HEALTH NEWS

by Lynne Gully

        April 2006

Joint and Connective Tissue Health

It has long been known that arthritis is one of the biggest causes of disability in the UK, affecting people of all ages, in particular older people. There is a huge need for a good approach to either avoiding or improving problems that occur in the musculo-skeletal system. Examples include sports injuries, frozen shoulder, lower back pain, tennis elbow, tendonitis, bursitis, housemaid’s knee, rheumatic type aches, joint pains, stiffness and soreness, and arthritis.

The most direct way to help these conditions is to alleviate inflammation and stiffness at the same time. This approach calls for nutrients that are specifically used by structural tissues, bone, muscle, cartilage, tendons etc., not just with any one single nutrient but with several nutrients used together.

Conventional Treatment

The conventional medical treatment for arthritis has been nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which include medications such as aspirin, Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen and Naproxen as well as prescription drugs. NSAIDs are used to reduce pain associated with osteoarthritis. However, like most pharmaceutical treatments, they do not address the underlying causes. NSAIDs also have a history of significant side effects:

·         Blood pressure changes, irregular heartbeat, depression, ulcers, stomach bleeding, muscle weakness, indigestion, kidney and liver failure.

In fact, gastrointestinal complications caused by NSAIDs result in more than 100,000 hospitalisations.

The Diet Connection

Food allergies are much more common than you think. In fact, almost one in three people suffer from allergies and among arthritis sufferers the incidence of allergies is likely to be much higher. Most allergic responses are inflammatory and can bring on pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints and muscles. Allergies to food are increasingly common. The most common offenders are dairy products and wheat. A possible reason is that your immune system is malnourished and will over-react to harmless substances. Allergies are therefore much more likely to develop in people who have a weakened immune system.

The average person eats between 100g and 200g of wheat every day, in the form of bread, cakes, pasta, pizza and cereals. Wheat contains a gastrointestinal irritant called gluten and is Britain’s number one allergen. Other grains like rye, barley and oats also contain gluten and these can cause an allergic reaction in some people. According to research, grains are the most common allergen in rheumatoid arthritis. According to Dr Nadya Coates, a specialist in grain allergy, gluten is an intestinal irritant, with wheat being the most toxic of all grains.

If you have any joint pain or stiffness or other symptoms such as abdominal bloating, flatulence, constipation, diarrhoea, sweating, tiredness, skin rashes, acne and boils, migraine, depression or anxiety then a trial period off wheat and possibly all grains containing gluten is strongly recommended.

Animal proteins, particularly pork, beef and eggs, have also been noted to produce a worsening of arthritic symptoms. One study followed 27 patients who were placed on a vegan, gluten-free diet for 3 ½ months. They gradually moved to a vegetarian diet to include some dairy and eggs. The participants had remarkable improvements during the initial period and were still showing benefit one year later.

Some arthritis sufferers seem to benefit from the exclusion of foods in the nightshade family, which includes tomatoes, potatoes, aubergines, peppers and tobacco. This regime was made popular by Childers, a horticulturist, who found that this simple exclusion cured his arthritis.

Other suspect foods include peanuts, oranges, grapefruit, malt and coffee. The best method is to avoid suspect foods for at least twenty days, starting with wheat and see how you feel.

If you want copies of any previous newsletters you can visit my website at www.optimumhealth.co.uk

Contact Lynne at lynne.gully@optimumhealth.co.uk or tel: 0030 28920 42356

Nutrients For Joint and

Connective Tissue Health

EverFlex – the ‘four-in-one’ product for joints.

This is a comprehensive nutritional supplement for healthy joints and connective tissues using 4 key natural ingredients. EverFlex is formulated to help reduce pain and inflammation and improve joint mobility, while also providing important nutrients that serve as the building blocks for joint cartilage.

Two tablets of EverFlex provides:

·         Glucosamine hydrochloride (800mg)

·         Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) (800mg)

·         Chondroitin sulphate (200mg)

·         Devil’s Claw root (100mg)

Detailed Information About the Four Ingredients

Glucosamine

Most glucosamine supplements use glucosamine sulphate. Nature’s Sunshine uses glucosamine hydrochloride as it has a 99% purity compared to only 74% in glucosamine sulphate and the level of activity is 50% more.

