You know how agonizing joint discomfort can be. The aches and soreness make performing simple tasks difficult and unbearable, and can even keep you from doing the things you love most.

While it’s true that some discomfort and stiffness are inevitable as you age, your daily habits could be making it much worse. Things like your weight, level of physical activity, and diet have an enormous impact on your joints. In addition to taking Instaflex Advanced® for improved comfort, here are five daily habits that promote strong, healthy joints: 

Maintain a Healthy Weight

People who are overweight or obese have a greater risk for many diseases and ailments, including joint discomfort. Excess weight puts more pressure on your joints, causing aches and soreness. Shedding those extra pounds reduces the stress on your joints and can help improve comfort and mobility, as well as protect against future damage.

Whether you’re walking outdoors or on the treadmill, make sure to wear comfortable, supportive shoes to minimize the impact of your steps. When walking outdoors, use a walking stick for extra support, balance, and mobility.

Get Moving

You may think exercise creates more tension for your joints. While high-impact exercises like running can put more stress on the knees, others can help strengthen the joints and prevent potential aches. When you stop exercising, the muscles and tissues that support the joints become weaker, resulting in more tension and discomfort. Perform exercises that work the joints but don’t cause further soreness,such as walking, swimming, and stretching.

Take Breaks at Work

Your job may be contributing to your bad joints. Prolonged sitting can stiffen the joints, while prolonged standing can stress them. If your job requires you to sit at a desk or stand on your feet all day, find a happy medium. For desk jobs, stand up and walk around every hour or so. If you’re constantly standing, take occasional breaks to sit down.

Eat Right

A well-balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats can help ward off joint tenderness and discomfort. Foods like berries, apples, carrots, and green leafy vegetables are packed with vitamins and antioxidants, which help fight inflammation. Many fruits and vegetables are also rich in calcium, which help strengthen and protect your bones and cartilage. Additionally, the healthy fats found in salmon, nuts, avocado, and olive oil have anti-inflammatory properties that help tame soreness and discomfort.

Supplement Nutrients When Diet Isn’t Enough

Many people are not getting enough of vital nutrients from their diet. The Instaflex Multivitamin® can help ensure you are getting the nutrients you need for a healthy, active lifestyle. In addition to supporting healthy joints, this multivitamin is designed to increase energy, promote a healthy heart and immune system, and improve overall health.