Aging is a natural process of life that nobody is immune to. Though we like to believe that we’ll luck out and the consequences of getting older will somehow bypass our own bodies, the reality of aging always wins out in the end with the pain of sore muscles and stiff joints serving as reminders of our mortality.
That semi-grim prospect aside, I’m not here to weigh you down with pessimistic viewpoints about your health. The truth is a whole lot of people share similar concerns in regards to developing health problems as they age like arthritis and osteoporosis, so it’s nothing out of the ordinary to worry about your own wellness as the years go by. Don’t just stick to worrying though – take action.
No two people are going to experience that exact same health journey throughout the course of their lives, and that goes for issues that develop over time. The most important preventative step you can take to ward off unwanted health problems is by putting in the work to live an active, healthy lifestyle sustained by the nutrients your body needs to function.
There are a number of supplements out there that can offer support against deteriorating joint and bone health by providing you with the vital minerals and vitamins regularly required by your body, meaning you’ll have less to worry about for the future if you keep your body nourished.
While there is nothing wrong with making dietary supplements a part of your wellness routine, be aware that certain vitamins are going to be much more effective than others, and it would do you well to become familiar with the different types of vitamins that have a positive influence on bone and joint health.
Continue reading to learn more about the following topics:
- Why your bone and joint health is important
- The effects of aging on bones and joints
- Which vitamins are best for bone and joint health
Bones and Joints
Why You Should Care About Them
Everyone’s health journey is unique and it is impossible to compare the accomplishments of two individuals with different body types, health histories, and genetic predispositions. Though one person may strive to lose weight and gain muscle mass in a specified time period that is within their means, someone else could face insurmountable struggle while attempting to do the same thing.
What everyone is completely capable of, though, is having the knowledge pertaining to the importance of our bones and joints. I don’t want to go into this article without first introducing the basic facts everyone should be familiar with concerning bones and joints.
No bones about it – bone and joint health is something to take seriously. Without strong bones, your body would not be able to store crucial minerals, produce red blood cells, have the support it needs to retain its shape, and protect the many important organs inside of you.
Joints allow your bones to move against each other without causing damage to the cells. By providing a cushion for the friction, your joints enable the easy movement required in day-to-day activities. Without healthy joints, work and play would be a difficult and painful endeavor.
The Effects of Aging on Your Bone and Joint Health
It’s no secret that our bodies change as we grow older. Reduced presence of muscle fibers, increased joint inflammation, and the loss of bone density are among the various health-related changes that may occur as you age.
While some age-related changes are unavoidable, such as wrinkly skin and graying hair, there are certain factors we can control. Eating balanced meals and regular exercise are both important factors of staying healthy, and will have a profound impact on your quality of life as you age.
Changes in Bones
The skeleton inside of us is quite durable, but it isn’t invincible. Bone is living tissue and is subject to natural changes just as any other organic substance is. One of the most significant changes your bones can expect to undergo as you get older is structural change resulting in the loss of bone tissue.
Bones with less mass are weak and prone to breaks and fractures, meaning a simple fall could cause serious damage. There are many reasons bones lose their density over time, such as hormonal changes, calcium loss, and wastage caused by an inactive lifestyle.
Changes in Joints
Joints are the reason you can bend your elbows and roll your shoulders, and maintaining their good health is a critical part of staying healthy as you age. In a joint, bones do not make direct contact with each other – they are cushioned by a cartilage lining, synovial membranes, and synovial fluid (a lubricating fluid that essentially keeps you well-oiled).
As you age, your joints go through a fair amount of changes just as other areas of your body do. A lack of exercise causes a reduction in the amount of lubricating fluid produced by your joints, which can result in stiff joints that have lost much of their flexibility.
Key Vitamins
Keep Your Body Healthy with the Nutrients You Need to Survive
Consuming dietary supplements and multivitamins are effective ways of getting your body the proper nutrients it needs to operate and perform daily functions. No matter what kind of life you lead, dietary changes and balanced meals are going to have the biggest impact on your well-being. This does not mean cutting out all the sugary goodness you like to indulge in; rather, implement portion control and work on reducing your intake of foods that aren’t so good for you.
