Most glucosamine supplements are made from the exoskeletons, or outer shells, of crustaceans. Edible crustaceans such as shrimp, lobster, crab and crawfish can provide trace amounts of glucosamine in their shells and tails. In most Western culinary traditions, these hard exoskeletons are discarded because they are difficult to chew and digest. You can make use of the exoskeleton by grinding it thoroughly and blending it into soups, stews, pasta sauces and casseroles. Note that shellfish meat contains little to no glucosamine. You cannot consume medicinal quantities of the compound by eating only the animal's flesh.
Chondroitin occurs naturally in animal tissue, especially connective tissues. Gristle on animal bones is high in chondroitin. However, these sources are much lower than the doses provided in chondroitin supplements. Some chondroitin supplements come from animal sources, like shark or beef cartilage.
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