If you eat the right foods, you can help the health of your joints with every bite. Onions, garlic, and horseradish may be hard on the breath, but they’re all rich in sulfur—an essential trace element that’s been linked to optimal joint health.

Better yet, eggs are probably the richest food source for sulfur. But many people have probably been told to avoid egg yolks, which is unfortunate because the yolk is actually one of the richest sources of choline—the component that keeps the cholesterol in the egg moving through the blood so it won’t build up in the arteries. I don’t hesitate to eat eggs two or three times a week.

You should also load up your grocery cart with cruciferous vegetables—such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, radishes, turnips, kohlrabi, horseradish, and mustard for even more sulfur.

If you’re suffering any type of diffused ache in your joints, you should be sure to avoid alcohol, refined sugar, fried foods, and nightshades (such as red and green peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, and potatoes).

“Lubricate” Your Joints with Fish Oil

The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil may help you maintain proper joint health if they’re part of a long-term regimen. Fatty, cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines are a rich natural source of these omega-3 fatty acids that have been shown to help reduce the aches and swelling accompanied by everyday joint use.

One of the sad truths of our contemporary culture, though, is that most people don’t wait long enough to see the full effects of many of their fat-soluble foods and supplements. We’ve become a society that wants results yesterday rather than tomorrow.

The digestion and assimilation of fat-soluble substances are more difficult than water-soluble varieties. So be sure to take quality essential fatty acid supplements to help support your joints, and give everything in your regimen enough time to work.

All of the Olive is Good for You

You’ve probably long known that olive oil is healthy, but few people are aware that the powerful antioxidants found in the olive pulp (such as hydroxytyrosol and other polyphenols) can help support a healthy life—including optimal joint health.

A small double-blind, placebo-controlled study on Hidrox (a patented form of hydroxytyrosol from olive pulp) suggests that it may help support everyday joint function. The participants in the study were given a daily dose of 12 mg of hydroxytyrosol from Hidrox.

In contrast to those participants who took the placebo, those taking the special olive pulp extract found that everyday activities like getting dressed, walking, gripping objects, and reaching were easier. I believe future studies will confirm the results. It seems the list of benefits we get from olives just keeps growing.

By eating right and keeping your joints moving every day, you can maintain optimal joint function. Good “joint exercises” that allow your synovial fluid (the body’s natural joint lubricator) to penetrate the joints can be anything that moves the joints through their full range of motion—stretching, golfing, or bowling are all good examples.

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