Omega 3 Fatty Acids - 900 MG (647 MG Of EPA / 253 Of DHA)
Omega 3 fatty acids are a type of healthy fat that is most often seen in fish, but which can also be found in some seeds, nuts, beans, pulses, and even plants like seaweed as well. They are common in joint pain supplements, as they can help to improve cardiovascular health and brain, muscle, and nerve functions.
Omega 3 fatty acids are broken down into three different types, which are ALA (alpha linoleic acid), DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid), and EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid). In Relief Factor, you will find two of these types, EPA and DHA.
DHA omega 3s are perhaps the most important type, as they are what make up part of the structure of the human brain, cerebral cortex, retina, and skin.
They are commonly found in fatty fish oils and algae, as well as dairy and meats, and they can boost your vision and brain and heart health, ease arthritis symptoms, reduce your cholesterol and blood pressure, and be used to treat conditions like diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and other chronic conditions.
EPA omega 3s are also found in fatty fish oil, algae, and certain meats and dairy products. Primarily known for the mental benefits they offer, they can also help reduce inflammation, treat a variety of diseases, and even help menopausal women to reduce the frequency and severity of the hot flashes they experience.
Taking omega 3 fatty acids is useful for reducing inflammation, protecting the joints from damage, keeping them flexible, lubricated, and mobile, and even repairing damaged joints and promoting the growth of new muscle and connective tissues (1).
The issue is, while there is no optimal dosage of omega 3s yet agreed upon, most studies suggest that you need to consume a minimum of 1,100 mg of these fatty acids per day to feel any real benefits from them.
This unfortunately means that the 900 mg of omega 3s present in each serving of Relief Factor will not be strong enough to produce optimal results.
Turmeric Phospholipid (Rhizome longa L.) (Standardized To 18% Curcuminoids) - 667 MG
Turmeric is a plant extract sourced from the roots of the curcuma longa plant that has been used in both ayurvedic medicine and various Asian cuisines for centuries, due to its potent anti-inflammatory properties and distinctive peppery flavour.
The medicinal properties of turmeric come from the fact that it contains curcumin, a powerful antioxidant.
It can promote healthy joints as it is able to reduce inflammation, restore joint function, ease joint pain, especially in people with osteoarthritis, and make any other antioxidants you consume more effective.
It is even able to offer a range of health benefits beyond boosting joint health, such as treating anxiety and depression, reducing blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels, protecting the liver from toxins, and promoting fat and weight loss and preventing weight gain, which allow it to help combat obesity.
There is a major issue with how the turmeric is used here though, as curcumin is virtually impossible for human body to absorb and utilise if it is not combined with piperine (black pepper extract) or a select range of healthy fats and lipids (2).
As Relief Factor does not contain any of these additional compounds, its turmeric content is all but guaranteed to be of almost no use at all.
Epimedium (Aerial)(Standardized To 20% Icariin) - 200 MG
Epiemdium is a plant native to Asia that is better known as horny goat weed and has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine. It contains a flavonoid called icariin which is an aphrodisiac and cure for erectile dysfunction that animal studies also suggest may be capable of boosting testosterone levels.
It is put in some joint pain relief supplements, as there is evidence that it may also relieve inflammation and oxidative stress, while helping combat viruses, treat cardiovascular disease, boost energy and relaxation, reduce cholesterol and estrogen levels, and enhance blood flow, brain, and heart, and immune health and functions (3).
Unfortunately, the anti inflammatory properties of horny goat weed are another claimed benefit that has only ever been demonstrated through in vitro and animal studies, and has never been clinically tested on people, meaning there is no guarantee that they will translate to humans.
Perhaps worse still is the fact that epimedium extract has been linked to a range of side effects that includes abdominal discomfort, abnormal heart rhythms, nausea, and skin rashes, while it may also cause negative interactions with other medications, such as those for blood pressure, pulmonary disease, or clotting issues.
This means the 200 mg of epimedium present in Relief Factor is actually more likely to cause side effects than it is to do you any good.
Japanese Fleeceflower (Root)(Standardized To 96% Resveratrol) - 70 MG
Japanese fleeceflower, also known as Japanese knotweed, is a plant found throughout East Asia and its extract is used in many dietary supplements, especially those designed for treating joint pain, as it contains a chemical called resveratrol, which is also found in grapes, grapevines, almonds, and certain berries.
Used in traditional chinese medicine for centuries, resveratrol is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that can prevent oxidative stress and damage to the cells and tissues in the human body, reduce inflammation that has already occurred, and treat arthritis pain and symptoms.
It can then offer a number of non joint health benefits as well, such as keeping the gut, heart, and nervous system healthy and functioning, improving blood pressure and cholesterol levels, aiding fat loss, managing insulin and glucose sensitivity, and treating Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses (4).
Unfortunately, the 70 mg of resveratrol present in Relief Factor is below the minimum 100 mg required to be of use, so it is unlikely to provide any pain relief at all. It may do a little bit, but this just seems like penny pinching on behalf of Relief factor, and when we compare it against FlexAgain, who dose this correctly and charge less, it's yet another reason for our somewhat negative Relief Factor review.
Other Relief Factor Ingredients
Beyond the active ingredients in Relief Factor, the nutritional supplement also uses a cellulose capsule and cellulose powder, stearic acid from a vegetable source, silica, gelatin, glycerine, vitamin e (as natural d-alpha tocopherol) from soy, and an enteric coating.
While all of these are natural ingredients, none of them are used to add any beneficial effects to the Relief Factor formula. Instead, they are designed to enhance the usability and quality of the product.
Cellulose consists of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen and is sometimes put in dietary supplements to boost their texture and stability or used to create a capsule to hold the powder in. Unfortunately, it can also cause gut issues like bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, gas, and stomach pains for some people (5).
Gelatin can also be used to create a capsule, with similar effects all around. An enteric coating can then be applied to seal the capsule and prevent the active ingredients from activating until they are supposed to. It can, however, also cause side effects like headaches, gas, and gastrointestinal aggravation (6).
Stearic acid, silica, and glycerine can be used to boost the bulk, stability, and texture of a supplement, and prevent the powder sticking together, without offering any other benefits, but can cause side effects like gas, gut pain, bloating, depression, diarrhoea, forgetfulness, headaches, and low energy in some people (7).
Vitamin e is the only other ingredient that could be of use, as it can maintain the blood, brain, cells, eyes, and skin and reduce inflammation. However, the amount present in Relief Factor will be lower than the 15 mg required to do this, and it is only present to prevent the fish oil in the capsule from going bad (8).
Common questions we came across whilst researching our relief factor review
Relief Factor is without doubt a better option than Omega XL, it actually has enough omega oils to meet your daily requirements and has a couple of added ingredients we’ve mentioned already. It’s not the best option on this list, but it’s definitely better than the 300mg dose provided by the similarly priced Omega XL.
This is the one where Relief Factor really loses out. Physio Flex Pro contains a lot more of the supporting supplements than relief factor and when it comes to value for money a generic omega supplement and Physio Flex Pro will give you the most bang for your buck and the most effectively dosed ingredients giving you the best chance of finding a supplement that works for you.
This one is pretty much a no brainer, as we mentioned in the intro, the dosages in FlexAgain are better, the price point is better, the only issue is that sometimes it can be difficult to get hold of anywhere other than their website.
Want to find the best joint supplement for you? Not sure if Relief Factor is what you're looking for, then check out our list of the best on the market in 2023.
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