Is there a role for Glucosamine and Chondroitin in Arthritis?

Glucosamine and Chondroitin have been aggressively promoted
as safe and effective arthritis treatment. The adverts are
everywhere and the Sunday tabloid is likely to have a full
page spread on the benefits of glucosamine and chondroitin
in arthritis. Is it just hype or is there evidence that
these two items are useful treatment for arthritis?

Glucosamine is an amino acid sugar produced by the body and
present in cartilage. There are no serious side effects
with glucosamine. It is extracted from shells of shellfish
so if you are allergic to shellfish be aware of this. If
you are a diabetic, remember that glucosamine is an amino
acid sugar and can impact on your blood sugar level.

Chondroitin is a carbohydrate compound and is present in
cartilage. It gives the cartilage elasticity. Articular
surface of joints are protected by cartilage (articular
cartilage) and this cartilage is a tough smooth gristle
that reduces friction and protects the underlying bone from
wear. Damage and wear of the cartilage is seen on an x-ray
as loss of joint space. Cartilage contains both glucosamine
and chondroitin.

Chondroitin is available as chondroitin sulfate, obtained
from cows' cartilage. There are no serious side effects of
chondroitin. Reported side effects are increased intestinal
gas and loose stools. It should not be given to children or
taken by women considering pregnancy or who are pregnant.
It may potentiate the effects of anti-coagulants.

The rationale for the use of chondroitin and glucosamine as
treatment of arthritis is that these two drugs, according
to some, will improve the health of affected articular
cartilage. Both chondroitin and glucosamine are
manufactured by the body.

Your family doctor is not likely to recommend glucosamine
or chondroitin as an arthritis treatment because there is
no clear evidence that they confer greater benefits over
placebo in arthritis treatment.

Both Chondroitin and glucosamine are considered supplements
and therefore the manufacture is not regulated. When
purchasing these products make sure you purchase from a
reputable company and check the label. The quality of the
product will vary from one manufacturer to another.

A qualitative assessment of various trials was done by T.E.
McAlindon et al. to evaluate the benefits of glucosamine
and chondroitin products for osteoarthritis of the knee
and/or hip. The studies were randomised, double blind,
placebo controlled of four weeks duration. Fifteen studies
reached the criteria and were included in the analysis.
Conclusions: Trials of glucosamine and chondroitin products
for osteoarthritis of the knee and hip showed moderate to
higher effects but there were quality issues and possible
bias suggesting that benefits were exaggerated. They
concluded, however, that some degree of benefits appears
probable.

A trial by H.Muller-Fassbender et al. in 1994 compared
glucosamine sulfate to ibuprofen in osteoarthritis of the
knee. The result showed that glucosamine was as effective
as ibuprofen but without the potential serious side effects.

Although there are no large trials to confirm the real
benefits of Chondroitin and Glucosamine, anecdotally some
arthritis patients swear by them. If you are considering
taking them, use them for three month before making a
decision on their efficacy. They are much safer than NSAIDs
and COX2 inhibitors.


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Dr.Phil Hariram is a retired General Practitioner. He has
spent 27 years treating patients with Arthritis.
Check out his website at
http://www.arthritissage.com
and his blog at
http://www.arthritissage.com/blog

 

Whey Protein and its Uses

With all the fuss you hear about some new product that
comes out on the market, being it in fitness or another
area many people become skeptical and hesitant to "buy into
the hype."  However, when it comes to exercise and protein
supplementation, Whey Protein is often the way to go.

It's true! I want to talk a little about whey protein and
how it can help you build more muscle,  improve recovery
and immune function, and how it can help get the metabolism
going.

First, how does whey help you build more muscle?  The
answer is quite simple, and I am gonna tell you in the
simplest way possible.  The simplest form of protein are
called amino acids (they are like the building blocks which
comprise protein). Their are 22 definite amino acids, but
some researchers believe as many as 80 exist.  Just so you
know, their are 11 types your body makes on its own, and 9
that you need to obtain through diet.  Different amino
acids have various responsibilities.  When it comes to whey
protein ( a protein derived from the curd of milk when it's
produced) it contains three particular amino acids that are
directly responsible for muscle building properties.  They
are valine, leucine, and isoleucine.  These 3 stooges aid
you in helping you recover from intense training.  A little
side note, if your an endurance athlete the need for more
of these types of proteins may increase because with all
the activity your performing your muscles may start to
breakdown to produce energy for the bod, and you will end
up losing muscle if your not careful.             Secondly,
whey contains a high level of a particular water based
anti-oxidant called glutathione, which can basically
improve your immune system by helping your body fight off
free radicals which are nastly little foreign invaders that
attack healthy cells.  In a nutshell, your less prone to
developing sickness and improved recovery.  Another point I
want to stress is the post-workout meal.  It's an ideal
time to have a whey supplement mixed with cold water along
with some simple carbohydrates (fruit juice, a fat-free
bagel, a banana etc.).  The whey protein is absorbed
quickly into your cells so when your body needs to recover
fast, stick with whey.

