Q. Dear Terry, “I’m noticing more joint stiffness when I get up in the morning. My knees crack more frequently and it seems to take my joints more time to “warm up” before I can get up and move. I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis several years back and after losing some weight the majority of my joint issues went away. What can I do to help with the joint stiffness?”– Earl S., Rogers, AR

A. Dear Earl, Osteoarthritis is also called “wear-and-tear” arthritis and tends to affect the weight-bearing joints, like the knees. Over time, the cartilage between our joints becomes worn away or damaged. Cartilage is one of the body’s primary shock absorbers. Found on the ends of bones, cartilage helps to keep our joints flexible, comfortable, and mobile. Unfortunately, cartilage has a relatively poor blood supply, so damage can take weeks to months, or longer, to heal.

One of my favorite nutrients for supporting and healing cartilage is rosehips. Rosehips are deep red, nutrient dense fruits that grow from the flowers of roses. Rosehips decrease the production of inflammatory compounds that can damage the joints and degrade cartilage. In clinical work on a specific type of rosehip extract, nearly 75 percent of the participants reported arthritis symptom relief. This specific rosehip extract is stabilized with type I collagen, which has its own health benefits.

Type II collagen is another beneficial ingredient that is found primarily in the cushioning cartilage between the joints to help provide strength and flexibility. With wear and tear over time, this type of collagen is broken down and can become attacked by the immune system.

I recommend a 500 mg combination of rosehips peel extract and type I collagen, plus 20 mg of type II collagen, twice per day.

When it comes to supporting more of the building blocks of the joints, I prefer a combination of hyaluronic acid, type II collagen, glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin sulfate, and boswellia. Hyaluronic acid is a required component of collagen, cartilage, and joint fluid. It helps nourish the shock-absorbing cushions in the joints, which keeps them lubricated for flexibility, minimizing pain, and staying more mobile. Type II collagen is very important for joint health and has been shown to relieve joint pain, swelling, and tenderness. Glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate are two of the best-known raw materials your body uses to build and maintain strong, flexible joints. Both glucosamine and chondroitin strengthen cartilage, reduce inflammation and pain, and chondroitin strengthens the bones involved in our joints. Boswellia stops pain and inflammatory damage that wears away at the cartilage and bone in your joints.

I recommend 1,740 mg of glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin sulfate, and a hyaluronic acid complex (containing hyaluronic acid, polysaccharides, and collagen), plus 450 mg of boswellia, and 40.5 mg of type II collagen per day.

Please be patient, as these ingredients may take several weeks or months to really make an impact on joint structure.

Healthy Regards!

Terry . . . Naturally