How to Reduce Joint Pain with Daily Supplements

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By Glyn Sheridan
eHow Contributing Writer

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(7 Ratings)

Ease joint pain with supplements.

Millions of Americans suffer from some form of joint pain. Injury to joints when a person is young or a degenerative disease, such as osteoarthritis, results in painful joints and increased physical disability can result in joint pain. Along with prescription medications used to reduce inflammation and relieve pain, starting on a program of daily supplements may increase joint health.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Step 1

Enjoy dairy foods and add a daily calcium supplement, increasing your intake to the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for calcium to at least 1000mg. If the level of calcium in your body is too low, your body will pull calcium from your bones, leaving your joints weak and prone to developing arthritis.
Step 2

Increase your daily intake of Vitamin C to help your body resist the depletion of collagen in your joints. In addition, calcium taken with Vitamin C may reduce joint pain. However, a non-acidic form of Vitamin C, such as calcium ascorbate, performed better in studies than did acid based varieties.
Step 3

Raise your allotment of Vitamin B6 to 50mg per day to encourage the healing process in joints due to nerve damage. A favorite supplement of athletes, B6 is popular for lessening joint pain and decreasing the amount of time needed for a muscle to recover from stress. Coaches regularly recommend Vitamin B6 to their athletes who suffer from joint pain.
Step 4

Combine glucosamine and chondroitin to slow the progression of arthritis and reduce painful joint inflammation. More effective when taken together, each supplement supports the role of the other in the reproduction of cartilage and the protection of joint lubrication.
Step 5

Spice up your diet with the herb, turmeric. Popular in Middle Eastern dishes, turmeric is a relative of the ginger family and may alleviate mild joint pain and inflammation. Ayurveda medicine, originating in India, uses turmeric supplements regularly in the treatment of joint and bone conditions.
Step 6

Take a Vitamin D supplement if you don’t get out in the sun as often as you’d like. Sunshine is still the best source of absorbable Vitamin D but it also carries the risk of excessive sun exposure for your skin. Add 400 IU of Vitamin D to your daily routine and the cartilage in your joints will benefit.