WHAT IS OSTEOFLEX ULTRA?
This natural joint health supplement has shown to assist people suffering from joint ailments. It contains glucosamine, chondroitin, chelated manganese and omega-3 – ingredients that are safe, effective and easily absorbed.

These ingredients work synergistically to stimulate the production of cartilage and connective tissue:
•	750 mg Glucosamine hydrochloride: Stimulates cartilage production.
•	150 mg Chondroiten sulphate: Inhibits enzymes that break down cartilage, improves joint flexibility and cushioning of joints.
•	12.5 mg Chelated manganese (AAC 16%): Plays a role in formation of connective tissue and bone.
•	50 mg Omega-3: Suppresses inflammation and increases blood circulation.

Dose:

Convenient dosage: 2 tablets/day for the first 4-8 weeks, thereafter only 1 tablet/day
Convenient packaging: 60 tablets per pack, therefore cost effective

WHY CHOOSE OSTEOFLEX ULTRA
•	Its unique formulation consists of 4 important ingredients required for joint health and the prevention of joint degeneration.
•	It contains the highest quality ingredients.
•	It is produced following manufacturing standards practiced by the pharmaceutical industry
•	Each tablet contains 750mg Glucosamine.

HOW LONG DOES OSTEOFLEX ULTRA TAKE TO WORK?
Usually, positive changes occur in 1 or 2 months. After 2 months you may start reducing the number of tablets, but for the first 2 months it is recommended to take 2 tablets daily. After that, you may reduce it to 1 tablet daily.

WHEN SHOULD I START TAKING OSTEOFLEX ULTRA?
Osteoflex Ultra is more effective when used in the early stages of joint deterioration. Early action is always the beset advice. If you notice changes in flexibility or joint function, it is best to see your doctor who may discuss with you:

• Weight control
• Exercise
• Taking Osteoflex-Ultra

>	Osteoflex Ultra can be used before the onset of joint pain and stiffness.
>	For those who exercise daily or strenuously and are not experiencing joint pain and stiffness, Osteoflex Ultra may be taken to maintain optimal joint health.

With Osteoflex Ultra you can take control of your joint flexibility today!


HOW OSTEOFLEX ULTRA WORKS
Most bones in your body are held together with ligaments and covered by tendons and muscles. Protective layers of cartilage between bones allow them to move freely, without pain. With age, over-activity, injury, excess weight and other factors, cartilage starts to break down, resulting in stiffness and pain.

Your body cannot correct this process by itself, but using Osteoflex Ultra can help.

Research has shown that Osteoflex Ultra can slow down cartilage deterioration and protect cartilage cells from breakdown.

The 4 key ingredients in Osteoflex Ultra work synergistically:
•	Glucosamine: Stimulates cartilage production.
•	Chondroiten: Inhibits enzymes that break down cartilage, improves joint flexibility and cushioning of joints.
•	Chelated manganese: Plays a role in formation of connective tissue and bone.
•	Omega-3: Suppresses inflammation and increases blood circulation.

OSTEO-ARTHRITIS

WHAT IS OSTEOARTHRITIS (OA)?
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting the articular cartilage, the smooth, glistening bluish white substance attached to the end of the bones.

In addition to the articular cartilage, osteoarthritis (OA) affects several areas in and around the joints. These include:
• The subchondral bone (the ends of the bones, where the cartilage is attached.)
• The capsules that surround the joints
• The muscles adjacent to the joint

The first sign of osteoarthritis is the deterioration of healthy cartilage; therefore, understanding cartilage is crucial to understanding osteoarthritis and how you can effectively treat your OA.

WHAT IS JOINT CARTILAGE - The Focal Point of Osteoarthritis
Even the simplest of everyday activities place tremendous pressure on your joints. Therefore you need a shock absorber.

The cartilage between your bones, joint fluid and connective tissue work together to absorb the pressure and this allows flexible joint function. Cartilage is a slippery, cushion-like tissue that is produced and maintained by its own specialised cells. Cartilage is a watery substance that is made up of 65%-80% water. The remaining portion is made up of two other important compounds. These are collagen and proteoglycans.

Collagen gives the cartilage its shock absorption and elasticity, whereas proteoglycans are larger molecules that give cartilage its ability to stretch and then bounce back when we move, or in other words, respond to our movements. With these ingredients, healthy cartilage is able to be formed in a place in each joint called the cartilage matrix. However, as with all things, collagen and proteoglycans grow old.

