It’s important to take good care of your cartilage. Failing to do so would result to serious disorders that causes excruciating pain and limited movements on joints. But there are cases when cartilages acquire damage or wear and tear. That’s when you should find supplements for cartilage repair which contain the right compounds you need.
Yes, there’s a long list of vitamins and minerals necessary for cartilage regrowth. But more studies show that silicon plays vital roles and should never be missing from your dietary supplement. That’s because of its general effects to the bones, which includes cartilage and joints as well.
How Silicon Aid in Repairing Cartilages and Joints
For starters, silicon is an essential mineral for the health of your bones. It aids in bone metabolism, mineralization, and improves density of bones among other benefits. Now, considering that cartilages are connective tissues between bones, silicon is also essential for its welfare.
Silicon and its Role on Bone Processes
As mentioned above, silicon plays valuable roles on different bone formation processes. Such processes also involves formation and regrowth of cartilages and joints as well. Here are some of these processes:
Bone Metabolism
This process refers to the continuous removing of old tissues from the bones, while subsequently replacing it with new. This process is essential in maintaining good condition of bones, since worn out or damaged tissues are naturally replaced. Thing is, some conditions slow down or even stop such process from taking place. As a result, some people are left with old and worn out bones and cartilages in their body.
Supplements for cartilage repair carry silicon to improve metabolism of bones and joints. It improves bone ossification, or the phase of forming new bone tissues.
Bone Mineralization
This process refers to the depositing of inorganic compounds into the bone’s organic matrix. Such as bone calcification, for example, it involves depositing of calcium into the structure of bones and cartilages. What silicon does through such process is making compounds easier to incorporate into bones, such as making calcium more calcifiable. As a result, bones and cartilages easily acquire all the mineral they need for metabolism and regrowth.
On a side note, electrochemical processes also take place through bone mineralization. Although the role of silicon is still unconfirmed during such phase, it’s observed that collagen protein release a piezoelectric property when under pressure. That makes them release electrical energies during the process. Note that silicon crystals are also used industrially as semi-conductors, since it has piezoelectric properties when under pressure.
Improvement of Bone Density
Density is an important factor when talking about quality of bones. The denser the bones, the stronger they become. That’s why most bone and cartilage problems involves fragile bones with poor density, such as in cases of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.
As mentioned earlier, silicon helps in bone and cartilage regrowth. That also apply in making bones denser, thereby making it stronger and healthier. Note, however, that bones with excessive density results to abnormal conditions which makes the bones less flexible.
Notes in Taking Silicon
There are supplements for cartilage repair which carry sufficient silicon. Although there’s no official Recommended Dietary Allowance for silicon, it’s healthy for adults to take around 5 to 20mg daily. 50mg is acceptable as well.
Some of the best sources of silicon are whole grains, oatmeal’s, meat, dairy products and beer. But plant-based food are reported to carry more silicon than meat and dairy products. Also, hard water has higher silicon contents, since water purification using flocculation decreases its amount from the fluid.
Silicon in Supplements for Cartilage Health
Now, you know how silicon helps in bone and cartilage regrowth. That makes it an important compound that shouldn’t be missing to your cartilage repair supplement. Thing is, it should work with other vitamins and minerals, such as:
- Collagen and other Protein – help in rebuilding cartilage
- Glucosamine and Chondroitin – essential building blocks of cartilages
- Methylsulfonylmethane – works with Glucosamine and Chondroitin while protecting cartilages from more damage
- Hyaluronic Acid – act as lubricant for better movement without pain
- Magnesium – increase hyaluronic acid absorption, while mitigating spasm, inflammation and pain
- Vitamin K – helps improve bone metabolism
- Omega-3 Fatty Acid – helps combat inflammation
After knowing the essential compounds of the best supplements for cartilage repair, you’re now ready to make your order. Be sure, however, to only buy from reliable sources to avoid fake and ineffective products.
