Fall’s here and so is the colder, damper weather.  For my patients and readers with arthritis that means increased joint aches and pains.  It also often means the inability to stay as active as you’d like too.  That’s why I want to tell you about a tiny seafood that’s research proven to knock out arthritis pain.  It even helps rebuild joints.

The Tiny Seafood Supplement with Huge Arthritis Benefits

The native Maori Indian peoples have lived in coastline communities in New Zealand for centuries.  Not long ago medical researchers started to study them because of their almost non-existent levels of arthritis or other destructive bone disease.  What they found has become an amazing boon to people all over the world suffering from arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.

You see, the Maori’s diet has always contained a high amount of a tiny seafood with a big name of perna canaliculus.   In common terms, that’s green lipped mussel or GLM for short.   This family of seafood grows in abundant colonies in the warm ocean waters off New Zealand’s coastline.

GLM are often found attached to submerged boat ropes and chains or other sunken structures and are particularly easy to harvest.  That’s why they’ve always been such a big staple of the Maori’s diet.

Initially, medical researchers searching for an alternative cancer treatment started looking to natural seafoods for a possible answer.  When they looked at the green-lipped sea mussel, they found that the oil they contained was very high in Omega-3 fatty acids – a known powerful anti-inflammatory also present in other seafood.  They also found that GLM contained high amounts of glucosamine and chondroitin – the very nutrients that have been research proven to strengthen joints and fight arthritis.

When they learned that this mussel was a staple of the Maori’s diet, a culture that had almost no arthritis or other bone disorders, they realized they had found a potent arthritis treatment instead. Not long after, a study published in the monthly journal of the Association of Physicians revealed that four trials of GLM in treating osteoarthritis were found to be beneficial in relieving symptoms.

Here’s why green lipped mussel is so helpful to arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis:

•  High in Omega-3 fatty acids.  GLM contains high levels of anti-inflammatory Omega-3 fatty acids just like salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring, etc.  Not only do these fatty acids turn off the joint inflammation that occurs in arthritis, they’ve also been research proven to turn down these fires throughout your entire body. Researchers have also found Omega-3’s to be beneficial in preventing/treating Alzheimer disease, heart disease, diabetes, and a whole host of other conditions, even depression.  They also lower dangerous blood fats (triglycerides) a big factor in heart disease.

• Glucosamine.  Nature gave us glucosamine to protect our joints from wear and tear.  It’s naturally present in the cartilage and ligaments that support your joints, keep them aligned, and moving correctly.  But glucosamine starts to decrease as you get older and joint structures can start to break down.  Joints can start to fall out of their proper place, bone starts to rub against bone, and inflammation, pain and stiffness can develop.  Glucosamine supplements add back what your joints naturally had and GLM is rich in glucosamine.

• Chondroitin.  Nature also gave you chondroitin to keep your joints moving correctly.  It’s the main component of cartilage.  Like glucosamine, chondroitin also breaks down as you get older.  As a result, there’s less cushioning within your joints.  Structures rub against each other creating inflammation and pain.  Pretty soon, you don’t feel like moving much anymore.  GLM is also rich in chondroitin.

But, you live far from New Zealand and a fresh seafood market, right?  How can you reap the health benefits of green lipped mussels? You can simply take GLM in supplement form.  Take at least 500 mg taken 3 times a day with meals for all forms of arthritis.  But, you can safely double that dose as well.  If you’re allergic to shellfish, GLM will likely not be for you.

Like fish oil, taking GLM can cause a little nausea.  To avoid that, take it with food and a little Vitamin C or orange juice.  The ascorbic acid in vitamin C helps break down GLM’s oils so they’re better tolerated.

Summary

I know too well the pain, stiffness, and inactivity my arthritis patients (and readers) experience in the fall and winter months.  Staying active and being able to exercise is a large part of staying healthy as you get older.  Yes, there are prescription, and over-the-counter, drugs to treat these conditions but they can come with some pretty steep side effects.  I’d rather steer my patients away from them when I can.

When there’s an alternative out there like GLM, that can offer some real relief, I want to make sure you know about it.  With faithful use, GLM can help you stay active this fall and winter.  It will help dial down inflammation and the pain, stiffness, and side-lined activity that comes with it. And it doesn’t hurt that GLM also comes with heart, brain and mood benefits too!

Stay Well,
Mark Bromson, M.D.

Systematic Review of the Nutritional Supplement Perna Canaliculus, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18222988

Green Lipped Mussels, http://naturesupplies.co.uk/green-lipped-mussels