If you're suffering from the pain and inflammation of arthritis and are looking for an alternative to harsh chemical drugs and their side effects, you may be wondering which natural arthritis supplements are most effective. Do any of them really work?

The good news is that there are a number of natural remedies for arthritis that have proven to be very effective at alleviating the condition. The successful treatment of arthritis has two components. The first is the reduction of inflammation, and the second is improving the condition of the joints and cartilage. Therefore, the best supplements will have ingredients that focus on these two factors.

Green lipped mussel extract is a remarkable natural arthritis supplement that has had excellent results in curing Grade I and II arthritis, which hasn't led to major loss of articular cartridge. What's noteworthy about it is that it contains a rare type of Omega-3 fatty acid called Eicosatetraenoic Acid (ETA) and it's also high in glycosaminoglycans.

The ETA in green lipped mussel extract has been proven to be more effective than the Omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil in fighting inflammation. The way it does this is, amongst other things, by inhibiting the production of inflammatory compounds in the body.

Glycosaminoglycans are found in joint cartilage, joint fluid, connective tissue and skin. They're made from an amino sugar called glucosamine. Providing the body with additional glycosaminoglycans gives it the "building blocks" that it needs to improve and repair joint cartilage and fluid.

Many people find that green lipped mussel extract is enough to provide them with substantial relief from the symptoms of arthritis. Others have even better results from taking both green lipped mussel extract and fish oil together.

Fish oil contains the most nutritionally important Omega-3 fatty acids, which also have anti-inflammatory capabilities. However, what you'll discover is that the oil of some fish has higher anti-inflammatory properties than others. If your arthritis is more severe, you may want to take additional supplements.

Two other nutrients that help the joints are glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate. Both play a role in the preservation and rebuilding of joint tissues, and stimulation of cartilage cells. A rarer ingredient is SAMe (S-adenosyl-methionine), which has been shown to aid the production of cartilage. In one clinical trial, it was proven to be superior to ibuprofen in the treatment osteoarthritis.

Of course, the key is finding supplements that contain all these ingredients and are of a high quality. Unfortunately, there are vast differences in the quality of natural arthritis supplements on the market, so much research is needed.

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