Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis affecting the weight bearing joints such as the knees, hips and back and is often caused by ‘wear and tear’ on those joints due to sport, repetitive movement or being overweight. Resulting pain and stiffness occurs because the cartilage that separates the bone at a joint wears away and the bone rub painfully together. This causes inflammation which can reduce mobility and adversely affect quality of life There can be a tendency to inherit arthritic conditions but there are several ways that you can influence the development of arthritis. Exercise such as walking and swimming when done on a regular basis can help to strengthen muscle and keep joints supple. Our diet has an important part to play. There are foods that tend to be acid-forming which you should eat less of such as dairy products, red meat, eggs, citrus fruit and their juices, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and processed foods which often tend to have excess salt and sugar. Foods to eat more of include oily fish, green leafy vegetables, whole grain products, porridge oats, pineapple and pumpkin seeds. If you have sore muscles or joints, Pernaton Gel is worth a try. This unique rub is based on green-lipped mussels grown in clean, coastal waters of New Zealand and has an immediate cooling effect. It is also beneficial to use before and after sports. Glucosamine is the best known natural remedy to treat osteoarthritis. It is found naturally in our body but levels decrease with age. Supplementing with 1500mg a day can help to build and maintain cartilage in joints. Salt-free formulas are available for those on blood pressure medication or for those on salt-restricted diets.In Portadown, we stock the popular Lamberts glucosamine product with cider vinegar and quercetin called Glucosamine QCV. Glucosamine is best taken with food and with time can make significant improvement in joint pain. Generally Glucosamine is safe to take by anyone but it is important if you are taking any medication that you ask your Pharmacist for advice beforehand.