Green lipped mussel for arthritis can be used both for reducing the existing symptoms and for preventing the occurrence of new inflammatory processes.
Although the causes of rheumatoid and osteoarthritis are different, the special composition of these New Zealand shellfish makes them efficient in both forms of this illness.
This form of arthritis is an autoimmune condition, meaning that it is caused by some antibodies found in the sufferer's blood. These blood elements attack the healthy tissues in joints, causing painful swelling and even bone erosion which leads to joint deformity.
Most of the times, rheumatoid arthritis affects small joints in hands or feet, but it can also interest the hips or shoulders. The worst part of this disease is that besides the joint damage, it also triggers increased fatigue, fever, muscles aches and loss of appetite, as it affects internal organs as well.
So in patients suffering from this condition, supplements made of green lipped mussel for arthritis have to fight not only against the symptoms but also against the imbalances that lead to rheumatoid arthritis. In other words, shellfish extracts or oils have to restore the normal functioning of the immune system, to repair the damaged cartilages in arthritic joints and to prevent the recurrence of the ailment.
Fortunately, all these goals can be achieved through green lipped mussel treatments, thanks to their content of complex carbohydrates and fatty acids. These ingredients, together with the vitamins, minerals and proteins in this shellfish, strengthen the immune function and promote cartilage regeneration, providing relief from rheumatoid arthritis manifestations.
Now let's see which are the main differences between this form of the ailment and osteoarthritis and how green lipped mussel for arthritis act in this second form of the illness.
Unlike the previously mentioned type of arthritis, this one develops with aging and it manifests through cartilage degeneration. The damage is the result of wear and tear, this making the disease quite common in sports people. But traumas, even less significant ones, can also cause osteoarthritis or worsen the already existing symptoms of this condition.
Another difference between these two main forms of the ailment is marked by the fact that osteoarthritis affects all the major weight bearing joints - lower back, hips and knees, neck and fingers. But the inflammation in this form of the disease is localized and it doesn't spread to other internal organs.
The use of green lipped mussel for arthritis in this case is motivated by the high amount of chondroitin sulphate and Omega-3 fatty acids this shellfish contains. Omega-3 is known to be a great natural anti-inflammatory substance, thus it stops the progression of the inflammatory processes affecting the joints.
Chondroitin sulphate on the other hand is a glycosaminoglycan able to stimulate the regeneration of the damaged connective tissues in arthritic joints, so it's useful not only in reducing the symptoms but also in preventing osteoarthritis from worsening.