Joints take more wear and tear than any other part of the body; without proper care, the joints can lose lubrication and become stiff and painful.

Arthritis and joint disease comes in many forms, including the exceedingly prevalent osteoarthritis, which can be worsened by various environmental and dietary factors.

Let’s review some joint supplements that can help protect your joints from damage as well as help relieve various joint complaints. These supplements should be combined with regular low-impact exercises and a healthy diet.

Cat’s Claw – An anti-inflammatory that also helps reduce water retention.

Chondroitin Sulfate – An important component of cartilage, chondroitin helps with joint lubrication, producing healthy cartilage and blocking certain enzymes that are responsible for breaking down cartilage over time.

Boron – Required for building healthy joints and bones. Small amounts have been shown to improve Osteoarthritis symptoms.

Sulfur – Available in foods such as garlic, asparagus and onions, sulfur is an essential nutrient for repairing and rebuilding connective tissues, cartilage, bones, even hair. Insufficient sulfur in the body can affect the body’s ability to repair joint damage. In commercial supplements, MSM is often used as a source of sulfur.

Ginger – Helps reduce muscular discomfort; studies have shown improvement in osteoarthritis symptoms in test subjects.

Histidine is an amino acid which helps remove excess trace metals from the body. While iron and copper are required for good healthy, many people with arthritis have tested with high amounts of these metals. Grains such as wheat, rice and rye are good sources of histidine.

Bromelain has been found to reduce inflammation, which can help with stiff and swollen joints. This is an enzyme found in fresh pineapple (not found in canned, frozen or cooked pineapple).

Glucosamine HCI – In clinical studies glucosamine has shown significant benefits for the reduction of pain and inflammation of the joints and is a very popular supplement for relieving the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

These natural supplements, amongst others, can help reduce your chances of joint problems by protecting the tissues and fluids in the joints, as well as by reducing inflammation and friction pain in afflicted joints.

Many joint supplements such as Exomine – Phosoplex - and Flexprotex are now available on the market.