Q. I suffer from an achy knee but I am dying to get back out into the garden to do some much-needed weeding. Is there anything that would help?

You’re not alone! Achy joints, caused by general wear and tear on cartilage, are one of the most common health problems.Normally there is a smooth layer of cartilage that acts as a pad between the bones of a joint, but in some people this essential cartilage thins as the joints are used and the bones may begin to rub against each other. This causes pain, joint swelling and stiffness. 

To make matters worse, as the body ages, cartilage doesn’t repair itself as effectively. This is because today’s diet often doesn’t supply enough of the nutrients required, especially sulphur. Sulphur is an important nutrient involved in the formation of collagen, one of the main components of cartilage.

Sulphur is found in onions, garlic and broccoli, but unfortunately we consume very little these days. MSM is a naturally occurring, organic source of sulphur, found in traces in all living organisms.

Natural MSM supplements are available in supplement form, in tablets and powder.

So providing you avoid excess strain on your joints and don’t do too much weed busting in one go, MSM should give you all the help you need to keep aches and pains, and your flowerbeds, under control!