forever young naturally lifestyle

This pose helps maintain mobility in the hips and lower back as you get older and stiffer. You might like to also try the Downward dog pose:
1. Lie on your back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Place your right ankle on your left thigh, just above the knee. (If you find this exercise difficult, place a scarf or belt behind the knee to help pull it toward your chest.)
2. Reach forward to catch the left knee (or pull on the ends of the scarf) and draw the knee toward your chest. Maintain control without straining the upper back and neck. Hold for a few breaths, then try the other side.

Fill up on orange and red fruit and vegetables. They contain the carotenoid betacryptoxanthin, which may reduce risk of inflammatory polyarthritis (a precursor of rheumatoid arthritis) by up to 40 percent according to a study reported in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Glucosamine sulfate supplements (from lobster and oyster shells) may stimulate cartilage building and offer significant reductions in pain and stiffness in osteoarthritis. Chondroitin supplements (from animal cartilage) are thought to inhibit cartilage breakdown, reducing pain and improving joint function. However, a recent study found no clear evidence of the benefits of these supplements.

Red meat may aggravate inflammation so if you have rheumatoid arthritis eat no more than once a week. Substitute small oily fish and walnuts. Not only do omega-3 fatty acids reduce risk of heart attack, lower blood cholesterol, improve mood, and raise immunity, they have antiinflammatory properties. Studies suggest they might ease joint pain when taken with glucosamine sulfate.

Try topical creams containing MSM (methlysulfonylmethane), an organic derivative of sulfur. Some claim it reduces the formation of free radicals. In a study of people with osteoarthritis those taking MSM supplements reported reduced joint pain and aches after exercise. MSM is also available as a bath bomb.

In a study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, arthritis patients who spent three 20-minute sessions writing about stressful events reported a 28 percent reduction in symptoms even four months later. A control group who wrote on a neutral topic saw no improvement. Don't feel you need to write stress out every day: even occasional journaling has therapeutic effects.

Relaxing in herb-flecked water for 12 minutes helps soothe away aches and pains.

6 tbsp bay leaves

6 tbsp dried marjoram

12 tbsp sea salt
Whizz the herbs in a blender to a smooth paste. Stir into the salt and dissolve in a bowl with double the amount of hot water. Swish into a very warm bath as the faucet is running. If your feet and ankles are painful, halve these quantities and use in a footbath.

Two-thirds of a group taking ginger for osteoarthritis in a University of Miami School of Medicine study reported improvements in pain, stiffness, and mobility. To soak in a ginger bath, grate 2 in (5 cm) fresh ginger root into the center of a piece of muslin. Tie the ends together to secure. Suspend with string beneath the hot faucet while filling a very warm bath, then toss in to soak. Spend at least 20 minutes in the bath.

As we become older, our immune systems become less effective, putting us at greater risk of infection, especially from newly circulating bacteria and viruses. The best way to enhance immunity seems to be to eat foods rich in nutrients and do light exercise most days. If you feel your immunity is compromised, visit a homeopath.

In a study into Transcendental Meditation (TM), those practicing had less than half the number of doctor's visits and days in hospital than a closely matched control group. TM is always taught face to face. Search online for a class or ask your doctor for a referral.