Chances are you or someone you know has joint problems-according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three U.S. adults experience some form of joint discomfort on a daily basis. Unfortunately, many Americans simply view their discomfort as an inconvenience and don't do anything to improve their joint health. Best-selling author of The Arthritis Cure, Jason Theodosakis, MD, thinks this philosophy is a mistake. "People can improve their joint health by making simple lifestyle changes. In the short term, these steps can improve joint mobility, flexibility and comfort, and may help protect joints from deteriorating in the future."
Here are Dr. Theodosakis' top tips for creating a healthy, active lifestyle.
• Lace Up: Moderate, low impact exercise is crucial to improve mobility. By incorporating activities such as walking, swimming and biking into a 30-minute, three to five times per week schedule, joint strain can be reduced. If it's hard to get moving, find a buddy to exercise with. The buddy system increases motivation and fun levels.
• Find Balance: Diet fads often don't become part of a regular eating regimen and, more importantly, don't always provide the essential nutrients that bodies need. Create a realistic, balanced eating plan. Contact a registered dietitian or nutritionist if you need help developing an eating program that meets your individual needs and goals.
• Boost Joint-Protecting Nutrient Intake: Recent scientific studies show glucosamine and chondroitin are extremely safe, and help improve joint comfort, especially in people who need it most. Combination products, such as Nature Made TripleFlex, tend to be more effective than taking the individual supplements. It's most important to look for products that contain 1,500 mg of glucosamine and 800 to 1,200 mg of chondroitin.