Supports Cartilage Repair:
Morning pain and stiffness—in the joints, tendons, and muscles might be something you’re very familiar with or are just starting to get glimpses of while you're still young. Or maybe a loved one is experiencing this immense discomfort and you want to help. This discomfort is usually the result of a variety of sources, but there are natural, nutritional ways to reduce joint inflammation and alleviate the majority of these symptoms. By understanding the causes of morning joint pain, prevention strategies, and how nutrition like bovine collagen and deer antler velvet can help, you can proactively take steps to improve your joint health and overall well-being.
Common Types of Arthritic Morning Pain :
- Osteoarthritis (OA):
- Knees and hips are especially prone to OA but if you manage it well (e.g. a consistent morning movement routine) it often takes less than 30 minutes to get over it and start your day. This link to YouTube includes a selection of mobility exercise videos - take your pick! Maybe you find one you like and stick with it, or perhaps you like to mix things up and do a few different ones each week. The key is consistency - doing 1 routine a day, everyday.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA):
- Unfortunately takes longer to shake. Even with a good movement routine in place, some light stretching or yoga, it might be an hour or more to properly get through this challenging start to the day. But you will get through it - and here's another selection of videos on YouTube to get you started (some are just 15 minutes - that's not much time to increase the quality of your day insurmountably).
General Causes of Morning Joint Pain:
In essence, there are three main factors that contribute to morning joint pain:
- Inflammation and Joint Degeneration: Cartilage wear and degeneration can cause mild inflammation of the joints, tendons, or ligaments. This is part of aging for most people, though people who played contact sport in their younger years or were a bit tough on their bodies though physical, repetitive work are more prone to basic inflammation and joint degeneration.
- Chronic Conditions: If you have osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis then joint degeneration and inflammation are common symptoms that accompany these conditions.
- Poor Sleep: Sleep quality is a major determinant of how your joints are feeling and your mobility level. How’s your mattress - is it comfortable and supportive, helping you get a good night’s sleep, or is it too hard/too soft and getting in the way of that awesome night’s sleep we’re all craving? Do other factors impair your sleep? There is so much information available online, common knowledge, common sense, and even sleep therapists - so if you need to make a change to improve your sleep, we'd really encourage you to spend a little time finding out what the problem is and, if you can, address it (often easier said than done, but the return on investment in quality sleep is tremendous.
Prevention and Management of Morning Pain:
Regular Physical Activity:
Walking or other light exercises are great for better joint mobility; nothing intense is required, it just needs to be consistent. If walking isn’t your thing, here's that link again to a curated list of free videos on YouTube to guide you through some light exercise and mobility drills which you can do in your own living room (even your own bed in some cases).
Weight Loss:
Reducing excess weight helps reduce the load on weight-bearing joints like the knees and hips, leading to less strain and pain.
Proper Nutrition:
A diet rich in cartilage-boosting ingredients such as collagen and anti-inflammatory foods can promote joint health and reduce stiffness. And if you’re a drinker (of alcohol), do your best to A/ not let drinking affect your sleep and B/ understand that you will have to work hard in some other parts of your life to minimize alcohol’s impact on your morning stiffness - for instance, swapping out a high cholesterol fried breakfast (which is also highly inflammatory) for something lighter which won’t further aggravate those surly joints.
How Bovine Collagen Helps with Joint Health and Morning Stiffness:
Various quality collagen rich foods will do the job, but chief among them is bovine collagen from New Zealand, which is rich in Type I and Type III collagen, plays a significant role in maintaining the strength and integrity of joints, bones, and connective tissues
Why New Zealand bovine collagen? Because of the world leading standards of animal welfare and the fact that these cows are raised on a natural, clean diet—free from antibiotics, added hormones, and GMOs; basically anything except green grass and pure water.
