Best Anti-Inflammatory Supplements - 8 Supplements That Fight Inflammation

The inflammatory response is a core function in human health, in which the body will intentionally cause swelling around a damaged area in order to protect it and give it time to repair itself. The problem is, the body's response is often too aggressive and can lead to pain that is far worse than the original issue.

With this immune response being able to cause external issues like joint or muscle pain, as well as internal stomach pain, people will often seek out prescription medications to relieve pain and inflammation. The problem is, research suggests these can often cause further complications, such as kidney or liver disease.

That is why people are more and more often turning to natural remedies, as studies on complementary and integrative health show natural anti-inflammatory supplements can fight inflammation just as well, while not putting your body at risk of further damage. The only problem is, many people don't know which one to use.

That is why we have created the following guide to the best anti-inflammatory supplements on the market today. By detailing the exact anti-inflammatory effects that each one produces, we can help everyone find the perfect option to fight pain and inflammation and support the body's ability to effectively repair itself.

The 8 Most Potent Anti-Inflammatory Supplements

FlexAgain - The Best Anti-Inflammatory Supplement Overall

FlexAgain is easily the best supplement to reduce inflammation available on the market today. Made with only optimal doses of high quality, clinically proven, natural ingredients, it is a perfect choice for virtually all types of inflammation or joint issues that you may be dealing with.

The FlexAgain formula consists of omega 3 fatty acids, curcumin extract (turmeric), glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, ginger and blue galangal extracts, bromelain, resveratrol, boswellic acid, MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), and the fat soluble vitamins vitamin k and vitamin d.

Omega 3 fatty acids are a type of healthy fat often made from fatty fish or fish oil, but which can also be obtained from some plant sources like seeds and pulses as well.

They help to lubricate the joints, promote connective tissue growth, reduce the production of c reactive protein, and provide relief from degenerative autoimmune diseases such as arthritis (1).

A vitamin d deficiency can lead to inflammation and joint pains, so keeping your levels up by taking natural supplements that contain vitamin d will prevent this from happening and stop the health conditions it could cause from developing (2).

Vitamin k then serves a very similar purpose and has been shown to be very useful to treat osteoarthritis and its symptoms as well (3). It is also able to improve both the efficacy and absorption of vitamin d when they are used together in dietary supplements like they are here.

Ginger is a herbal extract that has long been used in traditional medicines as it is known to be great for reducing inflammation and joint pains (4). Blue galangal extract is another herbal remedy popular in Asian traditional medicines that has similar inflammation and pain relieving qualities (5).

The Arthritis Foundation also claims that combining the two together in a single supplement can enhance the bioavailability, efficacy, and natural anti inflammatory properties of both, as well as that of blood thinners, by as much as 1200 percent.

Boswellic acid comes from the boswellia serrata trees in India and Pakistan, resveratrol is made primarily from grapes and grapevines, and turmeric is produced from the roots of the curcuma longa plant and is known to be rich in a chemical called curcumin (6)(7)(8).

All three are powerful antioxidants that have been used in traditional medicines for centuries as they have potent anti inflammatory properties.

They can ease joint pains, protect the joints and cartilage from any further damage, and block free radicals and reduce cytokine levels, to prevent any new inflammation or oxidative damage or stress as well.

Chondroitin and glucosamine sulfate are both core components of human cartilage and which can be either extracted from shellfish or manufactured in labs for use in anti inflammatory supplements.

They are often used together as they combine to form one of the best known and most potent joint pain relief remedies, and they have the ability to combat everything from mild joint discomfort to severe joint pains or arthritis and its symptoms (9).

MSM is a compound rich in sulphur that is found primarily in green vegetables which is often added to dietary supplements that contain glucosamine and chondroitin as it can boost their absorption and efficacy even further. Bromelain is then an enzyme that is most commonly found in pineapples.

Together, bromelain and MSM can help treat joint pains and arthritis symptoms and restore joint functions that have been lost due to joint inflammation or cartilage degradation (10)(11).

The diverse formula that FlexAgain uses allows it to deliver many health benefits and treat joint pains and reduce inflammation from every angle. That is why we feel it is easily the best supplement to help people fight inflammation and chronic inflammatory diseases on the market today.