And lastly when you sleep all night, your body goes into a
starvation mode where the metabolism actually slows a bit.
Having a whey protein drink in the a.m. will give your body
the boost it needs to get much needed protein into the
muscles and start to get the building up process going
again, along with some quality complex starchy
carbohydrates.

So, don't just think whey proteins is for us bodybuilders,
you can add it into your everyday diet as well for improved
results. The thing is, when you decide to supplement make
sure that you do it regularly. Too many times I tell
someone about a particular product they get it once or
twice and that's it. No, no it's something you do ALL the
time.  Bottom line: If you strength train regulary this
product should be used as a core staple.  In general I
would say a quality multivitamin/mineral complex, extra
vitamin c,e, and calcium/magnesium if your eating very
little dairy products, and essential fats (I like borage
and flax mix).   These should be taken as a basic
foundation in your diet. NOT once in a while or week on
week off.  EVERYDAY.


----------------------------------------------------
About the Author: Brian A. Gurneak is a Professional
Personal Fitness Trainer who has been helping groups and
individuals for the past decade. For more articles and tips
visit http://www.completephysique.info and also to rid the
BODY of FAT go to
http://grappler34.4idiots.hop.clickbank.net/ .

 

Natural Acne Herbal Remedies

Despite a person's age, one of the most frustrating known
conditions to deal with is acne. Although we often label
this condition as a teenager's problem, it's something that
can last well into our adult lives. In fact, some people
may struggle with acne their entire lifetime. Finding acne
products that work in relieving and treating the symptoms
can be a tiresome challenge. Many of the well-known
treatments are filled with abrasive and harsh chemicals
that can irritate the sensitive skin of the face. A much
better alternative that seems to work well for many are the
vast range of acne herbal remedies.

There are many misconceptions regarding why some people are
more prone to blemishes than others. We've all heard that
not washing your face often and thorough enough, or eating
chocolate and oily foods can lead to breakouts. Although
the cause of each individual case may vary, treatments
usually work well regardless of what's at the root cause of
the acne. Both acne herbal remedies and traditional
treatments are designed to combat the blemishes and act to
make them disappear.

Researching the available acne treatments is a fairly
simple task with the convenience of the Internet. Some
natural products can be difficult to find so it's a good
idea to stick to acne herbal remedies that are readily
available nearby. There are actually many savvy techniques
that can be used to combat this skin condition that
involves products or items that you may already have in
your own home.

Toothpaste is actually a product that can do much more than
just keep your teeth white and clean. Although many people
don't necessarily view it as falling into the acne herbal
remedies category, it actually does. A small amount of
toothpaste placed on a blemish before going to bed can help
dry it out more quickly. The best toothpaste to use is
likely one that is mint flavored. It's recommended to stay
away from the colored pastes or those that have mouthwash
in them.

Strawberry leaves offer some extra benefits for women when
it comes to treating this annoying and embarrassing skin
problem. Acne herbal remedies that use strawberry leaves
just require the woman to wash her face as she normally
would and then lay the leaves on the areas where the
blemishes are appearing. The leaves have a cool, soothing
quality to them which can remove some of the swelling that
often occurs with a break-out.

Lemon juice is something that can be found practically
anywhere and has been shown to be effective for some in
battling acne. When using lemon juice as one of the acne
herbal remedies, opt for fresh lemons and squeeze them
yourself. Apply the fresh juice to any blemishes. The acid
in the juice will help dry the pimple much more quickly and
you'll have a clearer complexion in no time at all.


----------------------------------------------------
Rick Coelho has many interests and one of them includes
health and nutrition.
To receive a FREE no obligation report and obtain the full
benefits on clearing your skin of acne visit:
http://www.usfreeads.com/804587-cls.html