Glucosamine Chondroitin

Glucosamine Chondroitin

You'll often find glucosamine combined with chondroitin and with MSM as well. Let's take a look at what this glucosamine chondroitin combination, or the glucosamine chondroitin MSM combination, can accomplish for our aching joints.

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are substances found naturally in the body. Glucosamine is an amino sugar that researchers have found to be effective in the repair of bone cartilage. Chondroitin, part of a molecule of protein, offers elasticity to cartilages.  Glucosamine and chondroitin both are sold either as dietary supplements or nutritional supplements. They are animal tissue extracts. Glucosamin comes from shellfish - lobster, crab or shrimp - while chondroitin is a product of animal cartridge, the most common being shark or tracheas cartilage.

Methul Sulfonyl Methane, or MSM as it's more commonly known, is occasionally referred to as organic sulfur as well. You may have heard it referred to as DMSO, which stands for di methyl sulfonyl oxygen.

MSM helps to relieve joint and muscle pain and inflammation in several ways. Not only does it block pain impulses by preventing their movements along C fibers within the body's nerves, but they carry the message that the body is experiencingt pain from the area realizing the damage to the brain.

MSM can also help reduce a body's pain by the reduction of inflammation and the blockage of that pain message to the brain. MSM can also greatly reduce  inflammation. This inflammation, the cause of pressure on the nerves and other body tissue, can make the pain considerably worse. MSM instead encourages the flow of blood and thus the healing. MSM also helps reduce muscle spasms that are almost inevitable if you have damage to your musculoskeletal system.

Before you decide on which glucosamine, chondroitin and/or MSM brand and combination you are going to buy, keep in mind that you must choose wisely and read all labels. Neither nutritional nor dietary supplements are subject to the regulatory guidelines of the U.S. FDA. You must police them yourself.

The best ways to do this are to opt for glucosamine chondroitin and MSM products that are products of well known and reputable manufacturers. Make sure you read all the ingredients listed on all labels and avoid glucosamine sulfates that are high in salt content. Should you still be unsure of a wise choice ask for the assistance of the pharmacist on duty. Make sure you talk to your doctor before you start taking glucosamine with chondroitin and MSM. Do not substitute glucosamine with chondroitin for your prescribed medicines without a doctor's okay.

Most importantly, don't assume you have an arthritis problem until you know for sure. If you're treating the wrong ailment, you may endanger yourself by ignoring what is really the cause of your pain or discomfort.

Although ideally you would do best to ask a physician to recommend the dosage, the standard glucosamine dose is 1500 milligrams, while chondroitin daily dosage is about 1200 milligrams.