What Is Green Lipped Mussel Extract?
Green lipped mussel extract is the subject of studies and research conducted to learn more about why a group of people who ate the raw green lipped mussels as a staple in their diet – didn’t suffer from the arthritis and joint problems that would be anticipated from the harsh climate where they lived.
It is a unique profile of nutrients, removed from the Perna canaliculus species of shellfish, which is found in the waters of New Zealand – and that has been called one of the most complete whole foods that are known.
It is the content of a natural health supplement, that can provide you with numerous important health benefits – primary among these being:
- reducing excess inflammation
- relieving joint pain and stiffness
But also including a broad range of additional benefits for: skin care, circulatory system, immune system, bones and teeth, fertility, nervous system, and general nutrition.
| Green lipped mussel extract helps reduce inflammation and relieve joint pain – from a natural food source, and without side effects. |
Green Lipped Mussel Extract Nutrients
There really is a remarkable and diverse ‘collection’ of nutrients in this amazing shellfish – we are talking about the following:
- proteins and amino acids
- omega-3 fatty acids
- glycosaminoglycans
- complex carbohydrates
- lipids
- vitamins and minerals
Let’s talk about some of the green lipped mussel nutrients, and the associated health benefits that they provide.
Omega-3
This is an essential fatty acid – which means it is something that your body needs but can’t make, so you must get it through your diet or through supplements.
Omega-3 is very important because it is one of the best natural anti-inflammatories, and excess inflammation is a cause for many health issues including heart conditions and problems from inflamed joints – in fact, the American Heart Association has recommended that everyone increase the amount of fish they eat so they will get more omega-3.
That would surely be helpful, but you aren’t going to get near the maximum recommended allowance of omega-3 by just eating fish. I have been to many nutrition sites of different types, and if there is one supplement that they all seem to recommend, it is fish oil omega-3.
Omega-3 Studies
And green lipped mussel extract may be a more powerful omega-3 source; the following is a study that was done showing this.
While doing research for his book ‘The Truth About Fish Oil’, Dr. Howard Peiper compared the omega-3 from salmon oil with that from the green lipped mussel. His conclusion was the mussels have a higher concentration, and a far more powerful omega-3 than the salmon oil, by over 200 times. Thus, not only would this result in being more effective as an anti-inflammatory – he went on to say that the mussel omega-3 was revolutionary for essential fatty acid supplements.
| Green lipped mussel extract omega-3 has been called revolutionary for essential fatty acid supplementation. |
Glycosaminoglycans
Glycosaminoglycans include glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin.
These are compounds that are found in our bodies that provide a number of important functions: preservation of connective tissues, lubrication of joints, and growth and repair of cartilage. The problem is that these are ‘used-up’ as we age – which is likely related to the joint problems and arthritis that occur as we get older.
Glucosamine and chondroitin are very widely taken alone as supplements, but with mixed results – and probably not of the same quality as found in green lipped mussel extract. Having a natural source, that includes the additional anti-inflammatory properties of the omega-3, can provide a more effective alternative.
Complex Carbohydrates
As highly beneficial as omega-3 and glycosaminoglycans are to the mussel extract – the most valuable nutrients of all may be the complex carbohydrates, or mucopolysaccharides.
Why would mucopolysaccharides be so important? Because there are some scientists that believe a lack of these are very much related to how we age, even referring to them as ‘the glue of life’.
Mucopolysaccharides Studies
These became known to the scientific community as a result of studies done by Dr. Orville H. Miller. Dr. Miller, a pharmaceutical chemist, was studying the green lipped mussel for natural medicine benefits, and saw the mucopolysaccharides as playing a significant part in metabolism, growth, and overall health – to the extent that these may become viewed as essential to our body similarly to the essential fatty acids.
If this is the case, then green lipped mussel extract has become all the more important. We lose mucopolysaccharides at an exponential rate as we age, with 90% of these gone by the time we are 10 years old – and the these mussels may be the best natural source for replacement.
More Important Green Lipped Mussel Extract Information
We have talked about some of the key green lipped mussel nutrients and related benefits, now the ‘kicker’ – these all come from the raw mussels.
To receive the potential benefits the raw mussels must be eaten fresh, without ever being frozen, and uncooked. Considering that they are found in the waters of New Zealand, this just isn’t going to be possible for most people.
However, green lipped mussel extract supplements are available to everyone – if the supplements used the best type of mussel extract, and if the extract was processed in a way that supplements still retained the characteristics of the raw mussels.
Green Lipped Mussel Extract Types
There are 2 types of mussel extract: (1) green lipped mussel powder (2) green lipped mussel oil – you want supplements that have been made from the mussel powder.
The mussel oil is extracted from the mussel powder, and when this is done it is no longer a whole food because of nutrients that are lost in the process. As well, the mussel oil only consists of about 8-10 percent of the powder.
And, there are additional cautions to be concerned about. Most manufactures blend different types of oils with the mussel oil to make the finished product, so you might not be getting enough quantity of mussel oil to receive the benefits it would be capable of providing. As well, these additional oils may not be synergistic with the mussel oil, leading to the possibility that your supplement might even add inflammation.
The result of is a relatively more expensive supplement when compared to the powder, that is not able to provide all the health benefits of the raw mussel – and that can still be available from the mussel powder extract.
| Your green lipped mussel extract supplements should be made with mussel powder and not mussel oil. |
Green Lipped Mussel Extract Powder Processing
I said “that can still be available”, because taking mussel powder supplements is not enough; the nutrients can still be ruined in the manufacturing process depending on how this is done.
How the extracted mussel powder is made into supplements is critical, if they are going to retain the benefits they are capable of providing. Here is where you as a supplement buyer, must do some careful research for the following:
- Mussel freshness – were they used immediately after harvesting, and were they kept alive until they were processed.
- Nutrient degradation – were the mussels ever frozen or cooked with high heat during processing, because this will ruin the nutrients.
- Processing speed – how long does processing take, because if it takes days like it does for some producers, then the quality of the supplement will be compromised.
Xtend-Life Natural Health Supplements
I would like to introduce you to Xtend-Life, one of the most innovative and quality conscious supplement producers in the world. Their motto, “using science to get the best out of nature”, has led them to being more technologically advanced and effective than other supplement makers.
And yes, Xtend-life properly extracts the mussel powder from live mussels at the time of processing, then producing it into supplements that are never frozen or cooked with high temperatures. They then complete the whole process in only 30 minutes – you can be assured that these green lipped mussel powder supplements have the nutrient profile of the raw mussel.
| Xtend-Life green lipped mussel powder supplements retain the nutrients of the raw mussels. |
Please go to the Xtend-life website to learn more information about the company, and about all of their supplements – which of course includes green lipped mussel powder supplements, and why they are likely the best available in the world.
Xtend-Life Green Lipped Mussel Powder Supplements
