Joints play a crucial role in our body’s mobility and movements. They are the connections between bones that allow us to bend, flex, and perform various activities. A healthy joint is characterized by smooth movement, flexibility, and pain-free range of motion. The best joint supplements will assist with these main actions.
To maintain optimal joint health, it is crucial to adopt a proactive approach. This includes maintaining a healthy weight to reduce stress on the joints, engaging in regular exercise to strengthen supporting muscles, and ensuring proper nutrition to nourish joint tissues.
These are the top 8 joint supplement ingredients or aids to assist in helping your joints to heal and function better while you are working on your wellness. The best joint supplements will have many of these ingredients.
1.Chondroitin Sulfate
What is it and what does it do ?
Chondroitin sulfate is a natural component found in the cartilage around joints. It plays a crucial role in maintaining joint health by contributing to the structure and function of cartilage tissue. It attracts and retains water within the cartilage, which helps its elasticity and shock-absorbing properties. It has been known to help reduce pain, improve joint mobility, and slow the progression of joint damage from conditions like osteoarthritis.
How is it sourced?
Chondroitin sulfate is a naturally occurring compound found in the cartilage of our joints. It is usually sourced from bovine cartilage (cows), porcine cartilage (pigs) and shark cartilage.
2. Boswellia Extract
What is it and what does it do?
Boswellia extract, also known as Boswellia serrata or Indian frankincense, is derived from the resin of the Boswellia tree. It has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for centuries and is known for its potential health benefits. It has been studied and shown to help with reducing inflammation, alleviating joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, and has antioxidant properties. The primary active compounds in Boswellia extract are boswellic acids, which are believed to contribute to its therapeutic effects.
How is it sourced?
It is tapped from the Boswellia tree as a resin, ground into a powder or made into a paste or oil, and is also known as frankinsence or frankincense oil. The trees are mostly found in northern Africa, India, Oman, and Yemen.
3.Vitamin D
What is it and what does it do for you?
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin meaning it is absorbed and transported in a manner like a fat molecule, they can be stored in your liver and in your fat cells when it’s not needed. It plays a key role and is unique because your body can produce it when your skin absorbs sunlight. Vitamin D is needed for proper calcium and phosphorus absorption to support healthy and strong bones. It is also important for supporting a strong immune system, regulating moods, and for your cardiovascular system.
How is it sourced?
The most common sources for Vitamin D supplements are fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, also cod and liver oil. You can also get extra Vitamin D from mushrooms, egg yolks, and milk.
4. Turmeric
What is it and what does it do for you?
It is a bright yellow spice derived from the Curcuma longa plant, and has been used for centuries in traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. It contains a bioactive compound called curcumin, which is responsible for many of its potential health benefits. Benefits like reducing inflammation, reducing joint pain and stiffness, improving digestion, alleviating bloating and gas, supporting brain health and cognitive function, as well as it is an antioxidant to neutralize harmful free radicals in the body.
How is it sourced?
Turmeric is harvested, cleaned, and then processed to extract the curcumin. It is then concentrated and encapsulated to a specific concentration, so that it can be easily incorporated without needing to consume large quantities of turmeric spice.
5. Glucosamine
What is it and what does it do for you?
Glucosamine sulfate is a compound naturally found in the cartilage of our joints. There are many amazing benefits of taking Glucosamine. It helps with joint health support (as it helps form and repair cartilage), Osteoarthritis relief (as it reduces joint pain, stiffness, and inflammation), cartilage protection (it slows the breakdown of cartilage tissue), and is an anti-inflammatory.
How is it sourced?
The most common source is from shellfish shells like shrimp, crab, and lobster. The process is extracting and purifying the glucosamine from the chitin (a fibrous substance that forms the major component in the exoskeleton)that is present in the shells. The vegetarian or vegan supplement form is often from fungal sources like Aspergillus niger.
6. Collagen
What is it and what does it do for you?
Collagen in a vital protein that serves as a building block for connective tissues like your skin, bones, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. It is like the glue that holds these structures together making them strong, elastic, and structurally supportive. As you get older, the collagen production tends to slow down which leads to wrinkles, joint stiffness, and weakened cartilage.
How is it sourced?
The most common way that collagen is sourced is from animal connective tissues. It is extracted and broken down to obtain collagen peptides. Most supplements will specify the source as coming from cows, pics, or fish. There are also vegan and vegetarian sources that are plant based that will support collagen production in the body rather than providing collagen directly.
