Have you ever experienced swelling and tenderness in your joints? If so, you’re not alone.
While there can be a number of reasons for the pain in your joints, a common culprit could be arthritis.
More than 350 million people worldwide suffer from arthritis, which commonly starts among people between the ages of 40 and 60.
Some behaviors and characteristics, called risk factors, can increase your likelihood of getting certain types of arthritis or making it worse. While there are some risk factors that are out of your control, there are definitely some that are well in your capabilities to control.
What Is Arthritis?
What exactly is arthritis?
Simply put, arthritis is an inflammation of the joints. It can affect one or multiple joints and there are many different types of arthritis. These different types have different causes and hence treatment methods.
Symptoms such as pain, swelling and stiffness of the joints typically develop over an extended period of time, however in some cases may also appear suddenly.
What are the most common types of arthritis?
The three most common types of arthritis would be:
1. Osteoarthritis
When your joints are overused, you may suffer from osteoarthritis. While this usually happens with age, it can also be a result of injuries to the joint or from obesity, which stresses your joints.
Osteoarthritis happens in joints that bear weight, and results in cartilage, the material that covers the ends of bones, breaking down.
This damaged cartilage will then make movement uncomfortable as the surfaces of the bones rub together.
2. Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disorder and occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body’s tissues.
Unlike osteoarthritis, which results in wear-and-tear damage, RA affects the linings of your joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually result in bone deformity.
3. Gout
Gout is a very common form of inflammatory arthritis and usually affects one joint at a time. Most people with gout experience pain with the joint at the big toe. Symptoms include swelling, heat and intense pain.
Gout can be managed with medication and certain self-management strategies.
What Causes Arthritis?
As there are many different types of arthritis, there can also be different causes. Some of the common causes are:
Genetics
Unhealthy body weight
Joint injuries or overuse
Smoking
How can we prevent arthritis?
While there are certain factors beyond one’s control, those suffering from arthritis or looking to prevent arthritis should:
• Maintain a healthy weight
Studies have shown that people with a higher body weight are 4+ times more likely to suffer from osteoarthritis than those of moderate weight.
• Exercise regularly
Regular exercise can strengthen the muscles around the joints and hence protect them from wear and tear.
• Avoid injuries
People who play high impact sports can damage their cartilage and cause it to wear out more quickly. A good way to minimize injuries is to always warm up adequately before engaging in sporting activity.
• Get adequate nutrition from your diet
Certain foods (like turmeric) are beneficial for reducing inflammation in the body and can help those suffering from arthritis.
Foods and Supplements to Manage Arthritis
While there are different ways for those suffering from arthritis to manage their pain, a healthy diet with the right kinds of foods can definitely go a long way.
1. Fatty fish
Fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel and trout are chocked full of omega-3 fatty acids, which studies have shown to have anti-inflammatory effects.
In addition, fish are a great source of vitamin D, which could help one control the symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
2. Garlic
Not only does garlic taste good, but it is also full of health benefits. In addition to helping fight off the risk of heart disease and dementia, garlic has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects and may decrease the symptoms of arthritis. Adding garlic to your diet will definitely help boost your overall health and combat the effects of arthritis.
3. Ginger
Ginger is used in many dishes, and it is well-known to have a host of health benefits. Studies in ginger extract consumption have shown remarkable improvements for participants suffering from knee pain. Research has shown that ginger can block the production of substances that promote inflammation in the body.
4. Turmeric
Turmeric is a spice that is popular in Ayurvedic medicine, and studies have shown that there is good evidence of the health benefits of its active ingredient. Curcumin (the active ingredient in turmeric) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and is frequently used as a supplement by arthritis sufferers.
What Are Supplements?
Supplements can be any kind of vitamin, minerals, herbs, botanicals, and amino acids that you can eat or drink.
The main function of supplements is to supplement one’s existing nutrition. While vitamins and tablets can help one’s health, they are not meant to take the place of a healthy and nutritious diet and lifestyle.
That being said, taking the right supplements with a nutritious and well balanced diet can provide a host of health benefits.
Turmeric As A Supplement
A published research study has compared the effectiveness of the active ingredient in turmeric to that of an anti-inflammatory drug called diclofenac.
In this study, scientists found that 2 groups given curcumin and diclofenac respectively, experienced significant pain relief.
The conclusion was that curcumin is a good alternative treatment for those adverse to or intolerant to the side effects of anti-inflammatory drugs.
Used extensively in South Asian foods and Ayurvedic medicine, curcumin has been widely used for its many health benefits.
