MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) is a natural organo-sulphur compound found in certain fruits, vegetables and grains. Nutrients close to MSM can be converted to MSM by intestinal bacteria, but not everyone has these bacteria.1 Taking a dietary supplement containing MSM directly may therefore be the best, safe and well-tolerated option. What are the properties of MSM? Due […]
Osteoarthritis: causes and effects
What is osteoarthritis? A joint is made up of two (or more) bones, the ends of which are called subchondral bones. The end of each bone is covered in cartilage, which absorbs mechanical shock and is composed of extracellular matrix (type II collagen and aggrecans: hyaluronic acid + chondroitin). The area where the two bones are closest together is […]
Sport in times of coronavirus: a good or a bad combination?
It is well known that sport is good for our mental and physical health and increases our life span. However, it seems that intense physical exercise is not advisable in some circumstances, particularly in case of risk of infection. Sport and infection: what are the risks? Sports cardiologist Dr. med Laurent Chevalier emphasizes that the […]
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Immune System: how does it work against an infection ?
A short introduction to the function of our immune system What is a pathogen ? Bacteria are organisms constituted of one cell (size in µm: one millionth of a meter) and are able to grow and reproduce. Viruses are smaller (size in nm: one billionth of a meter) and are constituted of an envelope with […]
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Let’s boost our immune system
It’s no myth that we get ill more in winter and that the number of deaths rises during the cold months.1 But why? Well, we know that vast numbers of viruses exist, and just as there is a wide variety of plant species, viruses themselves are also very diverse. Plus, they can mutate very quickly. […]
The benefits of taking oral hyaluronic acid
What is hyaluronic acid? Hyaluronic acid is one of the main components of the extracellular matrix. It binds with chondroitin and keratan sulphate, and forms crosslinks with collagen fibres. It is a glycosaminoglycan made in the synoviocytes, fibroblasts and chondrocytes, and plays an important role in the biomechanical properties of connective tissue. It has excellent […]
Glucosamine and chondroitin: partners of the extracellular matrix
What are glucosamine and chondroitin? Glucosamine is a monosaccharide that occurs naturally in our bodies. It is the precursor to a number of glycosaminoglycans such as hyaluronic acid, chondroitin and keratan sulphate, which in turn make up some important components of the extracellular matrix called aggrecans. Glucosamine can be found in certain foods, but we […]
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Joint pain
What is a joint? A joint is the point of connection between two (or more) bones. There are different types of joints, which have varying degrees of mobility. The knee, shoulder, hip and fingers are very movable joints, while the vertebrae are less movable, and the joints of the skull are immovable. The tolerated movements […]
The muscles, pillars of stability
570 skeletal striated muscles Skeletal striated muscles bind bone through tendons. By contracting, they allow the voluntary movement of the skeleton in a specific direction. These contractions are controlled by motor neurons which connect the spinal cord and the muscles. Their activation leads to the release of calcium, which will bind to contractile proteins. Each […]
Collagen is essential … but why?
What is collagen? Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body and plays a structural role. It is mainly found in connective tissues (skin, bone, cartilage, muscles, vessel walls …). There are 28 types of collagen in our body. All are composed of 3 α chains that form a helix, but each type […]
The unsuspected virtues of rosehip
Rosehip have a long history of proven success in many areas, including cartilage, bones, skin and metabolism, with powerful antioxidant properties. Rosehip, a local jewel Rosehip is a false fruit rosehip (dog rose) and rose, which is notably found in Europe. It has powerful antioxidant powers, thanks to a high concentration of flavonoids, and it […]
Manual therapies for back pain
On November 28th and 29th, Swiss Alp Health took part in the Swiss Congress of Manual Medicine SAMM (Schweizerische Ärztegesellschaft für Manuelle Medizin) in Interlaken, as manual therapies and certain dietary supplements work in tandem for the maintenance of mobility. Manipulations in manual therapy According to Dr. Med. Melchior Huggler, a specialist in physical medicine […]
9 health benefits of collagen
Whether it is to support joints or the skin, oral intake of collagen peptides is good for the body. You, too, can benefit from the numerous properties of collagen ! What are the different types of collagen? Collagen is the most dominant protein in the human body and in mammals. It forms fibers in the […]
Sport: a source of youth?
Swiss Alp Health took part in the Swiss Sports Medicine Congress in Interlaken on 24–25 October. It was an opportunity to remind ourselves that mobility is an essential element of quality of life. According to Dr med. Boris Gojanovic, a sports doctor and general internal medicine specialist at Hôpital de La Tour in Meyrin (Geneva), […]