Studies show that glucosamine supplementation improves joint mobility and helps relieve pain, swelling and other symptoms of arthritis. Recent research suggests that glucosamine may actually slow the progression of osteoarthritis. A clinical trial compared glucosamine head-to-head with ibuprofen. Pain scores decreased more quickly in the ibuprofen group but by the fourth week the glucosamine group was doing significantly better than the Ibuprofen group.

MSM

This is a naturally occurring source of organic sulphur and is found in every cell of the body with the highest concentrations in the joints, nails, hair and skin. MSM is utilised in the production of connective tissue, including cartilage. A double-blind study involving 16 patients with degenerative arthritis showed that those who took MSM daily for 6 weeks experienced an 80% reduction in pain, while patients given the placebo reported only a 20% reduction in pain.

Chondroitin Sulphate

This is a major component of joint cartilage and it draws and maintains fluids within the cartilage. These fluids provide ‘shock absorption’ for surrounding bones and supply essential nutrients that protect cartilage from being destroyed and encourage cartilage growth. Chondroitin improves joint function and mobility and reduces pain and inflammation. In fact, the pain-relieving effects of chondroitin have been shown to be equal to those of anti-inflammatory drugs after only one month of use. Studies have found that chondroitin can slow the progression of osteoarthritis, indicating that it may actually protect joints from damage.

Devil’s Claw

This herb has been shown to be an effective anti-inflammatory agent in both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Clinical studies show devil’s claw reduces pain and improves motility and range of motion.

EverFlex Tablets – stock no 925

EverFlex Cream - a topical analgesic pain relief cream with MSM that is easily absorbed through the skin to relieve muscle and joint pain. – Stock no 3535

Other Supplements for Joint Health

·        MSM – this is also available as an individual product. The results obtained with MSM include the relief of back-pain, tendonitis, fibromyalgia and arthritic pain. Even more impressive are the accounts of effects upon the malfunctioning immune system, especially in allergies and asthma and the reports that MSM greatly alleviates autoimmune diseases – those diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma, where the immune system attacks the patient’s own body organs. It also has very favourable effects upon skin, hair and nails and increases energy in the body. Stock no 4059

·        Colloidal Minerals – a liquid mineral supplement that contains a full range of minerals essential for bone and joint health. It contains silicon, which is required for the proper development of cartilage in joints and connective tissues. It also contains boron, which encourages the deposition of calcium in the bones, strengthening them and helping to prevent osteoporosis. Boron has been shown to help alleviate rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Stock no 4037

·        SKL Formula – this is a formula for skeletal strength and contains vitamins, minerals and herbs needed by the body for building healthy bones, ligaments, muscles and tendons. SKL also enhances the health and vitality of the hair, nails and skin tissue and provides digestive aids to ensure absorption of its vital nutrients. SKL has been used for arthritis, broken bones, fractures, osteoporosis and for achieving adequate calcium intake during pregnancy and nursing. SKL contains the minerals boron, calcium, magnesium and manganese in a base of horsetail herb (an excellent source of silicon), liquorice root, papaya fruit, parsley, pineapple (a source of bromelain which is a powerful anti-inflammatory), and valerian root. This formula also contains Betaine HCI, which is needed for protein digestion. Insufficient HCI can lead to anaemia and osteoporosis. Stock no 1806.

·         Mega Chel is a mega-nutrient supplement containing vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and herbs designed to improve circulation, help clear arteries, reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and provide essential nutrients for joint and bone health. Take daily as your high potency multivitamin and mineral supplement. – Stock no 1821.

·         Omega-3 fish oil capsules - these fats are essential for joint health. There have been a number of clinical trials assessing the benefits of omega 3 supplementation in several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, lupus, migraine, multiple sclerosis and psoriasis - Stock no 1609.

To order Nature’s Sunshine Products – call the Order Hot Line on 08458 40 50 60 or the main telephone line on 01952 671600.