Joint Health: Winter Guide

Have you noticed that your knees have been giving you a bit of grief lately? The exact science behind winter-related joint aches is up in the air, but there’s no doubt that joint pain can get triggered from changes in temperature. The best way to care for your joints is to keep you muscles, ligaments and bones healthy!

How can you keep your joints happy in the cold season?

Dress Warmly

Layering up is crucial! The cold can make your muscles tense and stiff, leaving you prone to injury. Keep you head, hands and feet warm, as the majority of heat is lost through extremities. It’s a good idea to layer up when you’re exercising too, so you can stay comfortable and peel them off as you heat up.

Tweak Your Workout

Pain is your bodies warning, so take care when you’re exercising. That isn’t permission to quit exercising in winter though! Exercise can actually help keep your joints supple. Not only that, but maintaining a healthy weight is key for joint and bone health.

It’s a good idea to stretch and warm up with a walk or light jog before you start working out to prevent injuring yourself or aggravating your joints.

Adapt your workout by going indoors and keeping warmer. Head to the gym, or even use a heated pool to warm up your muscles.

Healthy diet for Healthy Joints

 It comes as no surprise that nutrition can help with your health, but there are certain foods which are particularly good for joint health. Fatty fish like salmon, mackerel and sardines are high in omega 3 fatty acids, which can help with joint inflammation. Keep your bones strong to support your joints with calcium rich foods such as yoghurt, milk and leafy greens.

Three Important Supplements for Joints

It can be hard to get the recommended amount of nutrients into your diet every day. That’s where supplementation comes in! Here are three essentials for your joints:

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Numerous studies have shown fish oil to be effective in maintaining and supporting healthy joints and articular cartilage, assisting in joint comfort and supporting bone health¹.

It has been linked with having anti-inflammatory effects, which could help with inflammation of the cushioning pads around joints².

USANA’ BiOmega is also fortified with Vitamin D, which is important for keeping joints and bones strong, and preventing bone diseases like osteoporosis³!

Procosamine

USANA have a unique supplement which is specially designed for joint-support! It assists in reducing joint inflammation, increasing mobility, and managing osteoporosis and arthritis*.

Not only is it one of the few vegetarian formulas available on the market, the addition of vitamin C makes Procosamine a highly effective, comprehensive approach to joint health. Plus, it has a unique InCelligence® Joint-Support Complex.

MagneCal D – Magnesium, Calcium and Vitamin D

These are the essential building blocks for healthy joints and bones. Lucky for you, MagneCal D has the perfect balance of magnesium, calcium and vitamin D to support your bones, joints and more.

You probably already know that calcium is important for bone health, right? As I already mentioned, your bone and muscle health is important in keeping your joints healthy. Calcium is continually removed from and redeposited in the bones, so adequate levels are needed every day to ensure that bone mineral density is maintained. Not only that, but calcium deficiency can increase the risk of osteoporosis.

Magnesium helps your body absorb calcium and supports muscle strength, which can help with joint stability.

Vitamin D supports healthy muscle function, maintaining healthy bones and absorbing calcium, which supports your joints!

*IF SYMPTOMS PERSIST SEE YOUR DOCTOR OR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL.

Written by Monique Sparks

Marketing Assistant – USANA New Zealand