There are many important vitamins and minerals we get from food that is utilized by our bodies in various ways. It would behoove you to include sufficient amounts of key vitamins in your regular diet to ensure your body gets the nutrients it needs to operate, but that can be difficult when you rely on eating out and simple meals.
That’s what supplements were created for – to get the important nutrients your body requires straight to you through the help of one convenient capsule. So if you’re doing your best to eat balanced meals and still find yourself in a pinch when it comes to getting the nutrients your body needs, try out supplements containing vitamins and minerals that play a part in your bone and joint health.
Collagen
Collagen is a protein your body needs for various reasons. From supporting skin elasticity to giving strength to your bones, collagen is extremely important for many different aspects of your health.
Recently, collagen supplements have overtaken the market due to the beauty benefits they promote. And while you can certainly attain better skin health with steady doses of collagen, its benefits go much further than that.
Collagen is an important component of connective tissues, which can play a part in joint-related pain or discomfort. A Penn State study supports the notion that taking collagen supplements for joint issues can reduce irritation and help make activities like walking and jogging more bearable than they typically are in individuals who experience joint pain.
It should also be noted that collagen can boost bone density in women who are post-menopause, and potentially counteract dangerous diseases like osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. With this knowledge, we can safely assume that collagen can have a positive impact on joint pain or injuries.
Biotin
The tissue in our bodies does not last forever, and neither do the muscles. When your body is in need of a repair due to the breakdown of tissue or damaged muscles, B vitamins are there to help in the rebuilding process.
Since Biotin is a type of B vitamin, it serves an important purpose as being one of the necessary components needed in rebuilding muscle strength and helping the growth of new tissue and cells. It should also be mentioned that biotin plays a key part in alleviating pain and inflammation that occurs within the muscles and joints.
There are many other benefits of biotin that extend into other areas of our health. Here are some notable benefits that are worth mentioning:
- Improves skin health
- Strengthens nails and hair
- Stabilizes blood sugar levels
- Assists with cell growth
- Promotes fetal development
Vitamin D
When it comes to healthy bones, vitamin D isn’t something you want to be lacking. Bone health depends on the presence of vitamin D throughout the body to aid in the absorption of calcium, allowing your body to sufficiently metabolize it. A deficiency of vitamin D can lead to major problems such as bone loss, so it’s best to get an adequate amount.
Unfortunately, vitamin D is not naturally present in many of the foods we eat, unlike calcium. The best way to get your daily dose of vitamin D is through direct exposure to sunlight and through food sources you know contain the vitamin.
For older adults and people with dark skin, acquiring vitamin D can be an issue. Vitamin D deficiencies are more common among people who fit into these demographics and those who reside in regions of the world where sunlight is scarce. In cases like these, vitamin D supplements may offer an easy solution to avoid potential bone loss.
What Else Can Help Support Bone and Joint Health?
The health-boosting capabilities of the aforementioned vitamins cannot be overstated in regards to keeping your bones and joints healthy as you age. That being said, we cannot consume a diet based entirely on those vitamins and expect to retain good health.
Our bodies need a lot of nutrients to function as intended, and it is your responsibility to know the importance of different vitamins and take the steps necessary to integrate them regularly into your diet.
Other Vitamins You Can Take To Stay Healthy
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Boron
- Vitamin K
- Silicon
Remember, Supplements Matter!
While I will always advocate for a well-balanced diet and regular exercise as the most useful variables in the equation to a holistic health journey, I cannot overshadow the health-boosting properties of supplements for when you can’t quite implement the lifestyle you want to.
If you are someone who is concerned about the future of their bone and joint health, or just wants to take precautionary measures, then there is no harm in trying out supplements to do exactly that!
Choose a supplement with effects that correspond with your needs, like my own Multi Collagen Plus Biotin and Vitamin D supplements. With the three core ingredients being vital components of healthy bones and joints, my supplements work to improve on the foundations of your body and achieve a healthier version of you.
Health should never be something that causes stress or pain, and the process of becoming healthy does not have to be unenjoyable. Take your time with it, do what feels right based on your needs, and don’t forget to stop and live your life while you’re at it. Prioritize yourself and your health with thank you for it later.
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