We all know that we have to keep our bodies healthy, and that part of that includes your bones and joints. That’s usually where the general knowledge stops, though. How are you supposed to promote bone and joint healthy? You can’t workout and tone your joints, like you can with muscles. You can’t see that they’re unhealthy, like you can with so many other parts of your health. Here are a few ways that you can take care of your joints.
Healthy fats
One of the most important things your joints need, is healthy fats. Healthy fats, such as omega 3’s, will keep your joints lubricated so they can be mobile and function properly and smoothly. These omega 3’s also help reduce inflammation, and are overall a superfood. We recommend trying to increase your omega 3 intake via food first, before trying supplements. Try eating more salmon, trout, olive oil, almonds, and avocado.
Calcium
Calcium is so important for bone and joint health. Calcium will keep your bones strong, and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Aside from milk, a few other great natural sources of calcium include kale, yogurt, broccoli, figs, and salmon.
Go on a walk
Being active is an important part of having healthier joints. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to hit the gym tomorrow, does it mean that you should. If you live a sedentary lifestyle, you don’t want to immediately start doing heavy lifting, this could easily cause more harm than good. Start slow, going on walks are a great starting place to combine with a healthy diet to improve the health of your joints and bones.
Reduce your caffeine intake
This may be a hard pill to swallow for some, but caffeine is horrible for the health of your bones. This doesn’t mean that you can’t have your morning cup of coffee, but avoid a second or third cup. If soda is your drug of choice, cut down the amount of cans you drink a day to just one. Just a small change like this can mean a lot to the health of your bones.
Stretch it out
Stretching isn’t just great for your muscles, it’s also important for your joints! Stretching helps increase blood flow, as well as mobility. Stretching out those joints and tendons will make your daily tasks easier, as well as improving joint strength and mobility.