Pros

All of its ingredients are proven to relieve pain and inflammation
Can be used by people who avoid fish oil supplements
Everything is optimally dosed to ensure maximum efficacy, without causing any side effects
Can relieve joint pains and restore joint health and functions
Can treat arthritis pain and symptoms

Cons

Quite expensive and only available directly from the official FlexAgain website

Physio Flex Pro - The Best Anti-Inflammatory Supplement for Osteoarthritis

Physio Flex Pro is generally one of the better supplements on the market to fight inflammation, but it is a particularly good choice for people looking to relieve arthritis pain, as it was designed with a formula that is specifically created to combat knee osteoarthritis.

It primarily includes ingredients that we saw in FlexAgain, as it uses glucosamine hydrochloride, bromelain, ginger extract, turmeric extract, chondroitin, and MSM. These will again affect the body, immune system, and inflammation in the same ways, only to differing degrees, due to the different dosages present.

However, it is the two new ingredients that make the Physio Flex Pro formula special, which are selenium and black pepper fruit extract.

Selenium is a mineral that will reduce inflammation of all kinds, but it is specifically useful for reducing the chronic inflammation caused by osteoarthritis. It can also improve cartilage health and growth and boost the production of synovial fluid, to keep the joints flexible and lubricated and prevent joint stiffness (12).

Black pepper fruit extract contains an alkaloid called piperine, which can produce a mild anti inflammatory effect on its own. However, it is mainly added to supplements such as this as it has the ability to boost the bioavailability and absorption of the other ingredients used, making them more effective in the process (13).

Physio Flex Pro is admittedly one of the more expensive supplements of its kind on the market, which will put a number of people off of using it. This is especially true as it also features lower ingredient dosages than many of its competitors that use the same compounds.

These issues aside though, if you are exclusively seeking a natural supplement that focuses on helping your body combat the joint and muscle soreness caused by osteoarthritis and improving the health and growth of your cartilage, it is still one of the better anti inflammatory joint supplements that you will find.

Pros

Uses ingredients that have extensive scientific evidence to prove they relieve chronic inflammation
Perfectly formulated to help combat knee pain and osteoarthritis and its symptoms
Can reduce joint pains and stiffness and promote better cartilage and joint health and flexibility

Cons

Lower ingredient dosages mean it will not ease all forms of inflammation as well as some other options
One of the most expensive supplements of its kind on the market today

U.S. Doctors' Clinical Arthro-7 Healthy Joint Support - The Best Anti Inflammatory Supplement For Rheumatoid Arthritis

U.S. Doctors' Clinical Arthro-7 Healthy Joint Support is a supplement that is full of powerful antioxidant and anti inflammatory ingredients, but which has been specifically designed to help people combat rheumatoid arthritis and relieve a variety of other joint issues.

The U.S. Doctors' Clinical Arthro-7 Healthy Joint Support formula consists of vitamin c, collagen, CMO (cetyl myristoleate), lipase 30, MSM, turmeric, and bromelain.

Bromelain, MSM, and turmeric were all seen in both the previous supplements we looked at. They will again serve the same functions, which are to relieve joint pains, inflammation, arthritis symptoms, and cartilage degradation, restore joint function, repair damaged cartilage, and combat free radicals and oxidative stress.

Vitamin c is commonly found in fruits and vegetables and is well known to boost the immune system. It can help ease inflammation and pain in the joints, prevent free radical damage, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disorders, reduce blood pressure, and combat a variety of chronic diseases (14).

Collagen is the main component of both the cartilage that stops our bones from rubbing together and the connective tissues that connect our joints. By taking it in supplement form you can boost its growth, fix any damage, and ease the pain that arthritis causes, while preventing the symptoms from getting worse (15).

CMO is a cetylated fatty acid that enhances joint lubrication, reduces joint inflammation, eases joint pains, and prevents the joints from deteriorating any further by suppressing certain pathways (16).

Lipase 30 is a protein that will help to break triglycerides down into fatty acids and glycerol. This will help them lubricate the joints even more, further reducing pain and improving joint mobility (17).

