You Can Still Take Glucosamine for Your Arthritis Even If You Are Vegetarian
Glucosamine is an amino sugar which is naturally produced in the body and is mostly found in the joints. It is necessary for the production of synovial fluid which lubricates the joints. As we get older we manufacture less of this compound and some people get osteoarthritis which is an excruciatingly painful condition in which the joints swell and mobility is decreased. Glucosamine supplements are available, either extracted from the shells of shellfish or a vegetarian glucosamine which is manufactured from plants.
Although the liquid glucosamine which is extracted from shellfish is very good, people who are either vegan or vegetarian, or have a shellfish allergy cannot take it, so there are now other are other alternatives available. Vegetarian glucosamine with hydrochloride is touted to also help with keeping the skin, bones, eyes, heart valves, nails and blood vessels healthy.
According to the manufacturers of vegetarian glucosamine, this derivative contains more pure glucosamine than the normal variations which contain sulphate. There are various schools of thought as to which one is best, but according to the manufacturers they all relieve the pain and although more studies have been done on the glucosamine derived from shellfish, vegetarians say the vegetarian ones work as well.
One of the vegetarian glucosamine supplements is derived from a fungus called aspergillus niger which is a fungus. Whereas shellfish glucosamine is a glucosamine sulphate because it is derived from animal, the aspergillus niger supplement is a glucosamine hydrochloride. Although the GAIT study, which was one of the largest studies done, was done on glucosamine hydrochloride, it was an animal derivative. Aspergillus niger has been used in various supplements especially dietary supplements since the 1920s.
Most animal glucosamines contain a synergistic supplement called Chondroitin, which is derived from either a shark's cartilage, or another animal's cartilage. Vegetarian glucosamine is often mixed with MSM, which is a very bitter natural substance which occurs in various primitive plants and is very effective in treating arthritis. Methylsulfonylmethane is a sulphur mineral and a natural painkiller. Manufacturers of this supplement claim that methylsulfonylmethane's anti-inflammatory properties block inflammation while stimulating the body's natural cortisol.
There is yet another vegetarian glucosamine which comes in the form of a gel formula and which the manufacturers claim is safe for everyone to take, including children and pregnant and lactating women. The formula is produced from nineteen fruits and the acai berry, which is said to be the most nutritious power food in the world. The acai berry is a berry on which those living in the Amazon can live on as their only food source. The acai used in this tonic is certified organic.
The last type of vegetarian glucosamine that I am going to discuss is one that is derived from non-genetically modified corn and was created by an orthopaedic surgeon, a team of health professionals and nutritional chemists. The glucosamine ingredients are derived from fruit, and it is a maximum-strength vegetarian/vegan liquid glucosamine with chondroitin and MSM. It also has Type II collagen and vitamins C and D added. An added bonus is that this supplement tastes great