“Only If They Make a Pill”

“I sarcastically told my friends that I’d consider knee surgery if they found a way to put it in a pill,” he jokes. Little did Lee know that he could actually find the help he needed in a pill. It happened a few years ago, when he discovered a select group of nutrients that could soothe his joints, promote cartilage production, and maintain joint health. Now, his life is forever changed for the better. “They work!” he declares.

Lee recalls, “Actually, I credit my good friend James Coburn for making me aware of this stuff.” Coburn experienced his own “living hell” of poor joint health for 20 years before he found support in a natural dietary nutrient that Coburn subsequently suggested Lee try. “I saw Jimmy in the worst condition back in the 1970s and 1980s—all gnarled up and barely able to move. But then I saw the dramatic turnaround that he had with nutrients.”

Nutrients That Help His Specific Concerns

So, in 1998 Lee decided to start utilizing natural nutrients that might apply to his particular concerns. Aside from the methylsulfonylmethane that Coburn recommended, Lee found type II collagen. Of the 14 types of collagen in the body, type II collagen is most helpful to the joints. Preliminary research suggests that unlike pure cartilage, type II collagen is easy for the body to digest and absorb. It is especially rich in the essential nutrient chondroitin sulfate, which has been shown to fortify unhealthy joints and improve joint mobility (Duarte 1997).

A third nutrient, cetyl myristoleate (CMO), works as a lubricant for the joints. A recent 32-week study by the Joint European Hospital Studies Program found that using 18 grams of CMO led to some amazing improvements: Those who had been randomized to take it told researchers that their joint tenderness became less noticeable and that they had less stiffness (Siemandi 1997).

New Keys to Mobility and Flexibility

Lee also found bromelain, an enzyme derived from the pineapple stalk, and turmeric. “It was a little strange when I first heard about turmeric, because it’s a spice used to make curry, of all things,” Lee recounts. Bromelain seems to have a special “targeting” ability and may be able to seek out and positively affect the microscopic particles that can jeopardize joint health (Taussig 1988). The active ingredient in turmeric has been shown in laboratory animals to promote joint health by as much as 73% (Mukhopadhyay 1982).

Finally, Lee found out about two important “absorption” nutrients: lipase and ascorbic acid. Lipase is a digestive enzyme that helps the body absorb compounds like CMO. Ascorbic acid helps the body digest nutrients that come from food sources, like type II collagen.

Seven Nutrients in One Source

After learning about all of these nutrients, Lee gave them a try. “I found a dietary supplement that contains all seven, and I started taking it every day.” After a month or two, his joints improved. He says, “My joints felt soothed. They moved more smoothly. I could play golf when I wanted to.” Now, he has made this supplement a part of his everyday routine.

“I never thought my wish would come true that I would be able to reclaim the active life I thought I was losing. It is thanks, in part, to a single pill. But it’s been tremendous. I honestly credit these nutrients for giving me back my life.”

Today, Lee is as active as ever. He acts in feature films and TV shows. This past year, he performed starring roles in the popular comedy Big Fat Liar and the Disney feature Out Cold. Lee is currently working on Fate, with Miami Vice star Philip Michael Thomas, and on Arizona Summer, directed by Joey Travolta (John’s brother), which is scheduled to be released next year.

But he’s also having fun. “My fiancée and I recently eloped. We went on a fabulous honeymoon to Europe, and I was able to see and do everything I wanted without worrying about taking it easy. It’s the next wonderful chapter in my life.”

Lee is emphatic about one thing. “If you have poor joint health like I did, I recommend that you start taking these nutrients as soon as possible. Even if you’re under 60 and you haven’t yet experienced problems, use them to support your bone/joint health. These nutrients worked for me. And I feel like a million bucks.” Then he adds wryly, “Make that six million.”

An active lecturer and author of six best-selling books (including No More Cravings, No More Fears, Migraine Killers, and Natural Arthritis Solution), Dr. Hunt spends a good deal of his time researching bone and joint conditions.