Are Glucosamine Side Effects Serious?

Glucosamine side effects have been closely monitored, as it has become one of the most popular alternative arthritis treatments on the market.

What is glucosamine and how does it treat arthritis?

Glucosamine is a carbohydrate, or complex sugar, that is found naturally in the body. It is used to form cartilage, which is the protective tissue in your joints which connects the bones.

As we get older, our bodies lose the ability to produce enough glucosamine, which can lead to break down of cartilage, and eventurally osteoarthritis.

Therefore, many people supplement glucosamine, which is derived from the chitin of shellfish, to treat arthritic joint pain and slow the progression of arthritis.

What are glucosamine side effects?

Glucosamine is considered relatively safe when taken in recommended dosages. However, some glucosamine side effects can occur.

Since glucosamine is derived from shellfish, those with shellfish allergies may experience glucosamine side effects.

Increased dosages may cause the following: nausea, stomach pain, heartburn, diarrhea, gastrointestinal upset and soft stool.

Glucosamine side effects may include an increase in insulin resistance, so those with diabetes should take added precaution.

Many glucosamine products contain a companion supplement called condroitin, which acts to promote cartilage elasticity. Therefore many of the glucosamine chondroitin side effects are similar.

Is glucosamine the best option for treating arthritis?

Glucosamine is a good option for the treatment of arthritis, and certainly appears to be much safer than ibuprofen, aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs in the long run. All of these medications have very damaging side effects.

However, due to its popularity there are many different glucosamine products out there. A lot of them are very low quality, and contain too little glucosamine condroitin to have therapeutic benefits. Many of these products contain chondroitin, which is a very expensive cow cartilage extract. As such many experts question the quality and quantity of chondroitin in these products.

Therefore, you must make sure you are getting a high quality glucosamine product, not only to avoid glucosamine chondroitin side effects but to get the arthritis treatment benefits.

Other Natural Treatments for Arthritis

In addition to glucosamine, there are other natural treatments which have also been shown to help treat the symptoms of arthritis. Many of these ingredients are in the more effective glucosamine products, others are effective on their own.

Omega 3 Fish Oils - the essential fatty acids EPA and DHA found in cold water fish have been shown to be essential for cartilage maintenance and repair.

MSM - a naturally occurring sulfur compound that acts as an anti-inflammatory, and therefore may shrink swelling offering relief to arthritis sufferers.

Manganese - an important antioxidant nutrient that helps facilitate enzymes and slow the aging process, useful in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Niacinamide - also known as Vitamin B3, it helps maintain the integrity of cells and tissues, slowing the progression of arthritis.

Turmeric and Ginger Extract - two powerful anti-inflammatory herbal extracts that have been shown to be more effective than anti-inflammatory drugs in treating the debilitating symptoms of arthritis.

Featured Arthritis Treatment

If you are concerned about possible glucosamine side effects or the quality of glucosamine products on the market, then you might want to take a supplement that contains the nutrients we mention above.

We have found a high quality arthritis treatment that contains glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, manganese, niacinamide, turmeric and ginger extract, as well other important vitamins, minerals and nutrients for overall health and well-being.

The product is called Not Just Joints and it can provide significant arthritis pain relief as well as reduce inflammation and swelling. Take a look at this natural arthritis treatment and decide if you would like to try it as an alternative to controversial pharmaceutical medications such as Vioxx and Celebrex. As with all health supplements, please consult your physician or qualified medical professional before taking any supplement to treat the symptoms of arthritis or to avoid the possible side effects of glucosamine.

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