Benefits of Joint Support Supplements for Women

As mentioned above, women are more likely to suffer from joint pain than men, but why? Well, there are a few reasons: 

2. Female Body Structure and Pain Response

Due to the flexibility and looseness of joints and ligaments compared to men, women are more likely to develop joint pain, arthritis, and conditions like osteoarthritis, especially in the knees. Plus, women's brains are less prepared to deal with pain than men's, as the endorphins in the male brain are thought to be more effective. Endorphins "act on the opiate receptors in our brains, they reduce pain and boost pleasure, resulting in a feeling of well-being." Women have also been found to release less dopamine, AKA the happy hormone, than men in response to pain, and without dopamine, endorphins cannot function properly. It is also important to mention that due to how the female body reacts to pain, combined with slow absorption caused by slower metabolisms, women may find traditional pain relievers like acetaminophen to be less effective for joint pain.

Extra weight on the body can add stress to the joints and lead to joint pain, loss of joint function, and arthritis. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) states that "Every pound of body weight places four to six pounds of pressure on each knee joint. Individuals with obesity are 20 times more likely to need a knee replacement than those who are not overweight."

4. Forms of Arthritis and Other Diagnoses

Women are at a much greater risk for being diagnosed with medical conditions that experience joint pain including osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), lupus, scleroderma, multiple sclerosis (MS), and fibromyalgia. According to Everyday Health, women are three times more likely to develop RA and scleroderma than men, nine times more likely to have lupus, twice as likely to develop MS, and eight times more likely to experience fibromyalgia. Here's a quick look at what these health concerns look like: 

• Osteoarthritis (OA) - The most common form of arthritis, OA occurs after years of wearing down the cartilage between the joints until the bone is rubbing on bone.
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) - A type of arthritis where the joints feel tender, warm, stiff, and swollen, alongside other symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and loss of appetite. RA occurs because the immune system attacks the protective tissue that lines the joints. 
• Lupus - Lupus is a chronic auto-immune disease that can cause inflammation and pain in any part of your body. No one knows the exact cause of lupus, but it does run in families. According to the Lupus Foundation of America, "Experts also think it may develop in response to certain hormones (like estrogen) or environmental triggers"  
• Scleroderma - Scleroderma is "a group of rare diseases that involve the hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues," according to the Mayo Clinic, and is caused by an overproduction of collagen in the body tissues. As mentioned before, it is more common in women than men, and most commonly occurs between the ages of 30 and 50. 
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) - MS is a serious condition that primarily affects the brain and nervous system. With MS, the immune system starts to attack the protective nerve ending covers that causes miscommunications from the nervous system to the brain. These miscommunications can cause a wide range of symptoms from joint pain and stiffness to vision problems and numbness in the limbs.
• Fibromyalgia - According to the CDC, those with fibromyalgia are more sensitive to pain than those without. Those with fibromyalgia experience "pain all over the body (also referred to as widespread pain), sleep problems, fatigue, and often emotional and mental distress."

5. Age

It's no question, that as people age things start to hurt and ache more than they were in adolescence and young adulthood. In fact, more than 50% of people over the age of 65 report having some level of joint pain and discomfort. Although other factors like family and health history contribute to whether or not one might experience joint pain, the general wear, and tear that comes with having and using joints for decades is usually the culprit. This is usually diagnosed as osteoarthritis. 

Women that suffer from joint pain often turn to over-the-counter pain relief medication such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, or topical solutions like IcyHot patches or Lidocaine. While these are both good starts, there are other ways to help your body relieve joint pain. Talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about adding these lifestyle changes like adding stretches to relieve lower back and joint pain to your daily routine for joint support and pain management:

2. Weight Management

Keeping a healthy weight is important for overall health and wellness, but can also help reduce the amount of pressure and stress put on the joints. Remember, every pound of body weight adds four to six pounds of pressure on the joints, particularly the knees.  

The PRICE Method - If you're experiencing a flare-up or significant joint pain, try the classic Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation (PRICE) method to help relieve discomfort temporarily.

3. Foods for Joint Pain

Adding certain foods to your diet may help reduce joint pain and discomfort. The best foods to add for joint support include Omega-3 fatty acids or fish oil, nuts and seeds, leafy greens like kale or arugula, fruits like blueberries, apples, and pineapple, olive oil, lentils and beans, garlic, whole grains, bone broth, and dark chocolate. 

If these general joint support practices don't seem to be helping much, it may be time to talk to your doctor about medications, changing your diet, or adding a joint support supplement to help relieve your symptoms. 

The Best Joint Support Supplements for Women

Looking to add a joint support supplement to your daily routine, but don't know where to start? We got you covered! Here are the ingredients you should be looking for in the best joint support supplements:

Side Effects

Always talk to your doctor or healthcare provider before adding any dietary supplement to your routine, including joint support supplements. Certain individuals such as those who have diabetes or are taking blood thinners should avoid taking supplements containing glucosamine, one of the most common ingredients in joint support supplements. Those who are allergic to shellfish should also avoid joint support supplements containing glucosamine, as it is derived from a substance found in shellfish species. In addition, children and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take these kinds of dietary supplements as the effects of glucosamine and chondroitin are not known in the developing body. 

That being said, if you are taking a supplement to help with joint pain and function, keep an eye out for these side effects: 

• Nausea
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Heartburn
• Increased intestinal gas

If you're experiencing one or more of these side effects, discontinue use and reach out to your healthcare provider to find other solutions. You're looking to relieve your pain and discomfort, not add to it!