For a hundred years, the Maori, an indigenous population of New Zealand, consumed a natural diet of vegetables and shellfish. During this time, the Maori never seemed to suffer from joint pain and stiffness, arthritis, and enjoyed an above average health. Their secret was a rare shellfish that grows only in the pristine waters of New Zealand, the green lipped mussel.

The green lipped mussel is unique from other shellfish in many ways. It is one of the largest mussels reaching 240 mm in length, it has a dark brown/green shell, and a green lip around the edge of the shell (hence its name).

But the most interesting aspect of the green lipped mussel, is its vitamin and mineral content. It has a unique combination of fatty acids and complex carbohydrates that is not found in any other marine or plant life. Glycosaminoglycans are a complex carbohydrate, found in the mussels and are known to repair of damaged joint and connective tissues.

Locally, the mussels are known as a miracle food, and it is consumed by hundreds of thousands of Australians and New Zealanders every year to relieve the effects of osteoarthritis and joint aches and stiffness.

But if you don't live in the pacific southeast, Green lipped mussels can be very expensive because they have to be shipped under strict conditions in order to keep from stripping the mussels of their unique nutritional value. You may want to think about a green shelled mussel supplement.

Also, cooking the mussel strips the nutrition, so ideally they should be eaten raw to gain their full nutritional benefits. Now some of us enjoy raw seafood every now and again, but not everyday. So how does one enjoy the health benefits of green shelled mussels without breaking bank and without becoming a raw seafood fanatic? Easy, get the green shelled mussel supplement.

Now, just because a supplement has the label of green shelled mussel, doesn't mean that you are getting all of the mussels amazing health benefits. In New Zealand, these mussels are big business and there are a lot of manufacturers offering green lipped mussel products. There are a few things to consider.

First, manufacturers sometimes freeze or heat the mussels during harvesting and storage. This strips the food of its unique nutrition, so it is important that you use a product that has been harvested and processed properly.

Second, green lipped mussel extracts and oils only have a fraction of the value of supplements that use the entire mussel, so you want to choose a complete green shelled mussel supplement.

Third, mussels are a creature of the ocean, like fish they may contain dangerous metals such as mercury, so it is important to consume mussels that are farmed properly, under strict conditions.

Don't buy from a company that doesn't disclose their harvesting methods, and don't buy from a company that doesn't grow green lipped mussels specifically for powdered use in supplements.