Joint Health

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Eating Well For Healthy Aging
Joint Health

Maintain healthy connections as you age: nourish and protect your joints for flexible, comfortable movement.

JOINT NUTRITION

For healthy joints, eat foods high in bioflavonoids. Bioflavonoids, found in almost all plant foods, are essential for healthy capillary walls and the metabolism of vitamin C. They are important to joint health because they slow the inflammation response, support collagen production, help prevent free radical damage and hasten the healing of joint injuries.

Fruits with the greatest concentration of bioflavonoids include citrus (be sure to eat as much of the white lining left on the fruit after you peel it�that�s where most of the bioflavonoids are), berries, apples and fruits that contain a pit, including cherries and plums. Vegetables such as red cabbage, onions, parsley and rhubarb, are high in bioflavonoids.

White, green or black teas deserve a special mention for joint health, since they contain catechins, bioflavonoids that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

We�ve discussed omega-3 fatty acids earlier, and no surprise, they also help maintain healthy joints. For joints, however, a particular type of omega-3 stands out: Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Foods high in ALA include ground flaxseed, poppy seed, pumpkin seeds, walnuts and walnut oil.

LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HEALTHY JOINTS

Maintaining an ideal body weight is a critical component to maintaining healthy joints. Of course, we all know that regular exercise and a healthful diet equals a healthy weight. The best exercises for joints, however, are those that allow your joints to move painlessly through their natural rotation, such as walking, rowing, swimming, cross-country skiing and cycling.
Stretching and maintaining flexibility are key to strong joints. Yoga and Pilates are excellent choices.
Massages not only feel good, they�re one of the most important therapies for the treatment of arthritis, since those suffering from arthritis often experience prolonged muscle tension and poor circulation in muscle tissue. Massage helps break up muscular waste deposits and stimulates circulation to troubled regions in the body. When you don�t have time for a full body massage, check out the chair massage at one of our stores. Find your store's calendar of events by clicking here.

SUPPLEMENTING FOR JOINT HEALTH
Always check with your physician before adding any supplement to your diet.

Chondroitin Sulfate: As building blocks of proteoglycans, the cells within cartilage that absorb water and make cartilage resistant to shock, both chondroitin and glucosamine (below) are well-studied supplements for osteoarthritis. When combined with glucosamine, chondroitin seems to protect joints from breaking down and may speed recovery of injured bones and joints.*

Glucosamine: Glucosamine is another important building block of proteoglycans. The body�s own production of glucosamine often decreases with age and other stresses on the body.

NOTE: Glucosamine HCI is very stable, has a high level of purity, and yields more bioavailable glucosamine per dose than Glucosamine Sulfate.*

SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine): SAMe is a sulfur compound naturally produced by the body. However, SAMe decreases with age, illness and if you are deficient in vitamin B12, folic acid or methionine. Studies show SAMe may ease joint and muscle pain and may contribute to cartilage regeneration.*

*These statements have not been evaluted by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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