DESEJR® glucosamine and chondroitin review

Glucosamine and chondroitin are natural compounds found in cartilage (tough tissue that covers the surface of joints). 

As a runner, you’re more prone to excessive pavement-pounding than the average person.

So, naturally, joint degradation increases. 

Adding glucosamine and chondroitin to your diet may help slow this process down, re-building and repairing cartilage. 

And while current research is mixed, it’s thought that the two supplements may play a key role in maintaining healthy joints.

When it comes to glucosamine and chondroitin, many adopt an “if it works for you, then great” approach.

DESEJR® is a Danish supplement company that puts science at the forefront of its products.

All supplements, including their glucosamine and chondroitin, are formulated in Denmark and meet European standards. 

But what makes DESEJR® different from other supplement brands?

For starters, their quality assurance is top-notch. The ingredients of their supplements are tested for purity and efficacy.

Second, the company is inspired by nature – selecting all supplements carefully and purposefully.

All supplements are also free of GMOs (genetically modified organisms), artificial colours and flavours, and most common allergens.

To help you better understand my experience with glucosamine and chondroitin, I’ll discuss the benefits paired with my personal experience and my concluding thoughts, but first, a bit of context.

I’ve been suffering from knee pain for the last eight months, with symptoms including aches and pains, my knee getting tired easily, and intense pain when going up hills.

For the last six weeks, I’ve been taking glucosamine and chondroitin supplements.

And for the last three weeks, I’ve been performing new rehab exercises to help with my knee pain. 

The jury is still out on the cause of the pain – it’s either something to do with weakness in my right hip or pain related to something a little more serious.

But either way, it’s still knee pain. And it sucks.

Okay, now that my little story is out of the way, let’s continue…

There are many possible benefits of glucosamine and chondroitin – most of which relate to joint health for runners and others experiencing aches and pains.

Anyways, potential benefits include:

• Improved joint health and reduced stiffness

• May help protect cartilage and the joints 
• Reduced inflammation 

A meta-analysis assessing the effectiveness of chondroitin and glucosamine of twenty-six articles found these joint supplements to reduce joint stiffness and alleviate pain. 

Although my knee was never stiff, joint function seems to have improved. 

While this could be a result of rehab and strengthening exercises, it could also be a result of the supplements – supporting previous findings.

Cartilage covers the joints – a type of tissue that is tough and flexible, acting as a shock absorber for bones to slide over each other.

If this cartilage is damaged or worn down, this can cause bone-on-bone issues, such as osteoarthritis. 

The Arthritis Foundation states that glucosamine and chondroitin may help slow cartilage deterioration, helping to reduce stiffness.

And while stiffness is not something I suffer from, it’s a symptom many people suffering from knee pain encounter daily. 

So, if you do have stiff joints, it could be cartilage related. But your doctor will know more about that!

WebMD mentions glucosamine and chondroitin supplements to help reduce chronic inflammation.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve experienced less heat in my knee despite being more active (which previously triggered intense inflammation).

This could be down to new rehab exercises, or it could be a mix of both the supplements kicking in and the new exercises.

But so far, on the inflammation side of things, things are looking good.

As with any supplement, there are a few potential side effects.

In general, glucosamine and chondroitin supplements for runners are thought to be safe. But, as stated by Health Harvard, potential symptoms may include:

• Heartburn or abdominal pain
• Headaches
• Diarrhoea
• Drowsiness
• Allergic reactions to shellfish 

Not everyone experiences side effects.

Some people will experience no side effects, and others may be unable to take these popular joint paints due to allergies (mainly shellfish allergies). 

For me, I experienced no side effects. 

But if you’re looking to try these supplements yourself, ensure not to change too much in terms of your diet and lifestyle to get a true picture of any side effects you encounter.

And as always, contact a health professional before trying new supplements (especially if you’re on medication and/or have a shellfish allergy).

It can take weeks of supplementation to experience the potential benefits of glucosamine and chondroitin, as stated by MedicineNet. 

Despite this, I have noticed a slight reduction in knee pain and a lot less potential inflammation (no hot knee). 

This could be a result of adopting a new rehab routine, or perhaps taking these supplements for over six weeks.

OR it could be a mix of both.

Either way, if you’re suffering from knee pain, joint stiffness, or other joint issues, then I’d recommend trying out the DESEJR® Glucosamine and Chondroitin supplement.

It’s an inexpensive method that may help alleviate knee pain, fast-tracking your recovery, and helping you return to running (or another sport).

Or, if you’re looking for ways to reduce your risk of injury and improve training longevity, then it’s also a good option!

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Below you’ll find some frequently asked questions about chondroitin and glucosamine for runners: