Joint Support Through Nutritional Assistance

The human body is unique, the most complex organism in the world and every aspect of the body down to the tiniest microscopic cell reveals that the human body is fearfully and wonderfully made.

The human body has 206 bones and there are 230 moveable and semi-moveable joints in the body. Joints are structures where two bones meet. When joints are healthy they hold the bones together and allow the rigid skeleton to move easily.

Joints may be synovial (with a cavity) or fibrous.

Fibrous Joints
Fibrous joints lack synovium and synovial fluid. Bones in the joints are covered by cartilage which is an open spongy network of calcified collagen in a tough outer shell. The bone can withstand thrust forces as long as it is covered in cartilage, which distributes load evenly. Without cartilage, the spongy bone collapses easily. Bone is constantly remodeling in response to stresses.

Synovial Joints
Synovial fluid is effectively a liquid connective tissue. Normal synovial fluid is clear, colorless and noticeably thick and stringy, like eggwhite. Hence the name syn ovium (‘with egg’). Its viscous and elastic properties are due to hyaluronan, a long chain glycosaminoglycan carbohydrate.

Healthy joints are amazing parts of the human body and when joints are healthy they provide easy, smooth and painless body movements. They need to be taken care of to remain healthy lifelong. Overuse of joints can cause excessive wear and tear. Underuse of joints because of a sedentary lifestyle may cause stiffness and joint pains.

Common Causes of Joint Pain
Joint pain can generally be attributed to following causes:

• Injury
  Injury to the joint, due to a fall, twist or overloading may cause damage to the joint and may result in temporary inflammation and pain in the joint.




• Degenerative Arthritis or Osteoarthritis(OA)
  Wear and tear of the joints can lead to joint pains. The exact cause of OA is not known but it is generally believed that OA can be due to obesity, sedentary life style and/or lack of exercise, unhealthy eating habits leading to nutritional deficiencies like low calcium and other essential minerals needed for healthy bones and joints.
  
  Smoking and alcohol may also contribute to osteoporosis of the bone




• Inflammatory joint disorders
  When the joint capsule holding synovial fluid becomes inflamed, the lubrication of the joint is affected. This type of pain can be due to rheumatoid arthritis, or arthritis due to gout and Lyme’s disease.

Symptoms of Joint Pain May Include:

• Joint pain that is exacerbated by exercise and relieved by rest. In advanced stages pain can be experienced during times of rest and at night. Knee pain due to OA is usually bilateral and felt in and around the knee. Hip pain due to OA is felt in the groin and anterior or lateral thigh.




• Joint stiffness in the morning or after rest.




• Reduced function and mobility of joint.

Signs of OA
Local examination of the joint affected by OA will show:

• Reduced range of joint movement




• Pain on movement of joint or at extremes of joint movement




• Joint swelling/synovitis (warmth, effusion, synovial thickening)




• Joint instability




• Muscle weakness/wasting around the affected joint.

Arthritis continues to be a large and growing public health problem. According to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, recent arthritis prevalence studies show that 46 million American adults suffer from arthritis which comes to nearly 1 in 5 adults. Around 27 million people suffer from osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis accounts for most of the hip and knee replacement surgeries performed in the United States. It is estimated that 67 million people in America will be affected by arthritis by the year 2030.

Even though osteoarthritis does not leave patients totally disabled, it affects the quality of life because of pain on movement and joint stiffness. Osteoarthritis affecting the elbow and shoulder joints may inhibit simple day to day activities like brushing the hair. Normal activities like dressing up, and other household chores tend to become painful and may ultimately lead to depression in many patients. It may restrict a person’s social life in some cases as moving around becomes painfully difficult.

Nutritional Support for Joints
Research shows that nutritional support can help to relieve joint pain and may help restore healthy cartilage to the joints. These nutrients support proper joint function, mobility, and healthy ligaments and tendons. GoFlex contains:
Interhealth Collagen Type 2
Works with the immune system to promote healthy joints, while improving joint mobility and flexibility.

Hyal Joint
A natural substance known to lubricate joint cartilage surfaces to reduce friction and keep them gliding smoothly.

White Willow Bark Extract
Ancient Egyptians used white willow for inflammation problems.

Yucca Root Powder
Contains natural steroidal-like saponins that have been used to reduce inflammation, spasms and pain associated with arthritis.

Green Lipped Mussel Extract
Contains Omega-3 and a rich blend of natural proteins, minerals and mucopolysaccharides that support healthy joint mobility and cartilage maintenance.

Boswellin
A natural herb that has traditionally been used for optimum joint health.

Curcumin C3
Traditionally used for its anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, antioxidant and immune system stimulating properties.

DL-Phenylalanine
A combination of the well-tolerated essential amino acids that promotes optimal joint health.

Natto Kinase
One of the most promising new nutrients used to help support a healthy circulatory system.

Bioperine
Generates energy and increases the bioavailability of other nutritional compounds.

Grape Seed Extract
A potent antioxidant that that nutritionally supports reduced swelling, improved blood circulation and healthy collagen.

MSM
A vital building block of joints and cartilage.

Glucosamine Sulfate1
May nutritionally help to stimulate your body’s ability to repair its worn joints, and may help to provide joint pain relief, reduced tenderness and improved mobility.

An insufficiency in any of these essential nutrients that support joint health may be a significant factor leading to the deterioration of the joints and causing stiffness, loss of mobility and pain. GoFlex contains natural proteins, minerals and other nutrients to effectively provide nutritional health support for joint health.

References:

1. Long-term effects of glucosamine sulphate on osteoarthritis progression: a randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Lancet. 2001 Jan 27;357(9252):251-6. PMID: 11214126