Joint pain and weakness is a problem for millions of Americans. Not only does it cause significant discomfort, there is nothing more frustrating than having the desire to exercise but not being able to because your joints are either too weak or too inflamed.
Joints are the critical pieces of connective cartilage that hold your bones together, but the connections get weaker as you age. Even if you have good joints now, you should still take proactive measures to ensure your joint strength continues well into your later years.
Easy Option #1: How to Become Joint-Healthy
There are many ways to help improve joint health, including:
Choosing joint-friendly exercises like swimming over joint-destroyers like running
Beginning a workout with a mild aerobic workout before you stretch
Practice Yoga a few times per week
Ice problem areas to reduce swelling and pain
Improve core strength with exercise
Reduce your weight
Eat omega-3 rich fish to help reduce inflammation
But That Will Only Take You So Far …
Just like weak joints make it difficult to travel long distances, the above prescriptive measures will only take you so far on your path to healthy joints. After all, you would have to eat a whole lot of salmon to get perfect joints. Luckily, there are a couple of natural wonders Mother Nature has provided to help you strengthen your joints so you can enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle.
Easy Option #2: The Joint Healing Power of Krill Oil
Krill Oil is becoming one of the most used and sworn by supplements on the market. Filled with Omega-3 essential fatty acids in the form of EPA and DHA, krill oil has been shown to be effective in reducing inflammation. Studies indicate krill may help treat arthritic joint tissue by neutralizing pro-inflammatory activity.
A recent study showed that individuals inflicted with arthritic pain saw a 100% drop in C-reactive protein activity in just one month of taking 300mg of krill oil per day.
Krill oil is preferred over fish oil because, while they are both excellent sources of Omega-3 fatty acids, krill oil is more bio-friendly and requires less processing for your body to absorb them. Derived naturally from krill shrimp deep in the pristine, unpolluted waters of the Antarctic Ocean, krill oil doesn’t come with the fear of mercury poisoning and other pollutants—a fear increasingly associated with fish oil and other fish products. Krill Oil also contains Astaxanthin, a super-antioxidant and potent anti-inflammatory which may further help promote joint health.
Easy Option #3: The Ancient Joint-Healing Properties of Turmeric
New studies are confirming what the ancient peoples of Asia have known for thousands of years. Namely, that there is a very special spice called Turmeric that can work absolute wonders on the human body.
Commonly found in Asian food, turmeric is the main spice in Indian curry. The yellowish color of this satiating spice is caused by the curcumin, the substance also responsible for Turmeric’s numerous health benefits.
Multiple studies have shown that Turmeric Curcumin can help reduce pain and inflammation, fight off free radical damage, and even improve overall mood. Recent studies at The University of Arizona showed that Turmeric decreased joint inflammation by blocking the production of the protein that turns on the gene responsible for the growth of tiny blood vessels. Subsequent studies have concluded similarly startling evidence of Turmeric’s inflammation-fighting effectiveness.
Give a Jolt to Your Joints
Why not try all 3 options? Your joints are critical to your ability to move comfortably through life and you need to treat them with care. While there is no magic elixir for perfect joints or perfect health, there are things we can do to dramatically improve our health and happiness that don’t require a major lifestyle adjustment.
Adding powerful anti-inflammatory supplements like krill oil and turmeric to your daily routine can help turn those inflamed, aching joints into the strong and elastic joints you so deserve.
