Follow these 5 tips for healthy joints

Our joints, being the connecting points between our bones, attest the good overall health of our musculoskeletal system, while their good condition and function help us remain active and preserve a steady body weight.  

For these reasons, it is imperative to keep them in good shape too, thus preventing maladies such as osteoarthritis, as well as various injuries caused by the modern way of life. Healthy joints are indeed vital, and small changes in your daily life could help a lot...

Below, you will find 5 useful tips to protect your joints and support the overall functionality of your body. 

1. Exercise for at least 30 minutes each day

Exercise increases flexibility, strengthens the muscles surrounding the joints, and fights off fatigue.  A mild yet systematic exercise, like swimming, may have amazing benefits.  Last, exercise helps us keep our weight in check, improving our lifestyle even more.

2. Maintain your weight within a healthy range

It is not a mere coincidence that orthopedists advise people complaining about pains in their back and knees to lose as soon as possible their extra weight. Normal body weight is very important for healthy joints. On the other hand, the greater the body weight, the bigger the burden for the back, the knees, and the ankles.

3. Avoid lifting heavy objects

Even if we don’t realise it, some things we do during the day can have a grave impact on the health of our joints, since they exert additional pressure on them. A six-pack of bottled water or a 5kg bag from the supermarket are weights you should cart with a trolley instead of lifting them with your hands and carry them around. Most doctors recommend minding our posture when doing such things. When we wish to grasp or transfer a heavy object that lies low, it is preferable to use both hands and bend our knees, while keeping the back straight. 

4. Try physiotherapy

In case the pain is acute and persistent, a sign that the joint has been strained, it should be wise to consult a doctor or a physiotherapist that would point out the proper treatment or exercises to overcome the problem with our joints. There are exercises designed precisely to alleviate the pain in the back and the limps and, in the long term, reduce significantly the overall discomfort.  

5. Improve your diet

A proper diet can help in maintaining your joints in good condition. 

Omega-3 fatty acids seem to help in the protection of the joints. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids are oily fishes, like sardines, salmon, tuna, as well as walnuts and flax seeds.

Enrich your diet with fruits and vegetables. These foods are rich in antioxidants that eliminate free radicals, which are harmful to the joints. Vitamins E, A, C contained in fruits and vegetables protect the joints. Vitamin C in particular seems to slow down the natural wear in the joints, by contributing to the formation of collagen, the basic component of the cartilage.

Calcium and vitamin D also play an important role in reducing bone loss and help in maintaining healthy joints. Foods rich in calcium are dairy products, broccoli, almonds, and kale.

Realising that small changes in our daily routine can actually make a difference, as well as the fact that this effort concerns people of all ages is a first step to start changing early on habits that strain our joints.  Besides, taking care of our health and body is a priority no matter how young or old we are. 

In Parapharmacie, a great range of branded food supplements and offers await you to help you restore the health of your joints and feel again complete well-being and harmony with your body!