine chondroitin and chondroitin sulfate successfully aid with this treatment. Glucosamine chondroitin presents a powerful tool for prevention and repair. Modern medicine usually treats osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis with symptomatic relief in the form of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, unlike glucosamine chondroitin.

These can have undesirable side effects when used for long periods. Studies now reveal that glucosamine chondroitin and chondroitin sulfate play a healing role in the treatment of arthritis. As well as giving relief glucosamine chondroitin and chondroitin sulfate help to repair and rebuild damaged joints. Glucosamine chondroitin is necessary for the construction of connective tissue and collagen production is stimulated by chondroitin sulfate.

Copyright 2005 Health-Focus

More information on Glucosamine Chondroitin.

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