Curcumin is the bright yellow hue and active ingredient in turmeric. 

Multiple studies on curcumin have shown very promising signs that it could alleviate joint pain and slow joint degeneration without major side effects.

In one study, it demonstrated the potential to reduce inflammation in osteoarthritis by minimizing cytokine levels. This was demonstrated to help improve pain and physical mobility among patients⁷.

In another study, curcumin supplements were deemed to be just as effective as pain meds or NSAIDs at managing osteoarthritis. Various independent clinical studies were conducted and they demonstrated effectiveness in managing joint pain. This may be a particularly useful option for people who experience digestive side effects with NSAIDS⁸.

If you’re thinking of getting a curcumin supplement, make sure it contains black pepper extract as our body has difficulty absorbing curcumin on its own. Black pepper extract improves the absorption by up to 2,000%⁹.

Recent research indicates that poor gut microbiome may be the driving force behind osteoarthritis.

Researchers found that mice with osteoarthritis had gut bacteria that lacked specific beneficial probiotics. Probiotic supplements may help correct this imbalance.¹⁰

Your gut microbiome helps keep your body healthy. When it becomes unbalanced, there may be a spike in osteoarthritis symptoms and inflammation.¹¹

Adding a probiotic to your regimen can help restore this balance and may minimize your arthritic symptoms.¹²

Some probiotic species that have shown potential in pain relief: L. acidophilus¹³, L. casei¹⁴, B. coagulans¹⁵

Some probiotics also carry anti-inflammatory properties.

Anti-inflammatory probiotics encourage healthy bacteria to multiply in your gut. When the good bacteria outnumber the bad bacteria, the swelling in your joints can go down.16

Are you wondering what your gut has to do with your joints? Well, people with arthritis can also have an inflamed gut. This can cause a leaky gut, and widespread inflammation that can trigger your joint pain. A probiotic can help keep you moving and doing the things you love.17

Probiotics are common these days, but they are also the most underrated ingredients for improving joint health and accelerating your recovery from bursitis.

Probiotics regulate and support nearly every vital function including bone density, joint inflammation, weight management and even vaginal health, mood, and more.

Emerging studies18 show that a healthy gut can also regulate estrogen levels and support hormonal balance. This is key to keeping inflammation in our body under control, and helping women undergoing menopause to recover faster from flare-ups.

Some probiotic strains also demonstrate anti-inflammatory properties and they address inflammation head-on just like curcumin does. Some of these strains include B. Lactis R101-819, L. Rhamnosus 4B15, and L. Gasseri 4M1320.

Methylsulfonylmethane or MSM in short, is a chemical in animals, humans, and many plants. People use it most often to try to treat arthritis.

MSM can be produced in a lab, where it is sometimes combined with other supplements such as glucosamine or chondroitin.

An early trial in 2006 examined MSM’s ability to improve pain symptoms and physical function in osteoarthritis patients. Patients took 3g of MSM twice a day and showed some improvements, but the benefits and safety of MSM in long-term use could not be confirmed based on the relatively short trial²¹.

However, no significant trial has been conducted since then to demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of MSM. We recommend that you speak with a doctor if you plan to take MSM.

Collagen makes up about 60% of cartilage, which helps to cushion our joints from the shock of high-impact movements.²²

Usually, collagen decline in our 40s and older contribute to more joint pains later on.

Collagen supplements can help to slow the progression and degeneration of our joint cartilage, according to multiple clinical studies.²³

There are two main types of collagen – bovine (from cow) and marine (from fish and shellfish).

Marine collagen is better for the human body than bovine collagen for various reasons:

• It contains more glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) than bovine collagen, which function as “shock absorbers” in joints and skin tissue.
• It’s easier to digest as marine collagen is broken down into amino acids.
• It is better for the environment.

Clinical studies support this. Marine collagen has demonstrated positive results in wound healing and bone regeneration.²⁴

Your body can’t make Omega-3 fatty acids or fish oil. Instead, you need to eat cold water fish or introduce supplements into your routine. Fish oil can reduce inflammation and morning stiffness, two common symptoms of osteoarthritis.²⁵

These healthy fats may work to stop inflammation by blocking the signaling molecules that cause inflammation. Research shows that increasing your intake of fish oil supplements can improve movement by reducing pain and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis.²⁶