Joints, cartilage, ligaments, tendons and synovial fluid (for joint lubrication) undergo a continuous turnover and remodeling process.
This process is affected by many physiological factors such as diet, supplements, activity, stress, gut health, allergies, immune status, infections, aging, hormones, toxic load and/or various medications. The continuous repair of joints and tissue depends on many things for collagen synthesis (found in tendons, cartilage, ligaments). Minerals are also very important because they stick to the collagen and provide structural support.
Four of the most common destructive processes that can impair the health of your connective tissue and shift your body towards degeneration and away from repair are:
Inflammation: Short term inflammatory responses are good they bring immune cells and collagen building precursors to an area to promote healing and regeneration. Chronic low-grade inflammation that could be caused by excessive joint wear and tear, and/or low body stores of anti-inflammatory fatty acids (GLA, EPA) and/or excess of the inflammatory fatty acids (arachidonic acid).
Oxidative stress resulting from free radicals generated from various causes including excessive inflammation, infections, poor diet, oxidized fats, and toxic metals: Oxidative stress can be significantly reduced by dietary antioxidants such as resveratrol, turmeric, NAC, and vitamin C as well as by an adequate supply of essential minerals selenium, copper, manganese, magnesium, and zinc.
Autoimmune conditions could be caused by toxic metal/chemical load, intestinal infections, dietary allergies, microbial overload, prolonged stress, and other chronic illnesses. Various nutrients such as niacinamide, NAC, astragalus, DHEA peptides, and vitamin D to name a few help support and modulate the immune system. Therapies to heal the digestive tract, stabilize mast cells, and treat ongoing infections are an important part to optimize immune function.
Catabolic factors: Excessive cortisol production (stress hormones) or steroid treatments such as cortisone can have a devastating effect on the ability to form collagen, which is a major component of cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.
Lifestyle and Diet Recommendations:
Movement – Exercise should be emphasized because it improves blood and lymph circulation, which enables the nutrients to reach the target tissue more effectively. Moderate exercise has been shown to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation as well as having immune boosting effects. It also reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, improves metabolism and weight control. 20-30 minutes of moderate exercise such as fast walking 3-5 days a week has been shown to be as effective as strenuous activity.
Hydration – Water is a major component of synovial fluid, which lubricates the joints to reduce friction between cartilage and connective tissue. It is also a major component of cartilage and combines with hyaluronic acid to cushion joints and absorb impact. Try and drink 60-80 ounces of purified water daily. It is preferred to drink a majority of that water before 3 pm to limit nighttime urination.
Low inflammatory diet – Focus on plant-based, whole foods. Limit highly processed foods, meat, dairy, sugar, and gluten.
Fasting – Simply put, fasting cleanses the body of unhealthy or unnecessary cellular debris at the same time stimulating growth hormone promoting our bodies regenerative abilities. Daily intermittent fasting has many health benefits including the prevention of insulin resistance, reversing minor insulin resistance, decreasing inflammation, and helping with weight loss. The most prevalent shifts in the reversal of degenerative and metabolic disease along with stimulating the production of stem cells come from long periods of fasting lasting 48–120 hours.
Detoxification – Toxic overload increases system inflammation, reactive oxygen species, immune dysregulation and breakdown of membrane function and communication. Symptoms manifest as inflammation, fatigue, weight gain, digestive issues, skin problems, insomnia, cognitive decline, depression, anxiety, sinus congestion, headaches or migraines, joint pain, and muscle aches or weakness. First and foremost, it is important to minimize exposure to environmental toxins. Once our exposure to environmental toxins has been minimized, it is important to enhance the body’s natural reduction of toxic load by increasing the biotransformation, excretion, and elimination of toxins.
Regenerative Treatments:
Peptide Therapy – Peptides are short chains of amino acids, which are molecules that make up proteins. These molecules lead to intracellular signaling and communication. These messenger molecules have crucial roles in human physiology affecting the function of hormones, neurotransmitters, and growth factors. A number of peptides are able to trigger a signaling cascade which triggers the proliferation of collagen, elastin, and fibroblast. The big difference between peptides and drugs are; peptides turn things on and drugs turn things off. Thats why you get side effects with drugs and not peptides.
Platelet Rich Plasma – Platelet-rich plasma therapy involves using your own blood plasma and platelets as an enriched source of growth factors and cytokines. This concentrated source of platelets, growth factors and cytokines stimulates healing of bone and soft tissue. The goal of using regenerative medicine such as platelet-rich plasma injection therapy is to promote regeneration by stimulating an inflammatory response and supplying growth and repair factors to the area helping the body repair and heal itself. This is a therapy that can be utilized for minor tearing of ligaments and tendons, osteoarthritis, plantar fasciitis, ligament instability, and injuries related to overuse.
Regenerative Allografts – Derived from cartilage, bone, muscle, tendon, and ligaments. More specifically, derived most often from the umbilical cord. They can reduce inflammation, secrete cytokines and growth factors to induce cellular growth and angiogenesis (the growth of new blood vessels). When injected into a source of injury or degeneration become activated, secrete various cytokines, and stimulate a healing response. This therapy should be considered for osteoarthritis, ligament/tendon damage, and cartilage injury.