Wednesday, January 7, 2004

Get a move on — naturally

You might be getting older, but it sure doesn’t have to slow you down.

As the weather gets colder, sometimes the old joints start to get a little stiff or painful. Thankfully, there are natural alternatives to help you keep up with your active lifestyle. After all, life is for living each day to the fullest. Joint health and fitness can help you keep up with your family, grandchildren and friends, as well as help you enjoy the wonderful adventures that come with an active lifestyle.

Glucosamine chondrotoin and MSM have both become the hottest selling nutritional supplements for those suffering with arthritis or stiff, achy and inflamed joints. But there are other natural alternative nutritional supplements that have been around for years. They have proved effective in reducing the signs and symptoms of disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Many health practitioners and western medicine doctors alike are recommending borage oil and evening primrose oil to their patients for their medicinal properties. The highly touted medicinal properties don’t come from the omega-6 rich oil itself, but a component within the oil known as gamma linolenic acid. GLA has been found to have many benefits including the ability to suppress acute and chronic inflammation, including arthritis.

Fortunately, you have science on your side. As the baby boomers age, the study of joint related conditions have become top priority for medical research. The good news is that we are living longer and healthier lives. Quality of life is especially important to those who want to remain active and healthy well into their senior years.

In 1993, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania conducted a randomized, double blind placebo controlled 24 week trial with 37 rheumatoid arthritis patients. Patients in the treatment group received 1.4 grams of GLA per day, and assessed their symptoms on a daily basis. Treatment with GLA reduced the number of tender joints by 36 percent, tenderness of joints by 45 percent, the number of swollen joints by 28 percent, and the degree of joint swelling by 41 percent, whereas the placebo group did not show significant improvement in any measure. The researchers concluded that GLA in the doses used in the study is a well-tolerated and effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

Positive effects on rheumatoid arthritis can be seen with dosages in the range of 6 to 11 grams of borage oil a day. But earlier studies used relatively low doses such as 540 mg per day with some success. The lower dosage studies found that it helped patients reduce their intake of NSAID prescription medications but didn’t alleviate symptoms such as joint swelling and tenderness.

Studies have shown that borage oil is safe and non toxic and can be taken with NSAIDS or some other natural food supplements without any counteraction. Always consult with your health care practitioner before taking a new supplement or prescription medication. Keep in mind that these GLA rich oils are a nutritional supplement and improvement may be seen in as little time as a month or up to 3 months.

While incorporating GLA rich essential fatty acid products into your diet to reduce arthritis symptoms is a start, it is also important to eat a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables and fiber and to eliminate caffeine, salt, trans fat (as found in prepackaged shelf stable products) and saturated fat.

GLA is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, but it also helps in a variety of other conditions as well. Borage and evening primrose have all been recommended for PMS and menopause for alleviating mood swings, hormonal imbalance, cramps and bloating. These have also shown positive results assisting patients with eczema, psoriasis and other skin conditions. GLA has also been effective in periodontal disease, diabetes neuropathy, asthma, cystic fibrosis and multiple sclerosis.

While there are several sources of GLA, borage oil contains the highest concentration (24 percent) compared to other GLA essential fatty acids such as evening primrose oil which only contains 8 to 10 percent GLA, and black currant oil only 15 to 17 percent GLA. Because the borage oil contains a high concentration, it is better to buy the more effective supplement. GLA is available over the counter in liquid and capsule form in natural health food stores across the United States. Look for expeller pressed, unrefined organic products which are by far less adulterated and better for you. There are several products on the market such as Spectrum Essentials Flax Borage oil which comes in a liquid oil with a natural parsley thyme flavoring that is perfect as a salad dressing, drizzled over steamed vegetables or in already prepared soups. Or you can just add the soft gel capsules into your daily vitamin regimen as well.

Get creative with joint healthy oils in your diet and you’ll be able to keep up with the people you love. After all, a well-oiled life is well worth living.

For more information about GLA rich borage or evening primrose oil, check out your local natural foods market or visit www.spectrumorganic.com.

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