1. health and fitness
2. disease
3. arthritis

Joints are your body’s hinges
• Bones protect, shape and support your body
• Your joints are the point where two bones
meet – they contain shock-absorbing
substances to allow flexible movement
• The joints are the body’s hinges – they need
to be kept flexible and oiled to work well
Osteoarthritis: the condition
• Osteo – the Latin term for bone
• Arthritis – a general term to describe a
number of painful joint and bone conditions
• OA – is the most common of the 80 or so
medically-recognised joint conditions
• OA – involves the degeneration of shockabsorbing cartilage and tissue that lines and
cushions the bones
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Osteoarthritis: the process
• Cartilage breaks away from bone which strains
the ligaments (strong tissues that hold bones
together).
• Joint fluid gets thinner and the space that
contains it becomes smaller.
• Pain occurs when bones rub together and/or
the joints move even slightly out of their
natural positions.
OA: who’s affected?
• OA affects more than 1.6 million Australians
• Risk factors include:
• Being too heavy
• Damage to the joint (e.g. sportspeople/
those who do heavy, physical work)
• Family history (genetic tendency)
• Infection of the joints and/or the bones
• Conditions which alter the position of the ends of bones) e.g.
rickets, osteomalacia, rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
What a typical joint looks like
OA: what are the symptoms?
• Joint pain/stiffness especially after sitting or
lying down; may progress to more severe pain
• If the cartilage breaks down and wears away,
bones begin to rub against each other causing
pain, swelling and joint stiffness
• The muscles that usually move the joint get
tighter and shorter as they are used less and
less
A major cause of disability
• Mild symptoms are traditionally treated
with analgesics and/or anti-inflammatories
• Steroids and/or surgery (hip or knee
replacements) may be required
A major cause of disability
• As populations get older and heavier,
OA’s dramatic influence on healthcare
costs and quality of life is likely worsen
• Currently costs the healthcare system
$2 billion annually
What can you do?
• ‘If Australians reduced their weight by 5kg
about half of new osteoarthritis cases would
disappear’ (Professor David Hunter, University of Sydney)
• Getting into a healthy weight range is one of
the most important aspects of joint health,
‘We should focus on reducing weight and
strengthening muscles through improved diet
and increased exercise’ (Professor David Hunter)
Over to you!
• Enjoy a healthy, mixed diet
• Eat more fruits and veggies – filling
and full of antioxidant vitamins and
minerals
• Exclude foods from the nightshade
family (tomato, potato, capsicums
and eggplant because of solanine)?
• Eat more oily fish – omega-3s
decrease the production of chemicals
that spread inflammation plus inhibit
enzymes that trigger it – double benefits!
Try modest exercise
• Conventional medicine
used to suggest exercise
avoidance
• But keeping active is
actually an important part
of combating OA. Swimming is an excellent
choice – it strengthens muscles and increases
suppleness without straining the body.
Benefits of exercise
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Burns calories
Improves fitness, strength and endurance
Boosts the blood supply around your body
Strengthens the muscles that support joints
Improves the range of motion
Enhances posture, balance and coordination
Boosts endorphins – natural feel-good
chemicals and painkillers
Try Tai Chi
• In a study of people with OA of the knee or hip,
those who practiced Tai Chi twice a week for
three months improved their overall sense of
quality of life, felts less stress/tension and
reported easier self-management of arthritis
symptoms.
Exercise and glucosamine
• Glucosamine (1500mg) plus exercise can bring
positive results: ‘Osteoarthritis sufferers can
benefit from a combination of glucosamine
sulphate and walking 3,000 steps per day for
exercise, in bouts of at least 1,500 steps each,
on at least three days per week’ (Lead researcher
Dr Kristiann Heesch from the University of Queensland
published in Arthritis Research and Therapy.)
Glucosamine and Procosamine®
• Glucosamine is produced by the body to make
collagen, bone, blood vessels, joints and more
• Maintains joint gumminess by inhibiting the
enzymes that may breakdown cartilage
• Less is produced with ageing
• Including glucosamine in your diet may be a
good way to bolster your body’s natural
recovery from daily wear and tear
Let’s talk Procosamine®
• High potency glucosamine for healthy joints and
cartilage
• Vegetarian source of glucosamine
• Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)
stamp guarantees that the tablets
contain the correct amounts of
ingredients as recommended by
health groups worldwide
A key joint health ingredient
• Procosamine contains turmeric, a traditional
spice used in cooking and Ayurvedic medicine
• The active ingredient, curcumin, is a potent free
radical fighter (free radicals are concentrated in
sites of inflammation and injury)
• Curcumin isn’t absorbed well from turmeric –
large amounts are needed for therapeutic
effects (about two teaspoons daily)
The marvels of Meriva
• Procosamine contains a highly bioavailable
form of curcumin: Meriva®
• The curcumin in Meriva is wrapped in a
protective lecithin (fatty substance) boosting
its absorption in the small intestine –29 times
better absorption than the regular spice
• Studies of Meriva and NSAIDs have shown a
decreased use of NSAIDs in individuals taking
Meriva and is safe for long-term use.
Procosamine also contains:
• Vitamin C, a potent antioxidant needed for
cartilage production and for healthy immune
function.
• Manganese, a key mineral needed for
cartilage production and strong, healthy
bones.
• Added potassium sulphate so it is as effective
as regular glucosamine sulphate
Supplementary benefits
• Essentials™ – vitamin D. Studies suggest low levels in
people with joint diseases.
• Essentials – antioxidants. Studies show high levels of
free radicals in inflamed joints.
• Essentials – selenium. One study showed those with
the highest levels of selenium had a 40 per cent lower
risk than of OA compared with those with the lowest
levels
• BiOmega™III – omega-3 fats. These essential oils have
potent anti-inflammatory properties.
One in two may be affected…
• ‘As many as 50 per cent of
people who have OA don't
realise they have it! Plus 80 per
cent of knee OA can
be prevented if we adequately
address overweight and obesity in
our community and we prevent
joint injuries from happening.’
(David Hunter Sydney University)
And finally…
• Detecting OA early and treating it: ‘Could reduce pain,
disability and the need for surgery later in life,’
according to Sydney University Professor David Hunter.
• Taking control of our health with better eating habits,
regular exercise and earlier detection can help to boost
the quality of life for millions of people.
• Procosamine is a effective product that can safely be
used long-term.
Using Procosamine: take three tablets daily, preferably with meals. NB: Vitamin
supplements should not replace a balanced diet. Use only as directed. Always read the
label. If symptoms persist, see your healthcare professional.
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