Top 3 Anti-Arthritis Supplements
In our search for the best ingredients and supplements, we have researched and tested supplements in various form factors, namely: softgels, capsules, edibles, and drinks. After extensive work done, we have narrowed down the selection to the top 3 supplements with the best arthritis management properties and ingredients.
The overall comprehensive arthritis management supplement, in our view, is The Purest Co's Ginseng Turmeric Superjuice, given the high quality clinically-tested ingredients used, and also its superior bio-absorption liquid delivery form.
We here at Superfood Reviews have done the research to find out what the best option for arthritis management supplements in the market is. We have graded each choice through a stringent grading based on the following criteria:
Our evaluation criteria:
PROS
Potent formulation with 250mg of industry-leading Curcugen™ turmeric extract
Contains complementary ingredients such as BioPerine® and also Ginseng extract
Made in an FDA and HACCP certified facility in Taiwan
No unnecessary additives or fillers
30-day risk free satisfaction guarantee
Highly rated for customer experience
Free express delivery on all local orders
CONS
Only available online
Regularly out of stock due to high demand
BOTTOMLINE
Your best option for incorporating turmeric into your diet on a daily basis is to look for a ready-to-consume product, like The Purest Co’s Ginseng Turmeric Superjuice, which comes packaged in daily sachets for fuss-free consumption. In addition to high quality Curcugen™ Turmeric extract (50mg per serving), this Superjuice is also formulated with ginseng (200mg per serving) and black pepper BioPerine (discussed below)—all three of which have been linked to a reduction in LDL cholesterol levels.
The Purest Co’s Ginseng Turmeric Superjuice, which contains 250mg of Turmeric Curcugen per serving, is one of the best turmeric extracts on the market because its formulation is 39-times bioavailability enhanced, which means your body will be absorbing more curcumin than other turmeric supplements. Moreover, the three main key ingredients of this Superjuice (ginseng, turmeric, and black pepper) all complement each other and work synergistically to enhance each other’s efficacy (more on this below).
The Purest Co’s Ginseng Turmeric Superjuice utilizes BioPerine in its formulation, and enhances the beneficial effects of piperine by formulating it with turmeric (curcumin) and ginseng. BioPerine works especially well with these latter two ingredients because it enhances their efficacy by 16-20x by increasing your body’s absorption of curcumin and ginseng. Indeed, studies have suggested that taking piperine in conjunction with curcumin can increase curcumin’s bioavailability by up to 2000%.
PROS
Affordable option
No unnecessary additives and fillers
Contains 500mg Turmeric Root
CONS
Pill format offers less bioavailability than liquids
No presence of complementary ingredients, especially BioPerine®
BOTTOMLINE
Curcumin Phytosome by Thorne is a good option from a brand that is well known in the country for affordable options. Each pill contains 500mg of industry standard turmeric extract, and while not as potent as my first choice, this still provides a good option for consumers.
Their formula has no unnecessary additives, but also omits certain complementary ingredients such as BioPerine®, which would help enhance the benefits of the product. I feel that overall, the Curcumin Phytosome by Thorne is a good no-frills choice for a consumer who wants an industry standard turmeric extract in pill form.
PROS
Non-GMO
No unnecessary fillers
Gluten-free and vegan-friendly
CONS
No presence of complementary ingredients, especially BioPerine®
Gummy format offers less bioavailability than liquids
BOTTOMLINE
Nordic Naturals is widely available online to purchase. Their product only contains 200mg of turmeric extract, which is low. As turmeric extract is the focal point of these supplements, this option will not be as beneficial as other choices with higher quantities of turmeric extract.
Additionally, there is no presence of BioPerine® , which is an ingredient that can help increase bioavailability by 20x.
That being said, this option is an affordable one and may be for customers who are looking to try a turmeric extract before moving onto higher quality options.
Outlook
To sum up, turmeric is a good alternative that can help alleviate arthritis pain and doesn’t produce adverse side effects. There are several studies backing up turmeric’s anti-inflammatory relief and it may even be more effective than some anti-inflammatory drugs. Additionally, we have found that The Purest Co’s Ginseng Turmeric Superjuice is the best supplement in the market at this time.
In addition to enhancing turmeric’s therapeutic properties, this product's excellent list of ingredients also includes Black Pepper BioPerine® that would maximize turmeric’s benefits and enhance the bioavailability and increase the effectiveness of all important active components up to 20x.
That being said, these supplements are merely suggestions. Consult your doctor for more information regarding the right way to manage your arthritis.
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