When does it happen? What day do we go from leaping out of bed and moving about the room like choreographed dancers, to ever-so-slowly easing out from between the covers accompanied by our own uncivilized groans? I guess we all have to face the fact that it just does happen—sooner for some than others. The great news is that many of the dietary supplements for supporting joint health truly are effective, making it our #1 category of best-selling products!

Finding the supplement that benefits you most can be a challenge, though, and it may come down to a personal trial and error. Below is a guide to our three best sellers for joint health—Glucosamine, MicroLactin and Hyal-Joint plus newly introduced Celadrin—with recommendations based on sales, science and anecdotal reports from our customers.

It rules the world of joint supplements and gets respect from nearly everyone who uses it. Glucosamine is a naturally occurring substance in our bodies that stimulates the production of cartilage and keeps our joints resilient. Glucosamine supplements provide the natural building blocks for the maintenance of strong, healthy cartilage, helping to maintain mobility, strength and flexibility in our joints. It is also regarded as one of the safest supplements around with only minor stomach upset reported as an occasional side effect. Glucosamine supplements derived from the shells of fish, crab and lobsters are the most popular, but we also offer a non-fish source of glucosamine in the Swanson Ultra line for our vegan customers.

Glucosamine is currently available in two forms: Glucosamine Sulfate (2KCl), which is glucosamine bonded to a salt of potassium chloride; and Glucosamine HCl, which is Glucosamine Hydrochloride. Glucosamine Sulfate is the form that is most often used in the clinical trials that have consistently demonstrated the supplement’s effectiveness. However, in a sodium or potassium restricted diet, the use of glucosamine HCl is recommended instead of glucosamine sulfate. Be assured that HCl is also highly effective.

So, how does one choose a glucosamine supplement from the 50 products offered on our website? Influenced by the popularity of television award shows, it seems like a good format to sort them out. Not to worry, we’ve narrowed our categories down to just 7 with not even one musical number in the presentation. And the winners are…

Best Glucosamine in a Tablet:

Best Glucosamine in a Softgel:

Best Glucosamine in a Capsule:

Best Glucosamine in a Liquid or Bulk Powder:

Best Glucosamine HCl:

Best New Glucosamine Supplement:

Other Forms:

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MicroLactin’s mode of action is very different from glucosamine. Essentially, it is a protein found in milk comprised of unique antibodies and other bioactive micronutrients. Using a patented process that isolates and concentrates these natural proteins in sufficient quantities, MicroLactin can then be encapsulated. It contains only tiny amounts of lactose and presents no problem for those who are lactose-intolerant. MicroLactin is completely natural, and it is derived from grass-fed cows that haven’t even come near additives like Bovine Growth Hormone. For best results, use it twice a day with a span of at least 4–6 hours in between. You can take it with or without food as you prefer. We invite you to read more about MicroLactin at the manufacturer’s official website www.humaneticscorp.com.

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Nutritional supplements for joint health focus primarily on providing cartilage with nourishment. But joints have another vital component besides cartilage: synovial fluid, which keeps them lubricated to reduce friction during movement. What glucosamine does for cartilage, hyaluronic acid does for synovial fluid, and this is the main ingredient in Swanson Ultra Hyal-Joint. The unique formulation in Hyal-Joint has the proven ability to be absorbed in the intestinal tract and has demonstrated significant joint-protecting properties in numerous studies. Again, this is a great supplement to pair with glucosamine, and we’ve already done so in item SWL007 Lee Swanson Signature Line Joint Formula.

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Promise yourself that you’ll try Celadrin at least once! You can read the studies in the medical journals and you can ponder the seemingly exaggerated comments from those people who are already using it, but until you try it for yourself, you can’t even imagine how good it is. Celadrin is a medically and clinically proven esterified fatty acid supplement that addresses joint health on the cellular level. A 2004 study published in the Journal of Rheumatology found that all 40 participants received considerable benefits from the topical cream form of Celadrin. The cream works in as little as 30 minutes or less, but for maximum results, pair the cream with longer-lasting Celadrin softgels. And if you’re wondering whether or not you should replace your present glucosamine supplement with Celadrin, the answer is no. A better option is to use them together since Celadrin complements glucosamine, actually enabling it to perform faster and more efficiently to promote the health of joint cartilage.

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