Chiropractors Dale City VA

Glucosamine Benefits

Almost everyone has dealt with a joint injury once in their lives.  The problem with joint injuries is the ligaments and joint capsule can heal but damage to the hyaline cartilage may not.  This can lead to early degenerative changes of the injured joint.  Glucosamine can help repair the damage to the joint cartilage.  As your chiropractor in the Woodbridge, Dale City VA I want to share some information on how glucosamine can help.

This is a good video but you can buy any brand.

  1. Helps Improve Joint Health & Osteoarthritis

Glucosamine is one of the best supplements for supporting joint health and lowering symptoms related to degenerative disorders like osteoarthritis. Aging naturally impacts the strength and durability of our joints, normally causing cartilage loss and joint pain over time. It doesn’t improve symptoms 100 percent of the time, but compared to many other supplements like chondroitin, glucosmine consistently rank as one of the most effective for treating arthritis discomfort.

Glucosamine slows down deterioration of joints when used long-term, plus it offers other benefits that prescription painkillers cannot (such as lowering chronic inflammation and improving digestive health). The results of taking glucosamine differ from person to person, but some long-term users often report pain relief that allows them to avoid surgeries and lower or eliminate medication use.

Osteoarthritis is a disorder characterized by ongoing joint pain caused from years of accumulating pressure and friction places on joints. It’s the most common type of arthritis worldwide, effecting millions of people (especially older adults). Glucosamine is one of the top supplements I recommend as part of a natural treatment approach for managing arthritis with diet and lifestyle changes.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease, so it becomes harder to move over the years as joint friction increases. Studies show that taking about 800 to 1500 milligrams of glucosamine daily can help millions of people suffering from degenerative joint diseases, preventing further damage, especially in commonly effected joints such as those in the knees and hips.  It has been shown to help offer relief from joint pain within 4–8 weeks, which might be longer than some prescriptions or over-the-counter pain killers, but it’s also a more natural and well-tolerated approach.

Glucosamine, whether used alone or in combination with other supplements like chondroitin, is not a “cure all” and guaranteed to help everyone, but major studies have found it can help many, especially those impacted most by arthritis. The Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT), which is considered the most comprehensive trial ever done involving glucosamine, found that the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate used for 8 weeks resulted in significant relief in the majority of study participants who had high amounts of joint pain. Many experienced improvements regarding their moderate-to-severe knee pains, although not all did (including those with milder pains).

 

  1. Improves Digestion & Eases Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Glucosamine is a helpful supplement for improving digestive function and repairing the lining of the GI tract. It’s even been shown to be an effective leaky gut supplement, combating a condition sometimes called “intestinal permeability.” This condition involves undigested food particles and proteins (like gluten, toxins and microbes) passing into the bloodstream through tiny openings in the lining of the GI tract.

Once these particles enter the bloodstream, they often trigger inflammation or initiate or worsen immune responses in the body. These include food sensitivities, arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases. Glucosamine supplements, or naturally glucosamine-rich bone broth, help repair damaged tissue and lower inflammation related to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a set of conditions that are notoriously painful and hard to treat. The supplement may also help repair the lining of the bladder and stomach and intestines.

In 2000, researchers from the University Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology at University College School of Medicine found that glucosamine was an effective, inexpensive and nontoxic supplement used for treating chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Children affected by inflammatory bowel disease tend to have lower levels of glucosamine in the body. Interestingly, N-acetyl supplementation (GlcNAc) offered a mode of action distinct from conventional treatments, resulting in lower symptoms in 75 percent of patients.

The researchers found evidence of significant improvements in the majority of patients using glucosamine, even those who were unresponsive to other anti-inflammatory medications and antibiotics. Results showed improved integrity of the GI tract and restoration of healthy epithelial cell structures that helped stop gut permeability.

 

  1. Can Help Relieve TMJ Symptoms

TMJ (a disorder related to the temporo-manibular joint in the jaw) is common in young to middle-aged adults and characterized by frequent jaw and neck pains, headaches and trouble sleeping. TMJ affects the joint that connects the jaw to the skull and allows for the head to move up and down, or side to side, normally without pain.

As the TMJ joint becomes inflamed and worn down, pain worsens. This makes it harder to talk, eat and function normally. Studies suggest glucosamine helps ease TMJ symptoms and pain in people with arthritis that effects the jaw. The pain relief is on par with taking NSAID pain relievers can (such as ibuprofen or Advil).  Taking 500 to 1500 milligrams of glucosamine daily for several months or years may help you sleep better, chew and heal while lowering inflammation in the jaw long-term.

 

  1. Helps Alleviate Bone Pain

 

Many people with bone pain, low bone density and a history of fractures can benefit from taking glucosamine, which assists bone healing. This is especially true if they also have joint pains or a form of arthritis. Some evidence suggests that glucosamine helps preserve articular cartilage surrounding bones, decreases pain, increases physical function, and enhances activities in people with bone disorders or those who are at most at risk for bone loss (such as middle-aged and older women).