There is one big issue with U.S. Doctors' Clinical Arthro-7 Healthy Joint Support though, which is that every active ingredient besides vitamin c is lumped into one massive proprietary blend. This hides the exact dose of each ingredient present and prevents us from knowing exactly what effects it is able to produce.

However, while this may not be suitable for everyone, reviews and research suggests that it can still be a great supplement for people who are specifically trying to combat rheumatoid arthritis and its symptoms. The fact that it is very reasonably priced and GMO and gluten free will also appeal to many people as well.

Pros

Fairly priced and very easy to get hold of
All the ingredients are proven to be very useful for maintaining healthy joints
Specially designed to ease the joint pains and symptoms of people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis
Has received positive reviews from rheumatoid arthritis sufferers

Cons

All but one of the active ingredients being put in a single proprietary blend makes it virtually impossible to determine the true dosage and potential benefits that each may be able to offer

Vital Proteins Collagen Beauty Greens - The Best Supplement For Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Vital Proteins Collagen Beauty Greens differs from all the other supplements on our list in a range of ways.

Not only is it designed as a drink powder, rather than a capsule, but it is also a greens supplement for which combatting inflammation is not the primary goal. However, its formula does make it one of the best options to combat gastrointestinal issues, such as gut inflammation and ulcerative colitis.

The Vital Proteins Collagen Beauty Greens formula consists of bovine hide collagen peptides, hyaluronic acid, the probiotic bacillus coagulans, and a Superfood Greens Blend containing wheat grass, alfalfa leaf, kale, barley grass, and spinach, as well as coconut & vanilla powders.

Bovine hide collagen peptides improve the health, functions, repair, and strength of the skin, hair, nails, joints, and muscles, and remove any visible cellulite, while containing 8 of the 9 essential amino acids, which will help improve intestine functions and blood clotting and prevent issues during pregnancy (18).

Hyaluronic acid is one of the main components of human skin and can repair the damage caused by inflammation and relieve the pain it causes.

It can boost eye health and functions and joint, cartilage, and connective tissue health, strength, mobility, flexibility and elasticity, ease painful or stiff joints, improve skin and hair moisture, elasticity, health, and healing time, and reduce wrinkles and the signs of aging (19).

What makes Vital Proteins Collagen Beauty Greens so effective for combatting inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) though, is the presence of Bacillus coagulans, a type of healthy bacteria known as a probiotic.

One of the most popular and effective probiotics, Bacillus coagulans is said to aid digestion, boost gut health, relieve stomach pains and diarrhoea, and combat chronic digestive issues, like IBD and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) (20).

The greens blend then supports healthy cells and immune function, reduces oxidative damage and stress, inflammation, cholesterol, blood sugar, and the risk of heart disease, combats metabolic syndrome, boosts brain, eye, and gut health and functions, and protects various internal organs from inflammatory damage.

Beyond the benefits it offers regarding inflammation, the supplement will also boost skin moisture and elasticity, prevent the signs of aging, and promote healthy hair, nails, and digestion. The coconut and vanilla powders then create its flavour and make it enjoyable to use.

Admittedly, the fact that some of the ingredient dosages are a little low and others are hidden in a proprietary blend will be an issue for some people, as will the fact that the supplement is not specifically designed to combat inflammation.

However, if your priority is finding a supplement that can help combat your IBD and boost your gut health, while relieving inflammation throughout the rest of your body at the same time, then Vital Proteins Collagen Beauty Greens is one of the better options for you to try.

Pros

Contains a number of ingredients that benefit your skin and health
Features an optimal dose of collagen peptides
Fairly reasonably priced and easy to mix
Does not require you to swallow any pills or capsules

Cons

A proprietary blend is used to mask the dosages of some ingredients
Some of the ingredients are present in insufficient dosages
Not specifically designed to help with inflammation

Vimerson Health Vegan Glucosamine Chondroitin Phytodroitin MSM & Burdock Root - The Best Vegan Anti Inflammatory Supplement

Vimerson Health Vegan Glucosamine Chondroitin Phytodroitin MSM & Burdock Root is a totally vegan product that is a great option for people who are looking to combat inflammation without using fish oil supplements or animal products of any kind.

Its formula consists of vegan glucosamine sulfate sodium, vegan MSM, burdock root 4:1 extract, and a vegan version of chondroitin called phytodroitin.

