Strengthening your Mind and Body as you Age
Those aches and pains you start to feel when you hit your 40s aren’t just sore muscles from the gym or activity that you’re used to. Taking care of your joints and your body in general as you age becomes a little different than how you took care of your body in your 20s.
The best way to take care of your mind and body throughout your lifetime at the root is nutrition and exercise, but along the way our body needs some extra support to thrive and continue to strengthen. This is where taking regular supplements, in addition to your daily healthy routines, can help repair or prevent conditions and decline.
What are Supplements?
Supplements are a type of dietary addition (typically in a capsule or liquid form) that is made to help support various ailments to help strengthen areas of the body. Many are considered a natural medicine with ingredients that are either found in your body naturally or in your food. Most supplements are needed to be taken daily in order to achieve the desired effects/results and consistently maintain your ideal body’s homeostasis.
What are Supplements used for?
While there are various reasons why someone may take or be recommended a certain supplement for a condition or symptom they’re having, commonly the important ones for those over 40 are supplements that support joint, cognitive, and immune health & function. These supplements target repairing tissues and restoring cartilage for optimal joint function, stimulating the memory and focus components of the brain, and helping the body build up a healthy immune system to fight off illnesses.
What are Some of the Top Supplements for these Goals?
- Glucosamine Chondroitin – these two ingredients are considered the building blocks of cartilage for healthy joint function and development. Overtime as the body ages, the cartilage in our bodies can degrade to the point where we are left with no “cushion” in our joints which can cause bone on bone rubbing.
Taking a supplement like this can help prevent and repair that cartilage loss, in turn helping promote healthy joint function and avoiding associated pain symptoms or conditions – such as the need for a knee replacement.
2. B Complex Vitamins – B vitamins are essential for the production and functioning of neurotransmitters. As we age, many adults are at a higher risk for a B12 deficiency as a result of use of various medications, decreased source food intake and various GI conditions. Specific B vitamins may help to reduce the onset of various memory loss and cognitive associated diseases that come with age. There is even an injectable form of B12 for those who are deficient.
3. Liposomal Glutathione – Glutathione is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants produced by the body. It works to help protect cells against oxidative stress from dietary and environmental radicals. It can help protect vulnerable DNA from damage while also serving as a key factor in proper detoxification which is why it is an important supplement to strengthen the immune system as we age.
The supplement comes in a Liposomal form – meaning that it is a liquid that can bypass the GI tract and is absorbed via your salivary pathways to provide the highest amount of bioavailability allowing your body to truly benefit from it.
These are just of the few many supplements that are available both by medical providers or at various health stores and sites. While different supplements may be helpful for specific individuals coping with different conditions and deficiencies, most people can benefit from general supplements like the three above.
Lab tests can also be helpful in determining any deficiencies you may be experiencing, but it is important to remember that as we age our bones, joints, brains and bodies cannot always keep up to the daily level we are used to. Providing our bodies with a little support along the way can help prevent future issues as well as support your overall health.
If you are interested in learning more about supplement options and what may be right for you, consider scheduling an appointment with a medical professional to go over your history and any conditions or pains you may be experiencing.
For more information on the available supplements we offer in office, visit Our Health Supplements – Pennsylvania Pain & Spine Institute (pennpain.com) or call (215) 395-8888 to request an appointment today. New patients and insurance are accepted!
*This article is purely for educational purposes. You should always consult your doctor before adding any supplements or medications into your daily routine.
