I remember the first time I sprained my ankle. I was 5-years-old and I was walking down the stairs to get my ice skates to go to my friend’s birthday party. I fell down the stairs and sprained my ankle. Rather than cry for my mom, I realized this would mean I couldn’t go to the party. I limped my way to the party, trying to hide my sprained ankle. Then I tied my skates as tight as I could stand and skated until I was in so much pain I wanted to cry. My mom took my skate off and saw my huge, purple and yellow ankle. That day I learned how important it is to take care of your joints.

This is a lifelong lesson since I have really bad joints. Every joint in my body has an issue, so taking care of my joints has become very important to me. I’d like to be able to walk when I’m 80. Here are several things you can do to take care of your joints.

Supplements

My favorite joint supplement is Joint Collagen by Youtheory. Joint collagen contains collagen (of course) and natural products that aid your joints like frankincense and turmeric.

Turmeric Tea

Using herbal tea is great because the absorption is so quick. Turmeric is great for joints because it reduces inflammation.

Protect them during activity

I wear knee braces whenever I exercise. For heavy squats and things, I love the Workt knee braces. They don’t slip and provide great support. Also, if you are gardening, use a soft pad to kneel on. Or if you’re washing the floor, wear knee pads. Placing your knee directly on a hard surface is not a fabulous idea.

Check your form

So many people develop knee and wrist issues because they have bad form for squats, lunges and dead lifts. If you plan to lift heavy, get a lifting coach. You can do some real damage with bad form. If you’re not in a position to find a lifting coach, check out Emily Schromm’s You Tube channel. She does some great tutorials on proper form.

Avoid inflammatory foods

Joint inflammation is just what it sounds like: joints swell which causes a lot of pain. Since switching to a paleo diet, my joint pain has gone down quite a bit. I don’t think Paleo is the only answer for everyone, but if you have joint pain, avoid inflammatory foods like grains, dairy, sugar and legumes. Focus on eating healthy protein, nuts, fruits and vegetables.

Fish Oil

The Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil can also help reduce inflammation. It took me a long time to find a fish oil I liked. The pills were huge and hard to swallow, and also had me burping up fish juice all day. Yes, it is as plesant as it sounds. Then I discovered Barlean’s Fish Oil. It is delicious! I never forget to take it because my 5-year-old daughter reminds me every day when she asks me for some.

Drink Water

This is my husband’s favorite. Every time I have any ailment, whether it be a headache or a sliver, he suggests water for a cure. In this case, he has a point. Water won’t cure bad joints, but drinking water helps lubricate them and also helps nutrients travel through your body (and to your joints) more easily.