Shark cartilage and your knees, joints, ankles and lower back? Who’d have thought that the same creatures-of-the-deep that have me constantly peering over my shoulder when I’m in the water also apparently provide strong relief from the aches and pains of running and working out!
Shark cartilage? I have a friend who swears by it. Its news to me — but the older I get the more receptive I am to anything that will relieve the pain while enabling me to continue enjoying a healthy lifestyle. Case in point: as the seasons begin to change and the weather starts to warm up, I typically take to the roads and start a running/jogging program that will take me through the summer and along the way tone me up and slim me down. But the workouts come at a price: namely water on the knees and sore ankles.
So what’s shark cartilage got to do with this? According to www.lifetimehealth.com, shark cartilage may be beneficial for:
– The temporary relief of arthritis pain
– Temporary relief of inflammation associated with arthritis
– assisting in maintenance of general well being
– And supporting the maintenance and repair of joint tissue & joint lubrication.
A study conducted at University of Miami revealed that shark cartilage provides collagen and glycosaminoglycans (GAG’s), such as glucosamine sulphate and chondroiton sulphate, which just happen to be components of all connective tissues. This would seem to support evidence that shark cartilage supports joint healing in athletic injuries in addition to healing and tissue repair.
Far from being a wonder drug, the use of shark cartilage (in powdered or pill form specifically) has its share of detractors. As pointed out in an article posted on www.nutrasanus.com, shark cartilage gained popularity as a nutritional supplement in recent years based on reports that sharks do not get cancer and that the cartilage from sharks in supplement form is useful in connection with cancer. A wide of range of studies showed otherwise: that sharks do get cancer and that presently there is no evidence that can confirm that shark cartilage prevents cancer in humans.
Having established that, it’s important to present that any possible medical and health benefits derived from shark cartilage come mainly from the low-molecular-weight molecules it contains. And that these molecules possess anti-angiogenic activity and inhibit metalloproteinase, activities that could explain any medicinal effects that shark cartilage may have. A 1996 study conducted at the University of Estado in Brazil (and recounted on www.realife.com) points out that indeed some substances from shark cartilage are also demonstrating antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in laboratory studies. These antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits may be responsible for any medical indications associated with shark cartilage supplementation.
An article on www.bodybuilding.com goes on to say that the active component of shark cartilage responsible for the regeneration of connective tissue is glucosamine, which makes shark cartilage especially attractive to bodybuilders and power-lifters. Taking anywhere between 500 mg and 2 grams (2000 mg) with water is recommended, and preferably after a meal. There are no significant side effects associated with using shark cartilage (and there’s no truth to the rumor that you’ll hear the theme music from Jaws after taking your daily suppliment).
So there you go! There is hope for my aches and pains. A variety of shark cartilage products are produced in Australia and New Zealand and can be ordered via the internet. In fact I popped in to a pharmacy about 50 meters from house and found a bottle of shark cartilage pills for euro 22,00. Not cheap by any stretch but about average for health suppliments in these parts.
Your average shark may be less than enthusiastic about all this. Despite being considered man-eaters and predators, humans are probably taking a bigger bite out of sharks than vice-versa. Currently the shark population is experiencing a downward trend unlike anything ever seen (you can read more here). Everything from shark fins to shark tails to shark eyeballs are sold for their so-called medicinal and sexual properties. Shark cartilage is just another part of the shark to add to the list.
