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Over the years, the connective tissue that supports the function of the joints wears away leading to stiff joints and inflammation in the hips, neck, lower back, knees, and the small joints in hands and feet.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint disease which affects over twenty-seven million Americans. It affects the cartilage, which is the rubber-like tissue that lubricates the ends of bones in joints to support painless movements.
It consists of several layers which wear away with aging, and as a consequence, parts of it and the bones can break off, causing inflammation and mobility pains.
The prolonged use of these joints with bone-on-bone contact causes additional issues like joint damage, pain, and bone spurs, which are bony projections along the bones’ edges.
These are the most common risk factors which contribute to the development of this disease:
- Aging
- Joint injury
- Obesity
- Genetics
- Improperly formed joints
- Joint stress
- Fortunately, the cartilage can be regrown in a natural way!
The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery published a study which spoke about the attempt of Dr. Kevin Stone and his team to regrow knee cartilage using arthroscopy, which is a less invasive alternative to knee replacement. The study involved 125 people, with an average age of 64 years.
Doctors took cartilage from an undamaged part of the knees of each participant and created a paste which was later placed over the affected area.
After 12 years, most patients experienced great improvements in terms of the pain, and 42 participants showed signs of regrown cartilage, and 18 of them already had a repaired cartilage.
At the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), Dr. Riley Williams used synthetic and real cartilage to perform cartilage restoration surgery on 51-year old patients.
Researchers used “plugs” to fill the holes in the cartilage, which reduced the pain and boosted the physical activity of the participants.
On the other hand, scientists have discovered that gelatin is a safe and natural way to build the cartilage. This is a translucent, flavorless food product, obtained from hydrolyzed collagen – which is an essential protein found in the skin and other connective tissues.
A study presented at the American Academy of Family Physicians in Dallas analyzed the effects of gelatin on 175 people with osteoarthritis of the knee. Participants received either a placebo or 10 grams of gelatin (or 1 tablespoon) in addition to vitamin C and calcium daily.
After 8 and 14 weeks, the group that took gelatin experienced better mobility, less knee pain, improved flexibility and joint strength, and reduced stiffness.
Despite gelatin, these are some other ways to support the health of the cartilage:
— Silicea gel is a silicon water-based gel, which contains other synthetic materials which absorb and maintain moisture. Studies have shown that it absorbs toxins, supports healing by depositing essential minerals in the bones, and improves skin health.
-Hyaluronic acid is a clear lubricant, naturally produced by the body, in the joints, skin, and eye sockets. It lubricates the painful joints, treats eye discomfort, and nourishes the skin.
