If you had been participating in one type of sports or another, chances are you would have experienced some form of knee / joint pain. For those no-surgery-needed or even those nearly-surgery needed, you may be taking joint supplements to keep them in check.With the popularity of sports increasing, more and more people are getting joint/knee pains. At the same time together with our massively aging population, marketers are churning out their joint formulas that supposedly to help us build and repair our degenerating joints.

While earlier studies have shown that glucosamine is the building block to a healthy joint, there are no studies that have shown supplementing with glucosamine does any benefit for our joints. At the same time pharmacies and supplement stores still get flooded with glucosamine tabs. Classic case of demand and supply (if there is already a market with a high demand, why even study it?).

Healthy joints are so important in or lives that we blindly buy products in the hopes of keeping them in the pink of health. This article will address on what should be in your joint formula for it to be effective. Mainly it should address the joints and its connective tissues. If you go for physiotherapy, what they will make you do is to strengthen the muscles surrounding the injury area so the probability of a reinjure to occur is minimised.The same concept applies here; a good joint formula should be wholesome and address the joint problem from multiple angles. Here are some of the ingredients that should be in a good joint formula.

Vitamin C

• an important building block in the formation of cartilage, collagen, and joint tissue (base ingredient that gives tissues its integrity)
• scavenger of free radicals (free radicals produce inflammatory conditions like arthritis)
• supports immune system

• required in the structure and function of connective tissue
• stimulate the production of a very important structure in your cartilage called the Glycosamine Glycans ( GAG). GAG acts as a nutrient base for the growth of your cartilage

• helpful for arthritis related joint discomfort due to joint pain
• helps the glucosamine do its job more effectively

• bromelain is a protein-digesting enzyme found in the pineapple plant
• breaks down fibrin, a blood-clotting protein that can impede blood circulation
• block the production of prostanoids that can cause pain and swelling

• works with the immune system to promote healthy joints, less pain more mobility
• reduce inflammation and restore cartilage (unlike glucosamine & chondroitin, which are materials involved in the structure of healthy cartilage)
• differentiate between foreign invaders, such as bacteria, and elements that are good for the body, such as nutrients.
• contains small amounts of glucosamine and chondroitin

A joint formula should have the ingredients above for it to work synergistically to repair joints and tissues while reducing pain from inflammation and wear and tear. Taking a singular one on its own may render the efficacy nearly useless at the purpose of improving joint health.