Fact: joint problems from osteoarthritis are a major reason why U.S. workers file for disability. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease which basically causes the joints to become stiff and painful to move. In the lower body joints, this is usually brought about by excessive shock from too much weight over the years.

A recent weight-loss study done on a group of significantly overweight adults found that slight weight-loss can greatly reduce the stress put on knee joints. Researchers discovered that the weight the subjects lost lessens the load on the leg joints by as much as four times!

Getting rid of excess body fat is also beneficial to joints of the lower body because it causes the development of knee and ankle muscles. This means added protection to joints and prevention of injury. Doing fat-burning total body exercises (which involves a lot of movement) also prevents swelling in the joints brought about by inactivity.

Eating healthy foods that help you to burn fat instead of storing it can also fix your joints. A diet rich in calcium, omega 3s, and vitamin C will (respectively) help strengthen your bones thereby preventing you from experiencing joint-damaging falls, lubricate the surfaces between the joints, and help reduce the risk of osteoarthritis.