The Best Natural Supplements For Knee Pain
May 12, 2021
Whether your knee pain has only just been diagnosed as osteoarthritis, or you’ve been living with osteoarthritis in one or both of your knee joints for a while, you’ll already know that you need to follow a comprehensive, holistic approach to keep your pain under control.
While many doctors will often advise you on various pain medications you can take to reduce the pain and swelling in your knee, many people may not be able to take the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that doctors tend to prescribe. Sometimes, osteoarthritis patients may find that these NSAIDs don’t fully relieve their pain, and they need the extra support offered by supplements. Others may want to treat their osteoarthritis in a fully natural way because they don’t want to risk the side effects that NSAIDs can cause. Studies suggest that NSAIDs are far more dangerous than people realize. One such study on the dangers of NSAIDs said "Some estimates suggest that each year more than 100,000 patients are hospitalized for NSAID-related GI complications alone, with direct costs ranging from $1800 to $8500 per patient per hospitalization. Moreover, it has been reported that 16,500 persons die annually from these complications."
Perhaps it's time to consider some different, better and safer options for knee pain.
So, without any further ado, let’s take a look at the best natural supplements you can take for your knee pain.
Omega-3 supplements are often marketed for improving joint health, and you’ll be pleased to know that multiple studies have found that omega-3 supplements do have a pain-relieving effect for people with osteoarthritis.
In a published metastudy, participants who took omega-3 supplements for 3-4 months reported less joint pain, a lowered duration of morning stiffness, and took fewer NSAIDs to reduce their pain when compared with their original pain levels.
Thankfully, it’s not difficult to supplement your diet with additional omega-3 fatty acids. Cold-water fatty fish, like salmon, herring, tuna, and sardines are a great dietary source, as well as nuts, seeds, and plant oils. To make things easier, however, you can also purchase omega-3 tablets to make sure you’re getting a good daily dose.
Magnesium is one of the most important minerals in your diet, as it supports hundreds of different functions from the function of your nervous system to healthy bone function. Because of this, studies have found that a deficiency of magnesium in your diet has been linked to osteoarthritis and other joint conditions.
While taking magnesium won’t necessarily improve your pain levels, studies show that increased magnesium levels can reduce your risk of fracture, particularly for people with osteoarthritis in the knee joint/s.
You can either take a magnesium supplement, or you can add more magnesium-rich foods into your diet. Leafy greens like chard, spinach, and sprouts are full of magnesium. If you prefer fruit, bananas and avocados are also great sources of magnesium.
Vitamin D is vital for a healthy immune system, which is a big reason why it’s a great supplement to take for osteoarthritis and joint pain caused by inflammation. With studies showing that vitamin D deficiencies have been linked to reduced cartilage thickness and osteoarthritis, it’s important to get enough of this vitamin in your diet.
In addition, there’s also some evidence to suggest that taking vitamin D supplements can alleviate pain from osteoarthritis in individuals who have low vitamin D levels.
To get more vitamin D, we recommend spending 15-20 minutes in the sun each day, as your skin converts sunlight into vitamin D3.
To add vitamin D to your diet, we recommend eating wild-caught salmon, beef liver, mushrooms, or grass-fed sources of dairy. You can also take a vitamin D supplement if you’re struggling to add enough sources of vitamin D into your diet.
Collagen is a vital protein. It’s key to maintaining joint and muscular health, and your body will naturally produce this protein in response to any muscular injury. In addition to collagen healing your joints and ligaments, it also produces vital fatty acids that act as shock absorbers around your joints.
Because of this, taking a collagen supplement has been shown to improve pain and functioning for people with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
To get more collagen in your diet, we recommend eating chicken, fish, and shellfish as a primary source of collagen. Egg whites also contain amino acids that are vital for collagen production. If you can’t or don’t eat animal products, then citrus fruits, berries, and tomatoes are a great source of vitamin C, which is also needed for collagen production.
You can also purchase collagen supplements that you can either take in tablet form or drink in a similar way to other protein shakes.
Curcuminoids are biologically active compounds found in turmeric that have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-microbial properties. Curcumin is the main compound, and recent studies have shown that it can reduce pain and improve the quality of life for people with osteoarthritis.
Taking a turmeric supplement is the best way to get enough curcumin into your diet for it to have an effect. You can also easily add turmeric into your diet as a source of flavor or drink it in a smoothie.
If you’ve been frantically searching “Chiropractor near me” or “best Chiropractor in Meridian Idaho”, then you’ve come to the right place. At Align Integrated Medical, we’re experts in helping osteoarthritis sufferers relieve their pain and improve their quality of life through chiropractic sessions and holistic health advice.
So, if you’re not sure what supplements you need to take for your knee pain and you want some expert advice, our Chiropractor in Meridian, Idaho can help. We can advise you on supplement dosage and recommend the best supplements for your knee pain, as well as design a holistic treatment plan that helps improve your knee functioning.
When you need a Meridian Chiropractor, we’re here to help. Simply get in touch with our friendly team, and we’ll be happy to help you find a treatment plan that helps you get moving again.
