Have you ever thought about how your body moves? Whether it’s walking, bending, jumping or lying down, our joints are a driving force behind our movements. However, as we get older, our bodies go through many physical changes. One of them includes discomfort or stiffness in our joints that are often accompanied by some joint pain. Luckily, there are natural ways to help support your joint health. Read on to learn more!
Defining joint pain
Your joints are the parts of your body where bones meet – shoulders, hips, elbows, knees, and so on. They’re what help us move around. Feeling discomfort in your joints is common and this pain may be constant or it can come and go. The severity of pain can also vary, with joints feeling stiff, achy or sore at some times and experiencing a burning, throbbing or grating sensation at other times. This pain can change throughout the day – you might start the day off feeling stiff when you wake up, but loosen up as you move around and go about your day.
Who is prone to joint pain?
Although age is one of the main factors that contributes to joint pain due to the general wear and tear that accumulates over the years, there are other factors that can make you more prone to joint pain. This includes those who:
- Have had a history of injuries to their joints
- Are highly active and engage in activities that tend to overuse joints and muscles (e.g. taking on too much physical activity too fast, exercising for too long, or doing too much of one type of activity)
- Have arthritis or other related medical conditions
- Are overweight, which puts a lot of pressure on the joints
What are some natural remedies to support your joints?
Moderately active lifestyle
Although it’s true that too much physical activity can actually make your joint pain worse and even make you more prone to joint pain, moderate daily movement is very important for your joints. This means things like going for a walk or jog, playing sports, dancing, and any other physical activity that gets your body moving!
Your joints need movement to help keep them lubricated with synovial fluid. Inactivity causes the cartilage in your joints to shrink and stiffen, resulting in the same type of joint pain as if you’re overusing your joints. Since every individual is different, you have to experiment and find the balance between too much or too little physical activity for yourself. Too much can have your joints and muscles feeling very sore, stiff and in extreme cases swollen. Start slow with a daily walk and build toward something that feels comfortable and manageable for you.
Anti-inflammatory diet
In addition to regular physical activity, a healthy diet rich in foods that support your joints can help prevent joint pain and help you move the way you want. Choosing foods that reduce inflammation, strengthen your connective tissues, and build greater bone density can help you get there.
Here are some foods that improve joint health:
- Omega-3 fatty acids: Fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, or avocados are known to be high in omega-3s. Omegas are known to combat inflammation and as a result support your joints.
- Berries: Strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries are rich in antioxidants called anthocyanins, which have anti-inflammatory properties.
- Vegetables: Broccoli, peppers, and mushrooms are great veggies that combat inflammation. Broccoli is rich in sulforaphane, an antioxidant that decreases inflammation by reducing levels of molecules that promote inflammation in your body like cytokines and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). Peppers are loaded with vitamin C, which is known to have powerful anti-inflammatory effects. And mushrooms are rich in phenols, another antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties.
Joint-supporting supplements
When diet alone is not sufficient, you can turn to
supplements that are designed to help support your joints. We’ve got a few to get you started.
Our Jointly formula combines glucosamine, a compound found naturally in cartilage, with natural eggshell membrane (NEM), which naturally contains hyaluronic acid – an important building block for cartilage and connective tissue. In addition to keeping active, supporting your joints with the nutrients it needs will help keep you moving into the golden years!
Did you know that collagen can be found all throughout your body? This includes your connective tissues. Our joints are able to move smoothly due to the support of connective tissue in the form of tendons and ligaments. Our Collagen Active Joints formula contains both types I and III collagen peptides, the types that are found naturally in the body’s ligaments. It’s designed to reduce joint pain associated with osteoarthritis and encourage collagen formation at the joints to create a healthier joint-cartilage collagen structure. It’s the perfect formula to maintain joints that move more freely and painlessly.
If you’re looking for something topical, we’ve got you covered too. Our Joint Pain cream with arnica will help to ease those feelings of stiffness, pain and weakness that can torment our spirits and challenge our joints, muscles or tendons with every move we make. Arnica has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties that help reduce swelling and alleviate joint pain. Apply generously as needed and move again with a smile.
Whether it’s pain in your shoulders or painful knees, joint pain is something that can get in the way of your day-to-day life. But by eating a well-rounded diet, along with a regular exercise routine and supplementation when needed, your joints are sure to be in optimal health. Here’s to moving without pain!
Sources:
Joint Pain
What to Know About Joint Pain
Joint pain
Ageing – muscles bones and joints
13 of the Most Anti-Inflammatory Foods You Can Eat