7. Fish Oil
What is it and what does it do?
Fish oil is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), which have a crucial role in supporting cardiovascular health and brain function. Omega-3s are known to reduce inflammation, promote heart health by lowering cholesterol levels and blood pressure, cognitive function, memory, and mood regulation. Because it has been shown to lower inflammation, it has been one of the many top choices for joint supplements.
How is it sourced?
It is most commonly sourced from fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines. The vegan and vegetarian options (for omega-3’s)are usually sourced from algae, flaxseed oil, chia seeds, help seeds, and walnuts.
8. MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane)
What is it and what does it do?
MSM is a naturally occurring sulfur compound found in various foods. It helps with joint health and improves exercise recovery by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in the joints. It also helps with skin, hair and nail health by helping to produce keratin and supporting collagen production.
How is it sourced?
The most common way MSM is sourced is through a synthetic process that involves the reaction of dimethyl sulfoxide (an organic solvent that is a byproduct of wood pulping) with hydrogen peroxide resulting in the formation of MSM. This allows a purified and consistent form for supplement use. It is also obtained naturally through fruits, vegetables, and grains (the amounts are relatively lower).
When it comes to your joint health, giving yourself a bit of a boost is always a good thing. I would recommend always reading your labels if you are choosing a supplement.
The top 8 foods that will help you with your joint health.
Fatty fish - salmon, mackerel, trout
Nuts and Seeds - Walnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds
Berries - blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries
Dark leafy greens - kale, spinach, other dark leafy greens
Broccoli
Turmeric
Ginger
Oranges and other citrus fruits
If you need some ideas on how to incorporate these ingredients, here are 5 recipes to get your creative cooking going.
1. Salmon and Berry Salad:
Ingredients:
Grilled or baked salmon filets
Mixed berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries)
Mixed greens (spinach, kale, arugula)
Walnuts or almonds (chopped)
Olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette
Instructions:
Cook the salmon filets until done.
Toss mixed greens with berries and chopped nuts.
Place salmon on top.
Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette.
2. Omega-3 Smoothie Bowl:
Ingredients:
Frozen mixed berries
Chia seeds
Flaxseeds
Almond milk
Banana
Walnuts or almonds (for topping)
Instructions:
Blend frozen berries, chia seeds, flaxseeds, and almond milk.
Pour into a bowl.
Top with sliced banana and chopped nuts.
3. Turmeric-Ginger Vegetable Stir-Fry:
Ingredients:
Mixed vegetables (broccoli, bell peppers, snap peas)
Tofu or chicken breast (cubed)
Turmeric and ginger (fresh or ground)
Soy sauce
Brown rice or quinoa
Instructions:
Sauté tofu or chicken in a pan.
Add mixed vegetables and stir-fry.
Sprinkle turmeric and ginger.
Add soy sauce for flavor.
Serve over brown rice or quinoa.
4. Citrus-Marinated Grilled Chicken:
Ingredients:
Chicken breast
Orange and lemon juice
Garlic (minced)
Olive oil
Mixed herbs (rosemary, thyme)
Instructions:
Mix orange and lemon juice, minced garlic, olive oil, and herbs.
Marinate chicken in the mixture.
Grill until fully cooked.
Serve with a side of steamed broccoli or asparagus.
5. Kale and Orange Salad with Ginger Dressing:
Ingredients:
Kale (chopped)
Orange slices
Avocado (sliced)
Almonds (sliced)
Dressing: Olive oil, grated ginger, lemon juice
Instructions:
Massage kale with a bit of olive oil.
Toss in orange slices, avocado, and sliced almonds.
Mix olive oil, grated ginger, and lemon juice for the dressing.
Drizzle dressing over the salad.
What is the best joint supplement? There are so many to choose from. No matter which one you choose be sure to read the label.
If you are looking for a supplement that has most of these top 8 joint health supplement ingredients give Flex Champ a look. Out of these 8 listed above Flex Champ has 4 of them. (Glucosmine Sulfate, Boswellia Extract, Turmeric, and MSM) The other ingredients Flex Champ contains are Chondrotin Sulfate, Quercetin, Methionine, and Bromelain. Flex Champ will help with joint pain, stiffness, and swelling. Lower inflammation, encourage cartilage repair and growth, and encourage flexibility and mobility.
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