Arthritis is more than an inconvenience. It is an incapacitating condition. It is, in fact, the number one cause of disability in men and women over the age of 65. If not prevented through acquiring a healthy lifestyle at an early age, it may even end up being deadly. And a healthy lifestyle includes nutritious, all-natural supplements, such as New Zealand green lipped mussels.

Genuine New Zealand green lipped mussels provide aging bodies with a much-needed extra dose of omega-3. "Omega-3" is the collective term for a family of polyunsaturated essential fatty acids. Omega-3 acids were originally labeled "essential" fatty acids because they were found to be vital to the proper physical and mental growth of children. Examples of important omega-3 acids are the alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

Our bodies need omega-3 for a number of functions, most of which are related to building up the body's resistance to disease. Omega-3 acids help reduce cholesterol levels by lowering the amount of lipids circulating in the bloodstream. In so doing, these acids fight hypertension and obesity. They also improve the body's response to insulin by facilitating our natural production of leptin, a hormone that helps regulate appetite and metabolism. Thus leptins are also important in distributing nutrients and energy throughout the body. Leptins are primarily expressed by adipocytes, or fat cells.

You must have heard that omega-3-rich supplements are good for the heart. This is true on many levels. Omega-3 acids decrease the production of a platelet-derived growth factor in the lining of the arteries, and in so doing, prevent the arteries from thickening. The lining of the arteries is made up of endothelial cells, which are responsible for creating the growth factor. These cells also secrete endothelium-derived nitric oxide, which cause the arteries to dilate and relax. Omega-3 acids speed up the activity of this chemical, thus helping blood flow more freely throughout the body. A good circulation means less chances of contracting health complications due to blood clotting. For these reasons and more, omega-3 rich foods are recommended for people with heart disease, or are at risk of heart disease.

And on top of all of this, omega-3 is good for arthritis. Arthritis occurs when fat is converted into enzymes that cause pain and swelling in our body's joints. An omega-3 acid called stearidonic acid (SDA) inhibits the production of key enzymes which cause inflammation in these specific areas.

Omega-3 fatty acids may be derived from certain types of foods we eat. Flax seeds, chia seeds and walnuts are a rich source of these acids. They are also the most easily accessible plant sources. Flaxseed oil, for example, contains ca. 55% ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), so 15 grams of this oil can make 8 grams of ALA, which is then converted naturally by the body to EPA and then DHA - enriching the body with all of the most important omega-3 acids.

We can get omega-3 from animals, too! Fish are another plentiful source - cold-water oily fish such as wild salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines, and anchovies, to be precise. Wild salmons are known to contain more omega-3 acids than farm salmon; formula-fed farm salmons are usually able to produce more omega-6 than omega-3. Tuna is another oily fish that produces omega-3, though in significantly less quantities than the other fish listed.

Shellfish are another important source of omega-3 essential fatty acides. New Zealand green lipped mussels - which are also marketed under the trade names Greenshell and Greenback mussels - produce a good amount of omega-3 acids, which may be extracted then processed into artificial supplements in pill form. However, the omega-3 content of green lipped mussels are only partly responsible for arthritis relief! These mussels also come with betain, iron, and glycoaminoglycans, including chondroitin sulphate. The last chemical makes up the very fabric of our bone and cartilage. Adding more chrondoitin to the amount naturaly produced by the body makes for more lubricated, stronger and more flexible joints.

Scientists say that these mussels are best harvested in the spring, when their omega-3 content is at their peak. In the winter, the omega-3 content of these mussels are at their lowest. New Zealand green lipped mussels are now considered a more sustainable supply of omega-3 essential fatty acids than fishes.