Supporting joint and cartilage health is of the utmost importance to help prevent certain mid-life conditions such as osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis among older individuals, and is generally caused by wear and tear on the joints over the years. Our joints are made up of bones, ligaments, and cartilage; after years of bending, kneeling, and generally supporting the full weight of the body these components become weak and wore down. All of this wearing and tearing leads to the painful inflammatory condition known as arthritis, and while there are hundreds of arthritic conditions that joint supplements can help, osteoarthritis is the most common among aging individuals.

The common components in joint health supplements are glucosamine and chondroitin. These two components contain molecules similar to those found in the bodies own natural cartilage. The idea is that replacing this lost or damaged cartilage will repair the past insults to the tissue, and thus prevent any further damage to the joint. As with any type of supplement prevention is ideal, because preventing damage is much easier than correcting it. However, looking for a good joint health supplement is so much more than taking straight glucosamine and chondroitin. There are some other ingredients that your joints can benefit greatly from, and finding an all in one formula will save you a lot of pain and aggravation. Here are some key ingredients to look for:

Omega 3 and 6 Essential Fatty Acids These ingredients are a very good addition to the formula because of their ability to lubricate the joint and allow it to move with ease. These two fatty acids are also an excellent way to reduce the painful symptoms and reduce swelling in the joint.

Niacin, Folic acid, and Vitamin B12 Have shown the ability to reduce inflammation as well as relieve pain in the joint.

Vitamin E Studies have suggested that vitamin E is useful at preventing cartilage loss.

Manganese Helps build healthy bone structure and joints.

MSM Reduces the symptoms that accompany joint wear and tear.

Stinging Nettle Extract Is molecularly similar to aspirin, this herb is also an excellent way to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

Indian Frankincense Extract Is widely used as an anti-inflammatory herb for many different conditions.

Of course all joint health supplements need to contain the key ingredients glucosamine and chondroitin. But, taking an all in one joint supplement that contains the ingredients above will give your joints the TLC they need to heal and become less painful. On top of all this the supplement needs to be bio-available; this simply means that the supplement needs to be friendly to the body and easily absorbed rather than taken and quickly excreted. Making sure that your all in one formula is bio-available ensures that the body receives the benefits of the supplement, and that you are not simply wasting your time and money. You can find this amazing all in one formula at N101.com

Resveratrol is an amazing supplement that has recently been thrown into popularity by the main stream media. However, all of this hype is well deserved. Resveratrol may very well be on of the biggest nutrient discoveries in this century. We have long known that red wine has some sort of positive effects on the body, because of the low incidence of heart disease and other health problems in cultures that consume high amounts of the sometimes bitter substance. Scientists recently made the connection between this completely natural chemical in red wine called resveratrol and the aging process. What’s even more amazing is its promising ability to correct certain health problems.

Right now resveratrol is sold mainly as an anti-aging supplement, this is because scientists have commented on the fact that resveratrol has a direct effect on the aging gene. Furthermore, they have stated that the supplement can, and has in clinical trials, delayed certain age related diseases and conditions, keeping us healthy and youthful longer. However there is a catch, resveratrol should be started before middle age, preferably as young as possible to prevent damage, and maintain a healthy body rather than trying to correct a malfunctioning body. A report published by the National Institutes of Health and backed by the National Institute on Aging, had this to say about their own clinical findings on the supplement resveratrol:

“The most effective and reproducible way found to date to alleviate age-associated disease in mammals.”

Many people have the misconception that they can drink red wine and get the desired amount of resveratrol needed to remain healthy and youthful. But, considering the fact that one supplement contains anywhere from 100-250mgs of resveratrol, and a glass of red wine only contains ½ a mg, this logic is impossible as it would literally take hundreds of glasses of wine a day to get the desired amounts.

Taking a resveratrol supplement is a great step towards leading a long, healthy, and active life. This supplement is so widely regarded that studies featuring it have been published in nearly every single magazine, medical and otherwise, in the last few years. Making sure you get a quality product is essential to getting the most out of your supplement, and one very good example of this is a product called Optimized Resveratrol. Taking this particular supplement will guarantee that every last drop of the supplement is utilized in a proper way and not simply excreted as waste.

They say with age comes wisdom. But, did you know that with age comes a need to change your current natural supplements? Just like men and women differ in their needs for natural supplements, there is a huge difference in the needs of a young or middle aged person and a…wiser, more mature individual. Older individuals generally need more of certain vitamins and minerals. Figuring out the difference can be quite confusing, so I have compiled a list of the top five all natural supplements needed to keep you feeling young and vibrant in your golden years.

I will list these top five all natural supplements below and their specific actions in your body, as well as the common ailments they help to prevent or alleviate.

Glucosamine and Chondroiton: Glucosamine and Chondroiton have become extremely popular in the last decade due to some major T.V marketing ads. Because the majority of senior citizens have a gracious amount if arthritis this particular combination can prove to be extremely helpful. Glucosamine and Chondroiton have proven to be essential in repairing joint damage due to arthritis, or any type of injury that wears down the cartilage in the joints…particularly osteo-arthritis. While no one would ever claim to cure your arthritis, taking a daily supplement of Glucosamine and Chondroiton can help with the pain and swelling commonly associated with joint damage. Over time the natural supplements will help repair the damage to an extent, and will greatly reduce the amount of pain you feel.

Fiber: Irregular bowel movements are a common problem among the older community, and almost everyone is taking some sort of medication to keep them regular. Nature offers a kind and gentle answer to this common problem in the form of fiber. This decrease in regularity, and increase in constipation may be because of the weakening of the bowl muscles, or a change in diet. Either way a fiber supplement is absolutely necessary for seniors.

Ginkgo: Ginkgo helps to slow the completely normal memory loss that comes with aging. Ginkgo Biloba has proven itself time and time again to improve brain function, and memory. This completely all natural supplement helps open the vessels that are meant to carry oxygen rich blood to the brain, as well as breaks up those sometimes sticky platelets that can slow the flow to a thick crawl. Also, ginkgo has been said to help fight dementia in early stages. Remember prevention is key so taking a ginkgo supplement can help prevent memory loss, and keep cognitive functions quick and sharp. There are also several other claims made by health professionals of the benefits of Ginkgo such as decreasing pain in the legs while walking, reducing painful attacks of Reynaud’s syndrome, and treating tension glaucoma.

Digestive Enzymes: Another common problem aging individuals face is the inability to eat certain foods, such as spicy foods. This is because of a deficiency of digestive enzymes. Supplementing these enzymes can alleviate the common problems faced by improper digestion such as heartburn, reflux, indigestion, and many more.

Alpha Lipoic Acid: ALA is a fatty acid that is naturally found inside every cell within the body, the role of this fatty acid is to convert glucose to energy. However, the truly amazing thing about Alpha Lipoic Acid is that it is also an amazing antioxidant. What sets alpha lipoic acid apart from other antioxidants like vitamin C and E, is that fact that ALA is able to function in water and fat and rejuvenates all the other antioxidants once they have been spent.

Taking any of these supplements in your golden years is sure to have a tremendous effect on your body, in a good way. These five supplements address the specific problems that seniors commonly face. Taking any one of these, along with your regular daily supplement, is a wonderful idea but taking all five of them will ensure that you look and feel great during your retirement years. You can find this amazing all in one natural supplement at N101.com.