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How Does Glucosamine Work?

Most of the research done on glucosamine looked specifically at the benefits of glucosamine sulfate, the natural chemical found in the human body. Researchers believe that using glucosamine supplements or obtaining it from natural sources like bone broth increases the amount of cartilage and fluid that surrounds our joints. This helps prevent joint breakdown and reduces pain.

Glucosamine is an aminosaccharide that helps create cartilage from compounds called aggrecan and proteoglycans. Since joint deterioration and loss of cartilage are common osteoarthritis triggers, you can see why glucosamine’s cartilage-building properties are important ways to naturally ease symptoms of the condition.

There’s no current recommended daily dosage for glucosamine, but most people do best when taking 500 milligrams to 1500 milligrams daily, whether alone or in combination with other supplements (like sulfate, omega-3s or MSM supplements). Studies show this dosage range helps:

lower inflammation and help reverse autoimmune reactions
preserve joint health
reduce joint pain and tenderness
protect and repair gut lining
fight irritation to the stomach, bladder and intestines
treat inflammatory bowel disease and leaky gut syndrome
rebuild tissue and stronger bones following fractures or injuries
Remember, the most commonly recommended form of glucosamine is glucosamine sulfate. The “sulfate” seems to play an important part in joint health because it helps the body produce cartilage. Glucosamine sulfate seems to provide more of an impact compared to the other forms of glucosamine, including glucosamine hydrochloride or N-acetyl glucosamine.

Ginkgo extract has proven benefits to elderly people. This ancient herb acts to enhance oxygen utilization and thus improves memory, concentration, and other mental faculties. The herbal extract has also been shown to significantly improve long-distance vision and may reverse damage to the retina of the eye. Studies have also confirmed its value in the treatment of depression in elderly people. The ginkgo extract may provide relief for those who suffer from headaches, sinusitis, and vertigo. It may also help relieve chronic ringing in the ears known as tinnitus.

Reduce retinal damage
In studies, Ginkgo biloba has been reported as demonstrating antioxidant abilities with improvements of the platelet and nerve cell functions and blood flow to the nervous system and brain. It has also been reported as reducing blood viscosity. Its ability to increase vascular dilation may help reduce retinal damage due to macular degradation and may reverse deafness caused by reduced blood flow.

Healing properties
Recently, extensive research on the herb has been conducted on the healing properties of the leaf extract. Germany and France have run literally hundreds of studies on the leaf extract. These studies along with similar studies in America, have shown significant results. The extract of ginkgo biloba has been studied for its effectiveness in the treatment of acrocyanosis, Alzheimer's disease, cerebral atherosclerosis, cerebral insufficiencies, cochlear deafness, dementia, depression, menopause, peripheral and cerebral circulatory stimulation, peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud's syndrome, retinopathy, senility, short-term memory loss, tinnitus, vascular diseases, and vertigo.

It is said to be effective in improving the blood flow to the hands and the feet as well as stimulating the brain and reducing short-term memory loss. It increases blood flow to the brain, the uptake of glucose by brain cells, and has been said to improve the transmission of nerve signals.

Depression
Patients suffering from varying degrees of vascular insufficiency also noted an improvement in mood while taking ginkgo biloba extract. This has prompted a surge of interest in its use as a treatment for depression, especially in the elderly. Many people have found GBE to enhance other depression treatments and to often even prevent the need for pharmaceutical treatments in mild cases of depression. Those under the age of fifty may also benefit from ginkgo biloba's antidepressant effects. So far though, the greatest level of improvement has been noted with older patients.

Antioxidant Properties
Although oxygen is essential for life, it can have adverse effects on your body. Unstable oxygen molecules can often be created during our body's normal break down and use of oxygen or can form in response to external factors and pollutants. These unstable molecules, called free radicals, can damage cells and structures within cells. If the genetic material in cells is affected and not repaired, it can replicate in new cells, contributing to cancer and other health problems. These free radicals may also weaken artery walls, allowing fatty deposits that can lead to hear disease. As an antioxidant, ginkgo biloba combats free radicals and repairs molecular damage. A great deal of research suggests that antioxidants such as GBE may play important roles in preventing or delaying heart disease, cancer and other ills. Antioxidants may even halt the damage to cells, thereby slowing the effects of aging.

