How to Maintain Healthy Bones and Joints as You Age

Our bones and joints are the best employees you could ask for- you can move around anywhere and any time you want and they don’t ever complain about having to comply with your requests! But they can also begin to wear down due to ageing, injury or other issues. This is when movement stops being an easy and painless thing to achieve. Most of you complain of joint pain, losing flexibility and feeling miserable about having to deal with it all. Sure, resting well will definitely help but there are some days when even lying down seems impossible. Taking care of your bones and joints hence needs to become a priority even before you are in pain. We will give you some tips for that!

How To Prevent Joint Pain And Bone Loss As You Age

Bones and joints are great multitaskers. They help in anchoring muscle, protect the soft organs located deeper in the body cavity and also are excellent reservoirs of calcium and other minerals. Bones may look dead but they are very much alive and they keep changing and remaking themselves over the years as we age. Turning 30 is a landmark in bone health- it is when peak bone density is reached and remodelling begins to happen with no new prominent bone formation projects that are undertaken. Joints also work in similar lines- they help assist movement and help increase range of motion, provide protection and also provide lubrication for smoother movement. You can definitely take better care of your joints and bones by looking at the following list:

• Not smoking and drinking
• Eating a nutritious meal every time and not just randomly
• Understanding that exercise is a friend and not a foe
• Taking care of hormone upheavals especially if you are a woman
• Increasing age obviously
• Keep a watch on the long term medications you take- some may not be a great influence on your bones and joints.

What Foods Support Bone And Joint Health In Seniors?

A well designed diet rich in vitamins D, A, K and minerals like calcium, selenium, magnesium, phosphorus along with good quality omega-3 fats needs to be of absolute importance. No shortcuts in the food department will mean good results in the long run.

Conclusion

Making small and sustainable changes can definitely help when repeated over a long period of time. For example, if you have used the elevator to go up one floor, you can try taking the stairs. You can keep a watch on portion size and eat healthy stuff. You can plan meals out in advance to reduce the stress of having to come up with options on the fly. You can try to reduce your cigarette consumption from now onwards as going cold turkey is not a great strategy for everyone. You can also go on and agree to play sports you never bothered with before and while doing so ensure to wear proper protective gear. You will definitely notice a change for the better with respect to bone and joint health if you follow all of these tips. Can you think of some more? If yes, then add them to the list and make it your own!