Green Lipped Mussel Glue of Life

Green lipped mussel - glue of life. Perhaps you heard this comparison before and maybe you're wondering why are these New Zealand shellfish so important for us humans and for our health. In order to understand this, you have to get familiar with the composition of this seafood and with the effects green lipped shellfish have on one's health.

What do New Zealand mussels contain?

The most important ingredient in this seafood is represented by Omega-3 fatty acids, but glycosaminoglycans are very useful as well. Omega-3 is one of the strongest natural anti-inflammatory substances known today and it helps in reducing excess inflammations leading to various health problems, such as arthritis, joint pain or asthma.

Also, fatty acids in green lipped mussel provide quick relief from the pain associated with cartilage damage and joints swelling in rheumatoid diseases. Then, glycosaminoglycans represented by chondroitin and glucosamine are very important in lubricating the joints as they stimulate the production of synovial liquid.

Without this fluid, absolutely any joint movement would be very painful. But besides this function, the two mentioned substances also stimulate the regeneration and repairing of the damaged connective tissues so they not only heal joint aches for the moment but they also prevent new problems from occurring.

Thanks to their role inside the human body, glycosaminoglycans or mucopolysaccharides are called 'the glue of life', as they keep all the joints components together - ligaments, tendons, muscles and bones, 'glued' together by the synovial liquid.

Additional ingredients in New Zealand shellfish are minerals (iron, calcium, sodium and others), vitamins (especially from the B-complex but also A, E and D) and proteins. While these elements are also essential for the properties this seafood has, the ones that make green lipped mussel 'glue of life' are mucopolysaccharides.

How are these ingredients preserved?

This is definitely an important aspect as not all dietary supplements made from New Zealand shellfish contain all the mentioned ingredients. And this happens mainly because not all producers are located in regions where green lipped shellfish grow naturally.

This seafood is found in very large amounts in New Zealand waters but for manufacturers in other areas of the world it's sometimes extremely challenging to get these mussels in their fresh state. This is why they often prefer to use frozen or freeze-dried shellfish, although processing these products at extreme temperatures alters their composition drastically.

Once this happens, the lost and destroyed substances can't be brought back so we can't call green lipped mussel 'glue of life' anymore as they contain only small amounts of complex carbohydrates (GAGs) and fatty acids. As sad as it sounds, this happens quite often so this is why it's better to look for dietary supplements produced in Australia or New Zealand if you're interested in getting the most of these shellfish.

There are lots of trustful manufacturers in these countries that provide international shipping for their products so don't worry if you're an European or American citizen - you can still benefit from green lipped mussel by purchasing highly qualitative supplements.