By Previnex®
While there are compounds already present in your cartilage to lubricate your joints, it’s important to ensure they stay lubricated, especially if you suffer from arthritis or other joint health issues. Through joint health supplements and other remedies, you can keep your joints nice and lubricated. Let’s get into it!
Can You Lubricate Your Joints Naturally?
Lubricating your joints doesn’t have to only happen through medical procedures. There are some things you can do to lubricate your joints naturally! Your joints are surrounded by what’s called the synovial membrane, which is a soft tissue that produces a fluid called synovial fluid, which essentially acts like engine oil for your joints. Its primary purpose is to keep your bones moving well. Keeping your joints properly lubricated aids in mobility and in alleviating any discomfort. When your joints aren’t well lubricated, the bones rub together, which can cause not only a lot of pain but damage, too. The only way to really know if your synovial fluid levels are abnormal is to do a synovial fluid analysis, which is a group of tests that examine synovial fluid and can help diagnose joint problems.
How Can I Increase Joint Fluid Naturally?
Now that we’ve covered the basics of joint lubrication and synovial fluid, you may be wondering how to increase your synovial fluid and, ultimately, how to lubricate your joints naturally. Here are a couple of ways to do just that:
Diet
One of the greatest things you can do for your body overall, but joint lubrication, in particular, is to maintain a healthy diet. More specifically, eating more healthy fats and omega-3 fatty acids. Things like fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, tuna), olive oil, avocados, almonds, chia seeds, cruciferous vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale), cherries, onions, and turmeric will help your body reduce inflammation, aid in joint recovery, and promote synovial fluid production. Ultimately, eating an anti-inflammatory diet will help your joint health overall.
Supplements
Supplementation is a great way to keep your body healthy and balanced, especially as it relates to overall joint health. Some of the best supplements for joint lubrication are glucosamine, chondroitin, fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids), turmeric, collagen, S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe), and hyaluronic acid. These supplements and ingredients are high in anti-inflammatory compounds, which help your joints function properly and, in turn, help your body produce more synovial fluid.
To read more read our blog about "How To Rebuild Your Joint Health!"
What Causes Lack of Lubrication in the Joints?
Lack of joint lubrication can be caused by a number of things, such as normal aging, overuse of the joint, injuries, chronic diseases (like diabetes or arthritis), and dehydration. The most common of these is arthritis. Common types of arthritis and joint issues include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, bursitis, and tendonitis.
Lifestyle Factors that Impact Synovial Fluid and Joint Lubrication
A few primary lifestyle factors that impact joint lubrication are weight, nutrition, physical activity, and even smoking. It’s important to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle to mitigate the risk of being overweight (which can put undue pressure on your joints). As we’ve reviewed previously, eating an anti-inflammatory, vitamin-rich diet and supplementing properly can also help increase and maintain synovial fluid and joint lubrication. Smoking can cause inflammation and impact the immune system, making it more difficult for your body to heal.
How Do You Moisturize Your Joints?
Just like lubricating your joints naturally, there are ways to moisturize your joints (and keep them that way)!
Exercise
Active joints are happy joints! There are some joint lubrication exercises you can do to help the production of synovial fluid since physical activity actually stimulates its production. Maintaining a healthy level of physical activity—especially low-impact exercises—to keep your joints moving smoothly. A few beneficial activities include cycling, walking, swimming, stretching, and yoga.
Hydration
Hydration is imperative in general, but especially when it comes to maintaining healthy joints. Dehydration can also cause a lack of lubrication in the joints. The cartilage in your joints is made up of 80% water! When your body is not properly hydrated, it can actually decrease the amount of synovial fluid in your joints. Dehydration can also compromise the integrity of joint cartilage, as it becomes less effective in absorbing impact.
Practical Tips
Maintaining hydrated, moisturized joints doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are a few simple, day-to-day things you can do to keep up the moisture:
- Stay hydrated! Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water per day, and even more if you’re active or if it’s hot outside.
- Exercise regularly. Keep those low-impact exercises in mind and add them to your regular activity.
- Eat a well-balanced, anti-inflammatory diet. What you eat has a profound impact on your joints, immune system, and overall health. It’s important to maintain a nutritious, balanced diet!
- Sleep, sleep, sleep! In addition to impacting your general and mental health, sleeping well and enough has a profound impact on your joints!
Conclusion
Keeping your joints lubricated is not complicated, but it is necessary! Your joints, bones, and muscles will thank you for keeping up a healthy exercise regimen, supplement line-up, and well-balanced diet. When it comes to joint health supplements, we recommend Previnex Joint Health PLUS®. It has a proprietary blend of NEM® and Boswellin®, both of which have undergone human clinical studies. Boswellin® is a clinically proven anti-inflammatory and pain reliever. NEM® is clinically proven to decrease joint pain and stiffness and increase joint flexibility. NEM® has also been proven to be up to 5x more effective than glucosamine and chondroitin alone or in combination. Get yourself a bottle of Joint Health PLUS® today!