As we have already seen repeatedly, the mix of MSM, glucosamine, and chondroitin is very popular and effective when it comes to combatting inflammation and joint pains. The versions of chondroitin and glucosamine used here though are a little different, to make sure they are suitable for vegans.

While the MSM comes from its normal plant based sources, they use glucosamine that is produced naturally by a type of fungus called aspergillus niger. The chondroitin is truly unique though, as they use a version called phytodroitin, which is artificially produced in a lab.

The one totally new ingredient that we have not looked at yet is burdock root extract. This is a great alternative to fish oil for vegans, as it is rich in omega 3 fatty acids that will aid joint lubrication and mobility and help to ease inflammation and the pain that it causes (21).

There are a couple of issues with this supplement that we do need to mention though.

Not only have vegan glucosamine and chondroitin sources been studied less extensively and fewer reports on their effects been produced, but, as plant based ingredients for relieving inflammation are harder to come by, they have been used in very high doses, which pose a greater risk of side effects.

However, as many past customers have claimed it does help ease joint pains and inflammation and improve bone and joint health to some level, with little mention of side effects, Vimerson Health Vegan Glucosamine Chondroitin Phytodroitin MSM & Burdock Root is still a good option for vegans dealing with inflammation.

Pros

Suitable for vegans
Has a very fair price tag
All the ingredients are proven to reduce joint pains and inflammation levels and improve bone health

Cons

Vegan chondroitin and glucosamine are used in very high doses which could cause side effects
Vegan glucosamine and chondroitin sources are less studied, so it is harder to accurately predict what they will do

Nuzena Joint Support + - The Best Budget Supplement To Reduce Inflammation

Nuzena Joint Support + is a natural supplement made to boost bone and joint health and cartilage growth and mobility, and treat inflammation and conditions like arthritis, while not costing a fortune.

Its formula mostly features ingredients we have already looked at, including boswellia extract, bromelain, MSM, turmeric, glucosamine, and chondroitin, and they will all offer the same benefits again, only on different levels. However, it also contains two new ingredients as well, which are quercetin and methionine.

Quercetin is a flavonoid found in many foods and plants, such as green tea, which has been proven to help reduce inflammation, joint pains, swelling, blood sugar levels, and the risk of heart disease, and combat autoimmune diseases like arthritis and a number of other chronic illnesses (22).

Methionine, meanwhile, is an essential amino acid found in most meats and dairy products, as well as some beans, which is an antioxidant and anti inflammatory. It can also boost cell metabolism and treat conditions like arthritis or fibromyalgia, and it is at its most potent when combined with glucosamine like it is here (23).

The one issue with Nuzena Joint Support + is that it contains lower dosages of all of its ingredients compared to other supplements that use a similar formula, so will not produce quite such potent effects. This should not be overly surprising though, given that it also boasts a significantly lower price tag.

That is why we still rank it as one of the best supplements to use to combat inflammation for people who are shopping on a very tight budget.

Pros

All of the ingredients are proven to combat inflammation and joint pains
One of the lowest priced supplements of its kind on the market today
Easier to get hold of than many similar supplements

Cons

Most of the ingredients are present in quite small dosages
Will not be quite as effective as some more potent supplements
Green tea extract would have reduced inflammation more than the quercetin that it contains

Animal Flex - The Best Supplement To Reduce Inflammation While Working Out

Animal Flex is among the most popular joint supplements around and is made by well known fitness brand Universal Nutrition with the specific intention of combating inflammation, repairing connective tissues, and promoting joint health, mobility, function, lubrication, and maintenance in people who are physically active.

The Animal Flex ingredients are split into three proprietary blends, which are the Joint Construction Complex, Joint Lubrication Complex, and Joint Support Complex.

The Joint Construction Complex contains MSM, glucosamine hydrochloride, and chondroitin sulfates a and c. The Joint Lubrication Complex consists of flax seed oil and cetyl myristoleate. The Joint Support Complex has ginger root extract, turmeric root extract, boswellia serrata extract, quercetin, and bromelain.

We have seen the majority of these ingredients before and they again do the same things here.

