Are you one of the 30 million adults with joint concerns?Roughly 1 out of every 5 adults in the US has concerns about joint comfort. These concerns increase with age and tend to be more prevalent in women than men.1These concerns increase with age and tend to be more prevalent in women than men.1 Additional risk factors include joint injury or overuse, occupational exposure, genetics, and obesity. Occasional joint flare-ups can also occur in otherwise healthy adults in response to exercise.It is important to perform joint-friendly exercises and maintain a healthy weight in order to help take care of your joints.Joint Health: The BasicsA joint is the area where two bones and their respective connective tissues come together. With there being 206 bones in the adult body, you can imagine there are also a lot of joints. Some of these joints are fixed in place or only offer slight movement such as where the bones of the pelvis have fused together.However, the most common type of joints in the body are movable joints. There are many types of synovial joints and their structure dictates their type of movement. The ball-and-socket joint of the shoulder allows rotation in many directions whereas the hinge joint of the elbow bends and straightens the arm in one direction.Getting to Know GlucosamineGlucosamine is a compound found in nearly all human tissues, especially connective tissue. The highest concentrations of glucosamine in the human body are found in cartilage.2 It is especially good for anyone seeking supplemental ingredients found within joints and connective tissue.Glucosamine is one of the most well known joint supplements and is available in many different forms including glucosamine sulfate and glucosamine hydrochloride.

Chondroitin

Chondroitin sulfate is a naturally-occurring nutrient found in various types of connective tissue such as cartilage, bone, ligaments and tendons. The structure of chondroitin sulfate causes it to attract water which is good news for your joints.

Much like many structures in the body, cartilage is continuously being broken down and replaced by new cartilage. Chondroitin works with enzymes involved in this process to promote a healthy balance. Chondroitin is a compound naturally found in cartilage, synovial fluid and connective tissue.

MSM

Is it a vitamin, a mineral, or something else? MSM is a nonvitamin, nonmineral dietary supplement – Meaning it is not essential for survival, but consuming MSM offers auxiliary support.

MSM stands for methylsulfonylmethane, which refers to the structure of this naturally occurring compound. The “S” or “sulfonyl” is a fancy way of saying, a sulfur containing group and this group is what makes MSM so special.

Sulfur is a mineral that is naturally found in foods like eggs and garlic. Sulfur is stored in every cell of the body. The articular cartilage found at the ends of bones contains sulfur.