Glucosamine & Chondroitin

Glucosamine and chondroitin are natural body chemicals which go to make cartilage, which is the natural shock absorber in our joints which prevents our bones rubbing together. Some glucosamine and chondroitin is made by the body, but taking them as supplements helps with the production of new cartilage. Thinning of cartilage between the bones often happens as we get older, and can cause pain where the bones start to rub together in osteoarthritis, such as in this picture of a knee joint. Taking these supplements has been shown to relieve pain and improve cartilage function just as well as the usual pain relief medicine.