A 2013 study by the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology at Haseki Training and Research Hospital in Turkey found that glucosamine helped speed up the time it took rats to heal from bone fractures. Those researchers found that new bone formation and osteoblast lining were significantly higher in glucosamine-treated rats compared to those in control groups. After 4 weeks of taking 230 milligrams of glucosamine sulfate daily, the rats’ connective tissue surrounding bones were more cellular and vascular, and the newly formed bones that were previously fractured were stronger compared to controls.

 

+scottdoroski3122/posts

+doroskichiropractic3122/posts

 

Doroski Chiropractic Neurology

3122 Golansky Blvd, Ste 102

Woodbridge VA 22192

703 730 9588

Map Link

Core Basics

We hear it everywhere we turn with regards to low back pain.  You need to strengthen your core!  That is true but it needs to be done properly.  It used to be strengthen your abs and your back will be more stable.  So off to the ab roller everyone went.  This type of training can actually make your low back weaker.  Not to bore you with details but every time you contract your abs your brain sends a message to your low back to relax.  If your low back didn’t relax you would be able to do a crunch.  The same way when I contract my biceps to bend my elbow my brain tells my triceps to relax.  Doing tons of ab exercises makes your brain tell your low back to relax.  So, you need to train your abs and low back in coordination with each other.  Your Woodbridge, Dale City VA Chiropractor has a few easy core exercises to help you start.

Basic Core Exercises for Beginners

Supermans

Easy to learn and perform, Supermans strengthen the often-neglected lower back, a common source of pain. They also provide a great full-body stretch to finish up your workout.

Lie with stomach on ground, arms extended overhead and legs straight

Raise arms and legs as high as possible and hold for five to 10 seconds; keep arms straight and core tight

Slowly lower and repeat for specified reps

Sets/Reps: 3-4×20

 

Bird Dogs

Assume all-fours position with back flat; look straight ahead

Slowly raise right arm and left leg and hold for five to 10 seconds; keep core right

Slowly lower and perform on opposite site

Repeat for specified reps

Sets/Reps: 3-4×20 each side

 

Planks

Assume plank position with elbows under shoulders, back flat and eyes focused on ground

Keep core tight and hold position for specified time

Sets/Duration: 3-4×60-120 seconds

 

+scottdoroski3122/posts

+doroskichiropractic3122/posts

 

Doroski Chiropractic Neurology

3122 Golansky Blvd, Ste 102

Woodbridge VA 22192

703 730 9588

Map Link

Post workout drinks

After a long hard workout some type of electrolyte drink seems like a good idea.  Especially since every gym you can go to know has a huge refrigerator full of them by the door.  But there are other ways to get the electrolytes you need without all the extra stuff in those drinks.  Your Woodbridge, Dale City VA Chiropractor has a few alternative ways to get those electrolytes.

These types of drinks contain a lot of sugar, which slows down the rate at which water enters the blood. Sports drinks typically contain genetically modified organism, or GMO, ingredients as well as artificial food coloring dyes derived from petroleum and coal tar and linked to serious health problems like cancer and hyperactivity, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

So what are electrolytes? Electrolytes are made of essential minerals sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, phosphate and sulfate. During intense exercise, sodium and potassium are sweated out the most.

The best way to replace electrolytes is through real food. Instead of reaching for a sports drink, try one of these four electrolyte options that are good for your health and the earth.

Chia Seeds

Chia seeds contain nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, omega-3s, iron, fiber, protein and vitamin C to name a few. In liquid they expand around 9 to 12 times their size, leaving you feeling full and with sustained energy.

To make your own electrolyte drink add a tablespoon of organic chia seeds, 1 teaspoon of raw honey and a little fresh squeezed organic lemon or lime juice to your reusable water bottle. (You can also add a heavy dash of Celtic sea salt.)

Kale

Yes, kale contains electrolytes. (Just another reason why kale is so amazing). Kale is a super food meaning that it’s loaded with essential nutrients and minerals that are needed for the body to function—and run, bike, swim, and workout—well. After your training routine, make a kale smoothie. You won’t even taste the kale.

To make: Combine a hearty handful of organic kale, fresh organic fruits, ice, organic coconut water, organic maca powder and Manitoba Hemp Hearts in a blender. Mix until creamy.

Coconut

Coconut water is a natural way to replenish what you lost during your workout. Coconut water is high in potassium, an essential electrolyte. Try the Harmless Harvest or Whole Foods Market 365 brand coconut water.

Fruits and Veggies

Celery, apple, beet, banana, oranges and sweet potatoes all have electrolytes. Eat these natural sources of electrolytes daily (make sure they’re organic) and your body will thank you for giving it essential minerals and vitamins the healthy way.

 

+scottdoroski3122/posts

+doroskichiropractic3122/posts

 

Doroski Chiropractic Neurology

3122 Golansky Blvd, Ste 102

Woodbridge VA 22192

703 730 9588

Map Link