Morning stiffness is something that everyone experiences from time to time.
However, if you’re constantly waking up with stiff joints, it may be time to look at your lifestyle and change some things about how you’re taking care of yourself, especially as you get older.
Morning stiffness may be caused by dehydration, not stretching enough, or having a deficient diet.
To ensure that you experience real health, here are three steps that you can take to wake up feeling less stiff and improve your overall quality of life.
1. Stretching
Stretching is a great way to keep your body loose and flexible.
When you stretch your spine every day, you’ll be less likely to wake up feeling stiff.
Touching your toes daily will stretch your whole body and your back, which helps improve your coordination and balance.
This is important to practice throughout your life so that you can maintain proper coordination as you age.
Stretching helps protect your muscles from injury and reduces stress, which can also help you sleep better at night.
It also increases lymphatic circulation and collagen production, which helps boost the elastin in your body.
Elastin is a protein that allows tissues in your lungs, arteries, and other body parts to stretch and contract.
2. Hydration
Hydration is essential for proper health. When you’re not hydrated properly, you might wake up feeling stiffer.
This is because your muscles don’t have enough fluid to relax properly and are tightening up as a result.
Your brain also needs an adequate amount of water in order for you to think clearly. About three-quarters of your brain is made up of water.
If you’re waking up with headaches, that might be a sign that you’re not hydrated enough.
You should be drinking at least half of your body weight in ounces of water each day.
Drinking from a water bottle that holds enough water for your whole day can be a great way to measure how much water you’re drinking.
It’s also easier to drink more water when it’s conveniently available and portable so that you can stay hydrated no matter where you need to go.
3. Diet
Your diet might be causing you to wake up feeling less limber than you should.
Not getting enough important vitamins and minerals like vitamins C and D can contribute to feeling stiff in the morning.
In addition, ensuring that you’re eating enough foods with potassium and magnesium can help prevent muscle cramping and spasms.
Eating veggies like dark leafy greens and eating clean meats are great ways to make sure your diet is doing enough for your body.
Alternatively, you can supplement your diet with vitamins and electrolytes if you aren’t getting enough nutrients through your diet.
Wake Up Feeling Better!
When you stretch, hydrate properly, and eat a balanced diet, you can minimize the stiffness you wake up with and start your morning with more energy and ease.
Good health is a journey that requires you to be flexible.
If you want more guidance on this journey, my book can walk you through what you need to know to achieve good health.Click here to read more articles like this one and try out recipes that will help you cook with a balanced diet in mind.