Anyway, here's how NZ's bovine collagen supports overall joint health - for women and for men especially if you’re over 30 for most people or, if you’re at high risk of arthritis (either hereditary or through accumulated injuries to your joints and bones in your younger years) then as early as 25, which is when most people’s bodies will stop producing as much collagen as it did in its glory days.
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Supports Cartilage Repair:
Type I and III collagen (found in bovine collagen) provide vital support for joint health by promoting tissue repair and regeneration. Bovine collagen stimulates collagen production, especially in tendons, ligaments, and bones, helping to maintain cartilage integrity and reducing morning joint pain.
2. Improves Joint Function:
Joint lubrication and inflammation relief are 2 of bovine collagen’s most renowned benefits, both of which can improve flexibility and reduce morning stiffness. Collagen production naturally decreases as we age by an average 1-2% once you hit 30, but certain factors like menopause in women or simply reaching the milestone age of 40 can both result in massive reductions of natural collagen production (in the 30-40% range). If your body isn’t producing enough collagen you do need to get it into your body somehow (definitely not topically creams to be clear);
One of the most effective ways to boost collagen levels is through consuming high-quality collagen supplements. By supplementing your diet with high quality bovine collagen you can significantly improve joint lubrication and reduce stiffness and soreness in your joints.
3. Bone Strength:
Collagen is a critical component of bone structure, and bovine collagen supports bone density by stimulating osteoblasts (bone-forming cells) to promote bone health. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals at risk of osteoporosis or bone fractures, conditions that often accompany joint degeneration.
4. Strengthening Tendons and Ligaments:
Tendons and ligaments, which are primarily made up of Type I collagen, provide structural support to the joints. Regular collagen supplementation can help these tissues stay strong and flexible, improving overall joint stability and reducing the risk of injury.
How Deer Antler Velvet Supports Joint Health:
Deer antler velvet is another powerful natural supplement that helps address morning stiffness and joint discomfort. It contains so many different natural compounds recognized for their joint and mobility benefits - from commonly known ones like glucosamine and chondroitin - to more exotic sounding ones which have been at our fingertips for centuries (through Traditional Chinese Medicine for instance) but in the West have simply not been recognized and utilized for their remarkable, natural effects. We are playing catch up in the West in other words (just like yoga, meditation, mindfulness and the plethora of other practices or dietary supplements which have been considered a staple, or way of life for many Eastern cultures). The “more exotic ones” referred to here in this instance include Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) and Insulin Growth Factor (IGF-1). Both, it should be said have started to gain traction in the last 20 years in the West albeit with the emphasis on a different set of their benefits; EGF for instance is popular in high-end skin serums for its role in keeping skin free of wrinkles, smooth and hydrated. IGF-1 has been used for its performance-enhancing effects in athletics since the late 20th century, though its use sparked more controversy in the 2010s after high-profile cases like NFL star Ray Lewis (although it had been a mainstay of Soviet/Russian Olympic athletes well before the Ray lewis saga). High doses of IGF-1 remain banned by most anti-doping agencies (see WADA for more information), though quality deer velvet in moderate doses is fortunately legal and contains an abundance of therapeutic nutrients, amino acids, collagen and the like. Focusing on the internal benefits of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) for now (and not the external ones i.e. beautiful skin). Here’s a summary of how EGF works:
- Promotes Cartilage Repair:
- EGF can stimulate cartilage cell growth and regeneration which is what you want if repairing damaged cartilage in the joints is a part of your plan to stop feeling stiff and painful each morning. It’s particularly helpful if you are dealing with osteoarthritis or joint degeneration. EGF supports the formation and survival of cartilage, leading to improved joint lubrication and less friction between the bones.
- Reduces Inflammation:
- EGF has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce swelling in the joints, alleviating pain and stiffness. This can provide significant relief for people suffering from morning stiffness, whether it's due to arthritis or overuse. If ibuprofen is your current go-to for anti-inflammation take note of EGF (and IGF-1 too) because a light, natural alternative taken daily as a holistic approach to your health is in most people’s best interests. You should probably still keep some ibuprofen in the cupboard for acute inflammation for a limited time (overuse can cause stomach ulcers or worse), but prevention is the best cure and that’s what deer velvet is great for.