Overview

Seal oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have an array of benefits for human beings. A deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet can lead to heart and cardiovascular disease and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Seal oil omega-3's include EPA, DHA and DPA, much like fish oil, but humans can metabolize seal oil more efficiently.


DHA
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n-3)

DHA is generally associated with neurological and ocular health benefits and benefits to the nervous system. Many experts recommend an increased intake of DHA for expectant and nursing mothers as well as infants because of their obvious benefits.

DHA is recognized as a physiologically essential nutrient in the brain and retina and is therefore needed for neuronal functioning and visual acuteness. Even Health Canada has recognized the benefits of DHA, which has led to the addition of regulated, restricted amounts of DHA in various foods such as eggs, milk, cheese, bread, etc.

omega-3 molecule
EPA
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5 n-3)

EPA has many health benefits for the heart and cardiovascular system. An increased intake of EPA is generally associated with a lower risk of primary and secondary heart attack rates, death from cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality.

In one study, higher EPA levels in blood serum phospholipids resulted in a 70% lower risk of fatal ischemic heart disease. This means more EPA is beneficial in people with documented coronary heart diseases, especially those with risk factors for sudden cardiac death

DPA
Docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, 22:5 n-3)

Found only in marine sources of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids.

DPA is often overlooked as a significant component of long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids. This is primarily because most Omega-3 studies are conducted using fish or fish oil that contain only small amounts of DPA. Relatively few studies have been done using seal oil with its much higher content of DPA. DPA works with EPA and DHA to provide health benefits to the heart and to mothers and children.

Studies have shown that DPA has health benefits for the heart. Population studies show that higher levels of DPA result in lower rates of coronary heart disease risks. In addition, while EPA is known for its cardiovascular benefits, DPA is said to be ten times more effective than EPA in healing damaged blood vessels.

Borage Oil is a little known secret for keeping your skin healthy. It is a natural oil that not only restores moisture and smoothness to dry and damaged skin but can also provide relief to people who suffer from chronic skin disorders such as eczema and atopic dermatitis.

What is Borage Oil?

Borage, (Borago Officianalis) is a wildflower commonly called the starflower. It is a relatively large plant (1.5 ft tall) with star shaped bright blue flowers and it is found wild in almost all parts of the world. It is a well known herb that has been recognized and used for over 1500 years. The Roman historian Pliny writes of the virtues of Borage and it is suspected that Borage leaves, steeped in wine, was the mysterious Nepenthe elixer that Homer writes of which causes absolute forgetfullnes when drunk. In the middle ages Borage leaves were commonly brewed into a medicinal tea.

However today the borage plant is grown and harvested not for its leaves and stems but rather for the very valuable oil found in its seeds- Borage Oil. The great value of this oil is that it is the richest known source (24%) of an essential fatty acid called gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA).

Borage Oil in your Diet and on your Skin.

Several recent studies indicate that Borage Oil taken orally increases PG1 levels in the skin and suppresses chronic inflamation. Evidence from animal studies indicates that skin disorders associated with fatty acid inbalances can be corrected through dietery inclusion of Borage oil. Similar research with humans have confirmed these findings. In fact, a recent study has shown that dietary supplamentation of Borage Oil for patients with skin disorders can result in direct improvement in the condition of their skin.

Not only is Borage Oil excellent for your skin when taken internally but there is also more than enough evidence showing that when applied topically to your skin Borage Oil has the same positive effects on clearing up various skin disorders.

A very interesting experiment measured the effects of skin creams containing Borage oil on dry or damaged skin. Twenty healthy subjects who had either dry, but otherwise normal skin, or else had surfactant induced dry, scaly skin were tested over 14 days. Results indicated that the cream containing the Borage Oil was superior in restoring moisture and smoothness to both the dry skin as well as the surfactant damaged skin. This experiment was interpreted as strong evidence for the role that Borage Oil plays in restoring the intracellular moisture barrier of adult skin that is either chronically dry or has been environmentally damaged .