| Arthritis affects an estimated one in every five people | | | | needs to be done, but this looks promising. Sadly, most |
| in America - and although usually considered a malady | | | | research is done on products that can be patented, |
| of old age, it affects all ages. Approximately one in | | | | and egg shell membrane doesn't fall into that category. |
| 250 children suffers along with their grand-parents. | | | | Since few people eat the shell membrane, the |
| Pain relief and reduction of stiffness is a multi-million | | | | challenge for anyone wanting to try this cure would be |
| dollar business. Along with both prescription and | | | | to find a way to make it palatable, and to measure |
| over-the-counter pain medications, supplements to | | | | 500 milligrams. If more studies support these findings, |
| ease arthritis fly off the shelves. In 2005, glucosamine | | | | my guess is that someone in the natural health industry |
| and chondroitin alone accounted for $810 million in | | | | will put it in a capsule. |
| purchases. | | | | We know that crushed egg shells are good for our |
| But a new 60-day study shows that this expense | | | | gardens, I suppose because of the minerals they |
| may not be necessary. | | | | contain. Those same minerals could well be the reason |
| According to a report in the journal Clinical | | | | why they offer arthritis relief. |
| Rheumatology, arthritis sufferer's joint pain and | | | | I can attest to the fact that a multi-mineral supplement |
| stiffness were reduced significantly by supplementing | | | | gives both my dog and my husband relief from arthritis. |
| with 500 milligrams of eggshell membrane. | | | | In fact, I credit it with saving my dog's life, because he |
| To come up with this conclusion, researchers | | | | was crippled before he began taking it and now he |
| assessed the participants' pain using an osteoarthritis | | | | runs and plays like a youngster. The supplement we |
| index developed by the Western Ontario and | | | | use is ArthroIonx, offered by VetIonx. |
| McMasters Universities. Interestingly, they found that | | | | In addition, since the best defense is a good offense, |
| pain reduction with egg shell membrane was better | | | | preventing the onset of this dreaded ailment is a good |
| than it had been in previous tests with glucosamine and | | | | idea. Get regular low-impact exercise that includes |
| chondroitin. | | | | stretching, and keep your weight under control. |
| Granted, the study was small and more research | | | | |