Joint Pain Supplements - Are they worth it?

Image Source - which.co.uk

Which? research shows that some supplement manufacturers are making misleading claims on their products - as a result, people could be wasting money on unnecessary food supplements.

Other manufacturers use clever language and font sizes to exaggerate the effect that some ingredients have.

So although only a small minority of people actually need supplements, a third of adults in our survey told us they regularly take them. The supplements industry was valued at £385 million in 2012.

Misleading claims

The most popular supplements people take are multivitamins, glucosamine supplements for joint health, and probiotic tablets and drinks.

However, all health claims relating to glucosamine and joint health have been rejected by the EU. Claims that probiotics improve digestive health were also rejected.

In the past five years, products (food, drink and supplements) that want to carry a health claim have had to submit the evidence behind that claim to the EU's European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). More than 44,000 health claims were originally submitted, and only 248 have so far been approved by the EU.
 
Supplements for joints

The EFSA panel rejected claims that glucosamine and chondroitin help support healthy joints, help support flexible joints and reduce inflammation in joints. However, 94% of adults in our survey who take glucosamine supplements believe that glucosamine supports healthy joints and cartilage.

• Seven Seas JointCare Active heavily advertises the ingredients glucosamine, omega-3 and chondroitin on the front of the pack above the health claim 'supports muscles, bones & cartilage to keep you moving'. Underneath, in much smaller text, the packaging states 'with vitamins C & D, Manganese and Zinc' - these are the ingredients for which the health claim is authorised.
• Optima ActivJuice Juice for Joints advertises glucosamine on the front of the pack with the health claim 'helps improve joint cartilage function'. On the back of the pack it says '...with glucosamine & vitamin C to provide a refreshing way to maintain normal function of cartilage in joints, bone, skin, teeth and blood vessels'. But this claim is only approved for vitamin C, not glucosamine.

Optima ActivJuice and Seven Seas JointCare active told us that their claims refer only to the specific ingredients that they are authorised for.

Glucosamine supplements can cost up to £1 a day. A multivitamin that contains vitamin C, D, manganese and zinc - the active ingredients in these supplements - can cost as little as 3p a day. This works out as up to £354 cheaper a year.

To see other products we found that were misleading or confusing visit our gallery of food supplements you don't need.
 
Which? says

Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said: 'Which? campaigned for health claims on these products to be backed up by scientific evidence, so it’s disappointing that manufacturers are using clever language to imply unproven benefits.

We would like to see all ambiguous and exaggerated claims completely removed from all food supplement packaging, so consumers can feel confident they are getting a fair deal in the products they buy.' 

This Article was originally published at - which.co.uk

How Can I Lose Weight Without Dieting?

While there are several diet plans that might help you reduce unwanted weight, they also make people feel hungry and food-deprived. If you want to reduce your weight healthy and even in a painless manner, try out the following techniques.

DON'T SKIP BREAKFAST: Regardless of how late you are running out to work, please avoid missing breakfast. There exists a good reason why it is termed the most crucial food of the day. Your entire body (rather your mind) expects to be refueled several times in a day, and when you forget about breakfast, you are feeling so hungry that when lunch time comes, you eat too much or perhaps select meals that are not most beneficial options. Missing breakfast decreases your metabolic process. However, always have your breakfast, within 1 hour of waking up, since your entire body has gone without meal the full night.

FOCUS ON YOUR MEAL: How many times has your mom reprimanded you to not talk, study or watch TV while consuming meal? Not without a good reason. When you are multitasking throughout meal times, your mind isn't focusing on the quantity of meal that you might be eating so you are more prone to piling on weight. This doesn't mean that you cannot enjoy a meal with your friends. You are able to do this, but only focus on what you really are putting in your mouth!

THINK AND DRINK: While everybody knows it's essential to drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water, very few know whenever you need to consume it. When you drink is just as crucial as what you drink. If you can drink water in-between foods, the liquid decelerates digestive function, diluting the acidity in your stomach so the vitamins and minerals from the meal which you consume are unhealthy ingested. To stay away from this make sure to drink water 15 mints before or after your meals, but if you really want to drink when you eat, limit yourself to smaller sips only.

CHEW MORE, EAT LESS: Research has shown that the very long time you spend chewing on, the lower calories you eat. Chewing for much longer helps prevent over-eating, by giving the mind more time to get signs from the stomach that it is full. This is not just perfect for digesting, but it surely can also help in reducing your portion size. Try chewing your meal 35 to 50 times per mouthful.