MSM, glucosamine, and chondroitin all relieve joint pains, reduce inflammation, and treat arthritis and its symptoms. Ginger root, turmeric root, and boswellia serrata extracts, bromelain, and the quercetin found in green tea will reduce and prevent inflammation and swelling and speed up the recovery of damaged joints.

The Lubrication Complex is the only Animal Flex blend to feature a new ingredient, which is flax seed oil. When combined with CMO (cetyl myristoleate), these fatty acids are great alternatives to fish oil to help people improve the flexibility, lubrication, and mobility of their joints, without using animal products (24).

The formula then also includes vitamin c, vitamin e, zinc, selenium, and manganese. These vitamins and minerals will help boost your immune health and functions, to ensure your body stays strong and healthy and has the ability to fight off inflammation as quickly as possible.

The big issue with Animal Flex though, is that all of its ingredients except the vitamins and minerals are in proprietary blends, so you have no way of knowing how much of each you are using. It is then also quite expensive and can't be used by people on blood thinners, due to the presence of quercetin.

If none of these issues are a deal breaker for you though, that fact that it can benefit your joints and pairs well with a number of the other supplements in the Universal Nutrition range mean that it is a good choice for people who want to reduce inflammation and joint pains while continuing to work out.

Pros

All the ingredients are proven to benefit the joints in one way or another
Formulated to relieve inflammation and boost your overall health simultaneously
Made by a very popular and well known brand

Cons

Proprietary blends hide the ingredient doses and some are visibly too low
More proof is needed to determine how much some of the ingredients will affect inflammation
Quite pricey and not suitable for people taking blood thinning medications
Contains soy and a number of ingredients not suitable for vegetarians

Solgar No 7 - The Best In Store Supplement To Reduce Inflammation

Solgar No 7 is a joint supplement made by a well known brand that is widely available in health stores and designed to boost joint comfort, flexibility, health, and mobility, and improve bone and cartilage health.

Its formula contains boswellia serrata extract, turmeric root extract, white willow bark extract, ginger root extract, UC-II standardized cartilage, pepper spice complex (cayenne powder (capsicum annuum [fruit]), bioperine black pepper extract), and vitamin c.

We have seen most of these ingredients before and they again do the same jobs and combat inflammation in the same ways. However, the white willow bark extract and cayenne powder are both new.

White willow bark extract contains a naturally occurring chemical called salicin, which is claimed to offer relief from bone, muscle, and joint pains, and combat arthritis, fevers, flus, and other issues, such as heart disease (25).

Cayenne pepper powder contains a chemical called capsaicin, which can reduce joint discomfort, stress, and inflammation, and the risk of injury, and boost weight loss, fat burning, and your metabolism (26).

The main issue with Solgar No 7 is that there is no conclusive proof that white willow bark extract, the main ingredient in the formula, actually does what is claimed. Using dosages lower than you will find in comparable supplements if far from ideal as well.

However, if your priority is finding a supplement to reduce inflammation that is made by a reputable company and can actually be bought in store, rather than online, Solgar No 7 is one of the best options out there.

Pros

Most of the ingredients are proven to combat inflammation
Contains only natural ingredients
The serving size is very small
Can be bought in person from many health stores

Cons

All the ingredient doses are lower than optimal
Its most abundant ingredient is not conclusively proven to actually work

Final Thoughts On The Top Anti Inflammatory Supplements To Combat Chronic Inflammation

No matter where it occurs in your body, acute inflammation causes severe pain and chronic conditions that have the ability to take over your life. By using natural supplements made of anti inflammatory compounds, you can safely reduce the harmful anti inflammatory markers and restore your body to optimal health.

As far as anti inflammatory supplements go, the best option for most people is easily FlexAgain. Made with only optimal doses of high quality ingredients with proven anti inflammatory properties, it has the ability to combat even chronic inflammation and promote health improvements that let you function as normal.

If, for any reason, FlexAgain does not sound like the right choice for you, then one of the other options on our list of the top anti inflammatory supplements surely will. For everyone else though, we strongly suggest that you give FlexAgain a try and see just how incredible its anti inflammatory effects are for yourself.

Disclaimer: The above is a sponsored post, the views expressed are those of the sponsor/author and do not represent the stand and views of Outlook Editorial.