Glucosamine

Synthesized by the body, glucosamine is an amino sugar found in connecting tissues, tendons, cartilage, and bones. Glucosamine natural source uses are building synovial fluids, reducing arthritis pain, and repairing damaged cartilage. It is important in the formation of parts of the heart, nails, ligaments, tendons, bones, and skin. Used to treat osteoarthritis and other types of arthritis, glucosamine helps reduce inflammation, stimulates cartilage production, and helps to delay further arthritis damage. Glucosamine helps skin remain healthy and the body needs glucosamine to produce hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is the substance the body uses to heal wounds and incisions quickly. Other uses for glucosamine include removing skin blemishes, uneven discoloring, dark spots, and unwanted pigments. Glucosamine is necessary for mucous formation lining the respiratory, digestive and urinary tracts. Glucosamine is available as liquid glucosamine, glucosamine pain relief gel, capsules, and tablets.

People often take glucosamine with other supplements including:

• Glucosamine chondroitin
  
• Glucosamine sulfate
  
• Glucosamine HCL
  
• Glucosamine MSM
  

Taking glucosamine and chondroitin together is far more effective than taking one or the other as chondroitin decreases your cartilage breakdown while glucosamine aides in rebuilding cartilage. Studies show that long-term therapy is necessary for optimal therapeutic results. The combination of glucosamine chondroitin is show to be extremely effective in treating arthritis, especially osteoarthritis. Although preliminary studies show chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate is well tolerated and safe, some people experience mild side effects of glucosamine chondroitin such as diarrhea, nausea, and gastrointestinal upset.

Glucosamine sulphate helps repair cartilage damage wear and tear when the glucosamine sulphate is absorbed into the body. Glucosamine sulphate is glucosamine stabilized with either potassium chloride or sodium chloride mineral salt. Some studies show that taken orally, glucosamine sulphate counteracts and improves inflammation, joint degeneration and many common osteoarthritis symptoms. These studies also show that for long-term use, glucosamine sulfate is safe to treat osteoarthritis. People on potassium-restricted diets or take certain diuretics should not take glucosamine sulfate. If you have allergies to shellfish, you could have an allergic reaction to glucosamine. In addition, do not use glucosamine sulfate if you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or have diabetes. Always talk to your physician first. The side effects of glucosamine sulfate and glucosamine side effects are very similar. These include abdominal bloating, mild nausea, constipation, diarrhea and heartburn. For people with diabetes, it could affect their blood sugar levels.