Sunday November 29, 2009
Sulphur your joints
There are ways to minimise the pain of joint diseases.
ALL over the world, millions of people have conditions that affect joints. Because people are living longer, conditions like osteoarthritis have a great impact on costs of care and quality of life. Joint diseases account for more than half of all chronic conditions in the elderly.
The word arthritis literally means “joint inflammation” – that is, a joint that is painful, warm to the touch, possibly red, swollen, and associated with a loss of function. “Osteo” is Greek for “bone”. Arthritis is not a single ailment. In fact, more than 100 different conditions can affect the joints and their adjacent bones, muscles, and tissues.
The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in our joints deteriorates over time as part of wear-and-tear. Its impact is significant. This can happen due to:
·Prolonged “wear-and-tear” as we age
·Prior injury or damage to the joint from trauma or infection
·Cartilage that is altered by other disease or is genetically weak
Healthy cartilage is extremely strong and flexible and allows the joints to move smoothly and painlessly, but in osteoarthritis, the cartilage is damaged and gradually wears away.
The process of wear continues with time until little or no cartilage is left in the affected joint causing bone to grind against bone. Your joints may even make creaking sounds. The resulting pain and stiffness is typical of advanced osteoarthritis.
There are certain nutrients that can help support joints. Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is an organic form of sulphur. In fact, sulphur is so essential to life that it is found everywhere, in every cell in every plant and animal. And, although it is available in the foods we eat, such as meats, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products, most of it is lost in the processing of food, so supplementation with a good source of MSM could be potentially very beneficial.
Many amino acids, the building blocks of protein, have sulphur as a component. Taurine is a sulphur-containing amino acid formed from methionine. Taurine stabilises cell membranes. Methionine contains sulphur, detoxifies cells, and is involved in pain relief. Carnitine comes from methionine and transports long chain fatty acids, preventing accumulations of lipoproteins. Many B-complex vitamins interact with or contain sulphur. Sulphur is needed for insulin production.
Sulphur has also been called nature’s “beauty mineral” because it is needed to keep the hair glossy and smooth and keeps the complexion clear and youthful.
Sulphur supports healthy joints and connective tissues by:
·strengthening connective tissues that make up the joint
·reducing stiffness and swelling
·improving joint flexibility
·reducing pain associated with arthritis
Other benefits of sulphur include improving the suppleness of skin and shininess of hair and nails, which also become less prone to cracking and splitting.
The Arthritis Foundation of America recommends starting with a low dosage of 500mg twice a day and increasing gradually to 1,000mg twice a day. After starting MSM, allow a reasonable amount of time to notice any benefits.
Glucosamine is a natural compound that is found in healthy cartilage. Glucosamine is a normal constituent of glycosaminoglycans in cartilage matrix and synovial fluid. This molecule is used in the formation and repair of cartilage.
Chondroitin is the most abundant glycosaminoglycan in cartilage and is responsible for the resiliency of cartilage. It acts as a “water magnet”. The ability of chondroitin to hold water gives rigidity to the cartilage and also acts as a “shock absorber”.
It is well known that, combined with the regenerative capabilities of glucosamine and chondroitin, MSM is proving to be a substantial component in the treatment of arthritis and other degenerative joint diseases. This synergistic three-in-one combination is now recognised as fundamental to any anti-arthritic treatment regimen.
This article is courtesy of Pahang Pharmacy. For more information, e-mail starhealth@thestar.com.my. The information provided is for educational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.
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