Newly emerging research on why joints degenerate points to a new cause:  impaired blood flow to the affected joints. Yes, joints have their own vascular tissue. When this tissue gets blocked with tiny clots or fat droplets, pockets of bone die off and stop replenishing cartilage and joint fluids. In the extreme, a joint with too much dead tissue will lose enough cartilage that the only option is an artificial joint replacement. This dire situation can be prevented by keeping the bone’s vascular tissue healthy and full-flowing.

Beware of Osteoporosis Drugs

By the way, osteoporosis drugs such as Fosamax and Boniva work by inhibiting the recycling of old bone cells. Old bone cells are supposed to die off and be replaced by new bone cells on a regular schedule. Long term use of drugs that interrupt this recycling process builds up so much dead bone tissue that bones weaken and fracture more easily. Clinical research shows that after five years of using these types of drugs, the incidence of hip fractures goes up. These drugs are clearly not the answer for good joint health.

Natural Approaches to Joint Health

The best strategies for good joint health address the causes of inflammation, which leads to vascular decay and bone death, and the issues of blood coagulation, blood clotting, and blood fat content. Your particular strategy will depend on your diet and exercise and on the supplements that you already take on a daily basis. The most important supplements will include a combination of systemic enzymes such as serrapeptase and nattokinase, joint support herbal extracts such as shea nut, and vitamin E. In my research on these ingredients, the best products that I have found are the systemic enzyme formula by Trevinol and the enhanced shea nut extract in the FlexNow Joint Formula. Both of these products are backed by solid scientific research and provide additional support in many health areas besides joint health.

Special Note on Vitamin E

Regarding vitamin E, many excellent products are available. My recommendation is merely to be sure that whatever product you choose is all natural, since synthetic vitamin E is only 50% as effective as natural vitamin E. Research on the appropriate dose for a strong anti-inflammatory response from vitamin E shows that 1600 I.U. daily is best, which is 400% of the recommended Daily Value.

Taking care of the vascular tissue and inflammation in your bones is the most important consideration for good joint health.

All the best in natural health,

Dr. D