So what cleans away old collagen and proteoglycans, and what creates new ones?
Chondrocytes are the main players here. They can be viewed as factories within the body that produce new collagen and proteoglycan molecules and also release enzymes that clean out old and deteriorated molecules.

It is important to remember the four elements of healthy cartilage. These are:
1. Collagen 2. proteoglycans 3. chondrocytes 4. Water
These four elements work together to ensure cartilage is healthy, smooth, and that you can have pain free movement in your joints.

WHY DOES CARTILAGE BREAK DOWN?
Cartilage lacks a direct blood supply. It relies on nutrients found in the joint fluid to nourish cartilage cells and maintain its structure. When this process is affected by one or more of the factors mentioned below, cartilage can deteriorate to the point where it can no longer provide sufficient joint protection.

These are factors that can lead to cartilage breakdown:
• Age
• Over activity
• Inactivity
• Injury
• Excess weight
• Genetics

SYMPTOMS OF OSTEO ARTHRITIS
The major symptoms of osteoarthritis are pain, stiffness, crackling, and enlargement and deformities of the afflicted joint or joints, with inflammation possible in the advanced stages.

Pain: The hallmark of osteoarthritis is pain described by patients as anything from mild to moderately dull aching to deep and throbbing pain. It usually beings as a major ache that appears only after the joint has been used, and the pain often disappears with rest. But as the disease progresses, a sharp pain may strike as soon as the joint is moved or used, even a little. Eventually, the joint aches even when in a resting position, unused and un-pressured. In severe cases, osteoarthritic pain can disrupt sleep, making life even more miserable.

Stiffness: Osteoarthritic joints are often stiff, especially in the morning. They may also “lock up” after long periods of inactivity, such as while sitting in a car or a movie theatre. Early in the disease process the stiffness lasts only briefly and can easily be “worked out”. But as the disease worsens, a permanent loss of range of motion occurs that does not change, even with war-up and continual motion.

Joint Crackling: Also known as crepitus, this crackling and crunching feeling emanating from the affected joint (most often a knee and less commonly a hip) occurs in advanced stages of osteoarthritis. It may be caused by the joints rubbing together during regular use, or when the joint is passively manipulated during a medical examination. Most often striking the knees, the “creaking” sound can sometimes be heard all the way across a room! As frightening as it sounds, however, it’s usually painless or, at most accompanied by only a dull sensation.

Deformity and Joint Enlargement / Inflammation:
As the cartilage degenerates, the bones become damaged and the body’s regulatory mechanisms fail, the affiliated joint may become deformed. Bone spurs (osteophytes) may twist the joint’s contours, making it difficult to move the bones. Heberden’s nodes can disfigure the joints of the fingers closest to the fingertips, while Bouchard’s nodes can cause enlargement of the middle joints of the fingers. There may also be bone cysts, gross bony overgrowth, bowed legs, and knock knees. Fluid retention can also be a problem.
Although osteoarthritis can strike any joint, its “favourite” target are the fingers, weight bearing joints such as the knees and hips, the neck, lower back, and some joints in the feet. It can appear in one or more joints, anywhere in the body, but does not usuallystrike symmetrically.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GLUCOSAMINE AND CARTILEGE
It is important to remember the four elements of healthy cartilage. These are:
• Collagen
• proteoglycans
• chondrocytes
• Water

Glucosamine is a major building block of the water-loving proteoglycans. Specifically, glucosamine is needed to make the glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), proteins that bind water in the cartilage matrix. Besides providing raw material for the synthesis of proteoglycans and GAGs, glucosamine’s mere presence acts as a stimulant to the cells that produce these products, the chondrocytes. In fact, glucosamine has been found to be the key factoring in determining how many proteoglycans are produced by the chondrocytes. If there is a lot of glucosamine present, then a lot of proteoglycans will be produced, and a lot of water will be held in its proper place. But if only a little glucosamine is available, fewer proteoglycans will be made, and less of the water will be attracted to the area.

Glucosamine has also been shown to spur the chondrocytes to produce more collagen and proteoglycans, and it also normalizes cartilage metabolism, which helps to keep the cartilage from breaking down.

Because glucosamine “jump starts” the production of these key elements of the cartilage matrix, and then protects them, it can actually help the body to repair damaged or eroded cartilage.

In other words, glucosamine strengthens your body’s natural repair mechanism.

Several studies have shown that glucosamine:
•stimulates the production of cartilage
•helps to reduce pain and
•Improves joint function in those with osteoarthritis