What are your top priorities when it comes to health? Ask that question of a million people and you may get a million different answers. People have different perspectives on what it means to be healthy, and no answer is right across the board for everyone.

One common theme among people who care about their health is longevity. Often, the main motivation for leading a healthy lifestyle is to maintain independence and put off the effects of aging. The healthier you are, the more likely you are to live a long, happy, and fulfilling life. However, looking after your health both now and in the future can be complicated since there are so many areas that you can focus on.

If you are truly concerned about aging gracefully, then one aspect of wellness that you should think about is your joint health. Joints are any part of the body where two or more bones meet, often forming an area of mobility where the bones move around each other. Joints are often the first things to suffer as you get older, so prioritizing their condition now is a great way to promote long-term wellness for your whole body. Here are three ways to keep your joints healthy, both now and in the years to come.

Regular Exercise

Exercise is one of the best ways to maintain health overall, but it can specifically benefit your joints if you engage in targeted physical activities. Since joint health is all about maintaining freedom of movement, it makes sense that engaging in exercises that move your joints can improve or maintain their condition. Leading a sedentary lifestyle can cause a premature breakdown of your joints, making movements more painful as you get older.

However, when you start to be advanced in years, you must adjust your exercise routines to match your body’s needs. Intense contact sports may not be the best type of activity for your joints. Instead, focus on weight-bearing exercises and low-impact activities. Putting extra stress on your joints is the fastest way to wear them down, so moderate your activity levels to match where your body is physically.

Balanced Diet

What you put into your body matters. Every cell requires nutrients to function, and the main delivery source for the majority of those nutrients is food. A better diet can make a huge difference in the health of your joints, so if you want to prioritize wellness for these important parts of your body, you need to become conscious of the food you are eating.

Some of the best foods for healthy joints include seeds, nuts, fruit, coldwater fish, olive oil, whole grains, root vegetables, and dark chocolate. These foods deliver important ingredients like antioxidants, anti-inflammatory nutrients, and minerals that block bad enzymes.

If you want to take further advantage of nutrition to support joint health, there are other products that you can add to your diet. Joint health supplements are ideal for supporting an already-balanced diet with additional nutrients that promote joint health, and they can be conveniently taken with other meals or in the morning.

Stay Hydrated

Drinking water is a general practice that everyone who cares about health should be doing regularly. Do you know what the recommended amount of water is for your weight that you should be drinking daily? Many experts recommend half an ounce to an ounce of water per pound of body weight. For example, if you weigh 180 pounds, you should be drinking 90 to 180 ounces of water each day.

While that might seem like a lot, your body sorely needs the moisture. Water helps maintain the structure of your cells, including those in your joints. Additionally, water can help maintain your cartilage and lubricate your joints, reducing the chance of irritation or grinding. Focusing on increasing your water intake will benefit many aspects of your health, so if you care about the condition of your joints, then make sure you are drinking enough water to support those areas of the body.

Every Day Matters

In a perfect world, you have time each day to dedicate to promoting joint health. Unfortunately, that is not the reality and life often gets in the way. However, the more you establish a routine, the easier it is to maintain practices that support healthy joints. Learn to balance your diet and eat the right foods that provide key nutrients. Start drinking more water each day to provide hydration for cells throughout the body. Make time in the mornings or evenings for light exercise that gets your blood flowing and improves mobility in your joints. The longer you enact these steps, the easier it is to maintain them and continue supporting joint health as you get older. This critical aspect of wellness is often a big focus for athletes and older adults, so start prioritizing it now.