Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Dear Terry, “Do you have any recommendations for helping heal my damaged meniscus? Any suggestions for the non-rheumatoid arthritis in my hips?” — Gary G., Minneapolis, MN

A. Dear Gary, The meniscus is a rubbery, C-shaped cartilage disc that cushions the end of a bone where it meets another bone in a joint, especially in the knee. I do not know of any nutritional supplement that can repair a damaged meniscus. You can, however, take nutritional supplements to support the optimal formation of collagen, a component of connective tissues.

I prefer a multi-ingredient formula specific to connective tissues. It should include the active forms of vitamins B6 and B12, along with magnesium, manganese, bromelain, zinc, vitamin C, niacinamide, and boswellia. One of the most crucial ingredients is manganese. You need at least 36 mg of manganese to have an impact, so make sure the dosing of this critical mineral is adequate. I recommend taking 2 capsules of this blend daily.

To help alleviate the issues you are having with your hip, I suggest using a different multi-ingredient formula that combines bioavailable curcumin, boswellia, vitamin D and fructoborate. This quartet of ingredients helps to reduce joint pain and stiffness, as well as rebuilding joint structure. I recommend taking 1 capsule of this blend three times daily.

Keep in mind that standard curcumin is very poorly absorbed, so make sure the products you choose feature a curcumin with excellent absorption that has been proven in published human studies. The best form I have ever found uses micronized curcumin blended with turmeric essential oils in a patented process. This curcumin has been shown in published human studies to be up to 10 times better absorbed than standard curcumin. It’s also important to find formulas that feature a boswellia extract that has filtered out the majority of beta-boswellic acid, to at least 5% or less. Unlike most boswellic acids, beta-boswellic acid is actually pro-inflammatory. Removing it greatly enhances the potency of the boswellia extract. You also want a boswellia extract that includes at least 10% or more of acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (AKBA), the most active component of boswellia.

Follow this regimen for a minimum of three months, as these types of tissues take a long time to heal.

Healthy Regards!

Terry . . . Naturally