Proper diet is the key to the prevention of almost all joint problems and it is equally important for the regeneration of the knee, hip, and spine cartilage.
It is proven that to minimize the risks of excessively wearing down and potentially damaging the cartilage one must maintain an optimum body weight by using well-balanced food and avoid hard physical strain throughout the day.
Before I explain how to regenerate knee cartilage naturally, you should know the following:
Symptoms of damaged knee cartilage
The cartilage is a kind of elastic binding tissue that is part of numerous body structures in the human organism. It can be found in the chest, nose, bronchi, and ears, and it covers the spine disks, elbows, knees, and hips. It is less elastic than the muscles and it is not tougher than the bones.
Its main function is to allow movement of the joints by preventing the bones from rubbing one another – this is when the damage happens.
It is very important to be protected from injuries, especially the knee cartilage. Having in mind that the knee is the largest joint in the human body, the meniscus or cartilage must be healthy and smooth from the inner and outer sides so that the knee can be mobile and functional.
Yet all kinds of factors can cause disorders – aging of the organism or diseases, such as osteoarthritis, that mainly affects the joints in the shoulders, neck (hinders the mobility of the head and causes dizziness), hips, knees, arm, and leg joints.
Symptoms that indicate lower quality of the structure of the cartilage or its total disappearance are pain during movement and swelling and tension in the muscles. Besides degenerative changes, the cause of worn down and damaged cartilage can be something else – mechanical injury from impact, excess physical activity, carrying heavy objects, and excess body weight.
Below you can find the best natural remedies for cartilage regeneration.
How to Regenerate Knee Cartilage Naturally (and Hip Cartilage)
A recent study showed that the consumption of foods rich in an amino acid called lysine can be of great help because it plays an important role in the regeneration of the collagen from which the cartilage is made. Because this amino acid is not synthesized in the body, it must be introduced through food – the optimum quantity is 12 mg for each kilo of body weight.
Rich in this substance are foods such as legumes, codfish, red meat, eggs, soya, yogurt, cheese, dry fruits, beans, etc.
In addition to lysine, another very important substance that plays a major role in maintaining a healthy cartilage is called chondroitin. The chondroitin absorbs the water in the binding tissue and with that preserves the elasticity of the cartilage. It can also block the numerous enzymes that break down the cartilage and it can help in the creation of new cartilage.
The optimum quantity of this substance is 1000 to 1200 mg a day and is manufactured from shark cartilage and pig and cow cartilage. The chondroitin is usually combined with glucosamine which enhances the flexibility and mobility of the joints, but it is not significant in the natural regeneration of the cartilage. It is manufactured from chitin, found in the shells of shrimps, crabs, lobsters, etc.
Food for cartilage
A diet based on products that are rich in vitamins is crucial to the proper formation and regeneration of the knee cartilage.
Vitamin C is essential for the body.
The optimum daily quantity is 75 mg, and great sources of this vitamin are grapefruit, orange, tangerine, grape, blackberry, and their juices as well.
This vitamin can be also found in onions, peppers, potatoes, lettuce, etc.
Vitamin D for bones, joints, and cartilage
One study conducted in 2009, published as “Arthritis and Rheumatism”, confirms that exposure to sunlight and vitamin D directly contributed to better joint mobility in patients who were treated for joint disorders.
The results showed that vitamin D must be taken in enough quantities to prevent osteoarthritis. It can be found in milk, cereals, salmon, herring, and oysters.
Foods rich in vitamin A also support the regeneration of the hip and knee cartilage.
Natural Remedy for Cartilage Regeneration – Gelatin
It is a supplement to many salads and desserts, and besides being easy to prepare, gelatin has one advantage – it is an excellent natural remedy for knee joint regeneration and other joints as well. Namely, several studies have shown that the consumption of this supplement can significantly help in the regeneration of the cartilage.
The optimum quantity is 10 grams per day, and regular intake, can prevent the uncomfortable symptoms of osteoarthritis. It is rich in protein, and it has 10 essential amino acids, including – proline and hydroxyproline, that help in the regeneration of muscle tissue.
Another advantage is that the gelatin does not contain fats and cholesterol, which is not the case in most foods that are rich in protein. Besides, it abounds with collagen – a substance that is important in building tissues, bones, tendons, ligaments, and cartilages, which seem to diminish as the organism gets older.