- Enhances Joint Health:
- EGF promotes joint cushioning by stimulating cartilage production, and enhances the mechanical properties of the cartilage, making movement smoother and less painful. Nature published this study in its Bone Research section on the epidermal growth factor receptor's (EGFR) potentially consequential role in OA/osteoarthritis - it's worth a read if you have time (or just skip straight to the Results if scientific papers aren't your thing..).
- Supports Bone Health:
- EGF also plays a role in bone health by stimulating the production of bone-forming cells, helping to improve bone density and strength, which is essential for overall joint stability.
Lifestyle Factors That Contribute to Morning Stiffness:
- Prolonged Sitting:
- Sitting for long periods weakens the muscles around your joints, reducing support and increasing the risk of stiffness and pain. Regular movement and stretching are key to reducing stiffness, especially in the hips, knees, and lower back.
- Stress:
- Chronic stress leads to muscle tension, which can affect your posture, disrupt joint biomechanics, and lead to increased pain. Mindfulness, relaxation techniques, and stress management can help alleviate some of these issues.
- Obesity:
- Carrying excess weight puts additional strain on weight-bearing joints, like the knees, hips, and spine, leading to joint pain. Losing just 5% of body weight can make a significant difference in reducing knee pain and improving joint mobility.
Additional Tips for Reducing Morning Stiffness:
- Optimize Sleep:
- Invest in a good mattress and pillow to support proper alignment during sleep. Also, try using a body pillow for added support during the night.
- Light Morning Stretches:
- Gentle stretches, like child’s pose and supine twists, can help relieve stiffness and improve flexibility. These stretches should be done slowly and mindfully to avoid straining muscles.
- Natural Alternatives to Pain Medications:
- While over-the-counter painkillers like Meloxicam can offer relief, incorporating natural alternatives like bovine collagen and deer antler velvet can provide long-term benefits without the side effects of medication.
In a Nutshell
Morning pain and stiffness are common as we age - almost a given. But if you mix and match a few lifestyle choices then you're giving yourself a winning chance of waking up feeling limber, and more so as the day progresses.
- A short daily routine for joint mobility - from as little as 15 minutes each day to keep your joints moving, agile and ready for the occasional surprise life throws at us all - like a minor strain
- Walking - similar to the above recommended daily mobility routine, going for a decent walk each day does just as good a job. They're interchangeable in fact - walk one day and breathe in the fresh air, or stay inside and do your exercises the next day (or go outside and do them and get that fresh air as a bonus)
- Nutrition - prevention is the best cure. Velvet Blend contains over 13 grams of New Zealand beef bone broth and 250mg of single origin deer velvet in each 15 gram sachet (plus a touch of Black Beech honeydew). Take it daily. You can more than likely throw away your glucosamine, chondroitin, fish oil and similar supplements you may have been taking before for your joints; Velvet Blend has been designed to replace these in a convenient way with numerous other applications and benefits from improved strength, endurance and hormone balance to glowing skin and even bloating prevention. Consult a medical professional of course if you do make changes to a prescribed supplement routine.
If you have questions just email us - health@rockwoodstrong.com. We are a New Zealand owned and operated company and the key ingredients come from our own farm (Supreme Winner at New Zealand's National Sustainability Showcase in 2024 - New Zealand's 'most sustainable farm'). We have been making and using our blend for several years now but only launched the company in November 2024 so we love hearing from our customers and welcome all constructive feedback.
If you have any questions relating to shipping/importing etc again feel free to email us and we'll do our best to help. We ship using DHL and arrival times can be as little as 3 business days from New Zealand to the USA and Europe.
Order Velvet Blend directly from our website to experience the benefits for yourself.