It’s often overlooked, but one of the best things you can do for yourself is to maintain your flexibility. Good flexibility not only allows for a greater range of motion, it also improves balance and decreases your risk of injury. Luckily, there are lots of easy ways to improve flexibility through diet and lifestyle choices.
What is flexibility?
It’s not uncommon to lose some flexibility as you age but that doesn’t mean you just have to accept stiff joints and decreased range of motion. Flexibility is all about your joints being able to move easily and without pain through a full range of motion. And of course, your range of motion is influenced by the mobility of the soft tissues that surround your joints. These soft tissues include: muscles, tendons, ligaments, joint capsules, and skin.
Experts agree that lack of flexibility can negatively affect your body in three important ways:
- You’ll experience pain in weight bearing joints such as the hips and knees.
- Your muscles will tire more quickly.
- You’ll experience more physical injuries.
Benefits of Flexibility
Over time, your body may lose flexibility due to a sedentary lifestyle, stress, improper posture, bad movement habits, and aging. But once you gain your flexibility back you will experience:
- Less pain
- Improved posture
- Improved balance
- Less injuries
- Enhanced strength
- Improved physical performance
- Better confidence
Now that you know all the reasons good flexibility is important, it’s time to learn how to easily improve flexibility. Below are 7 diet and lifestyle tips that support flexibility and mobility no matter your current age or fitness level.
And remember, positive change doesn’t happen overnight. Stick with these tips and be patient as your body adapts. You’ll be glad you did.
How To Easily Improve Flexibility
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Stretch Regularly
Stretching at least three times a week can help your muscles recoup their elasticity. Stretch your muscles until they feel tight but not painful. If it hurts — ease up. Hold your stretch position for 10 to 30 seconds. Remember, stretching too much and too quickly may cause serious injuries like muscle strains and ligament tears. So go easy.
Check out this video from Danette May for 8 stretches you should do every day to support your health!
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Practice Yoga
Yoga is a great way to improve your flexibility and strength. It keeps your muscles agile even with strenuous exercises. Yoga involves slow-paced flexible movements that are adaptable for all fitness levels. And it works by stretching your muscles. As a result, you’ll feel less stiff, tired, and have a better posture.
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Get Up And Move
If you sit at your desk all day, it’s time to get moving. Set an alarm on your phone to remind yourself to get up and move every hour. Whether you simply get up and walk around a bit or throw in a few quick stretches, spend 5 minutes every hour moving your body. Doing this will not only create a more flexible body but it can even help improve your productivity.
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Get Regular Massages
Regular massages may feel like a luxury but getting a deep tissue sports massage is a great way to dig out the tightness in your muscles. A good therapist can access trigger points in your muscles that cause them to release and loosen up. If you’re dealing with stubborn stiffness in your body, this can be a great way to improve flexibility.
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Choose Anti-inflammatory Foods
Food high in sugar, processed carbs, and unhealthy fats can trigger inflammation in the body. And inflammation can lead to poor flexibility. But you can fight inflammation to improve flexibility by eating more anti-inflammatory foods:
- Leafy green vegetables like kale, spinach, arugula, and collard greens.
- Nuts like walnuts, almonds, cashews, and Brazil nuts that are filled with healthy fats.
- Oily fish high in Omega-3 fatty acids like salmon, tuna, mackerel, and sardines.
- Berries like strawberries and blueberries.
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Add Some Turmeric
Turmeric’s main active compound is curcumin, which has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Although it’s been used medicinally for thousands of years in Asia, modern-day studies now conclude that turmeric helps reduce inflammation in joints, and helps you recover faster from exercise.
An easy and delicious way to get more bioavailable turmeric into your diet is with Golden Superfood Bliss. Enjoying a mug of this spiced superfood blend regularly can help fight temporary inflammation related to physical exercise, improve digestion, dissolve stubborn fat, and soothe occasional anxiety and stress.*
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Supplement With Collagen
Collagen is the protein responsible for healthy joints and skin elasticity. But as you age, your collagen production naturally decreases. And as collagen levels decrease, you might start to notice sagging skin, stiff tendons and ligaments, and reduced flexibility. Which is why supplementing with Collagen Peptides can be so beneficial to overall health!
Adding hydrolyzed grass-fed bovine Collagen Peptides into your diet is a great way to increase your protein intake and give your body a boost of collagen. Collagen can be especially beneficial to improving flexibility because it helps maintain the integrity of your cartilage tissue that protects your joints. *
Becoming more flexible requires daily practice and a bit of patience. It’s important to choose lifestyle and diet changes that you know you can stick with to see the best results. Adding Collagen Peptides into your daily routine can be one of the best ways to support your flexibility. They’re flavorless and dissolve easily, making it easy to add into your daily smoothie, coffee, or any other recipes you like. Click the link below to give Collagen Peptides a try today!
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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.