Nutrition Questions and Answers
Vital Health Zone is proud to announce Lesa Rusher, who is our resident naturopathic expert and who is available to answer questions about nutrition and health.
Lesa Rusher is a qualified naturopath with a thriving business in Canberra, Australia and has a wealth of experience treating clients on a variety of health issues. Lesa Rusher's full credentials can be found in our experts area.
Lesa Rusher will answer your nutrition-related questions.
Q: I am in my 60's and recent x-rays have shown an arthritic right hip.
How can I best prevent this from further deterioration and what supplements can help to repair cartridge?
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A:The two main and best supplements recommended by doctors and alternative health practitioners alike for arthritis, are chondroitin and glucosamine. Chondroitin is a component of carriage, while glucosamine plays an important role in cartilage formation and repair.
The chondroitin and glucosamine supplements are available in chemists (pharmacies) and health food stores (and even some supermarkets). Try a good brand. Most of the arthritis supplementation includes both chondroitin and glucosamine together in the one tablet.
Another supplement that may help with the pain of arthritis is the essential fatty acid - Omega 3 supplements. Omega 3 may ease the pain of joint inflammation, as well as assisting with better blood flow to all areas of the body.
A good all-round multi-vitamin could be a good idea to start too.
There are some foods which can exacerbate the pain and inflammation of arthritis - some people do better not eating food from the nightshade family (potato, eggplant, tomato, peppers, capsicum), others do better reducing their level of protein from animal sources, while yet others do better avoiding dairy. You should try to monitor how you feel when you eat certain types of foods to try to help you get a better outcome.
Make sure you talk to you doctor before you start taking any type of supplement, to ensure it does not impact on any other medication you are taking, or any other condition you may have.
Always follow the dosage instructions on the supplement label and do not take more than is recommended.
Please note that the information provided is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or treat medical conditions. Consult with your medical physician regarding appropriateness of using supplements in your healing process.
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