The best way to care for your joints is to keep them and your muscles, ligaments, and bones strong and stable. Here are some tips for good joint health.

1. Watch Your Weight for Healthy Joints

Keeping your weight within a healthy range is the best thing you can do for your joints. Weight-bearing joints, such as your knees, hips, and back, have to support some, if not all, of your body weight. That's why so many overweight people have problems with these areas of the body.

The higher the number on your bathroom scale, the more wear and tear you put on your joints. Losing weight reduces pressure on your knees, hips, and back and helps prevent joint injury. Research has shown that with every kilo gained, a person puts four times more stress on the knees. Women who lose about 5 kilograms reduce their risk of developing arthritis of the knees.

2. Exercise for Healthy Joints

Exercise can help you lose extra pounds and maintain a healthy weight. Some research suggests that aerobic exercise -- activities that get your heart rate up -- can reduce joint swelling. Opt for exercises that won't give your joints a pounding. Instead of step aerobics, try low-impact exercises such as swimming or bicycling.

Another healthy idea: Don't sit still! Couch potatoes, computer addicts, and anyone else who remains glued to a chair all day long have a high risk for joint pain. Less movement means more stiffness in your joints. So get up and get moving. Change positions frequently. Take frequent breaks at work and stretch or go for a short walk. If you can't leave the office, try taking phone calls while standing.

3. Build Muscles to Support Joints

Strong muscles support your joints. If you don't have enough muscle, your joints take a pounding, especially those in your knees, which must support your entire body weight. Weight training exercises help build muscle and keep existing muscle and surrounding ligaments strong. That way, your joints don't have to do all the work. Make sure you talk to your doctor before starting any type of exercise routine, including weight lifting. You don't want to strain the joint that you're trying to strengthen.

4. Help Joints with a Strong Core

Make sure your exercise routine includes activities that strengthen your abdominal (core) muscles. Stronger abs and back muscles help you keep your balance and prevent falls that can damage your joints.

5. Know Your Limits for Your Joints' Sake

Certain exercises and activities might just be too tough for your joints to handle. Avoid exercises that cause joint pain. You will likely feel some muscle pain after working out. But any soreness that lasts longer than 48 hours means you need to take it easier next time. Such pain could mean you've overstressed your joints, and working through it may lead to injury or damage.

6. Perfect Your Posture for Good Joints

Slouching is not good for your joints. Standing and sitting up straight protects your joints from your neck to your knees. Good posture also helps guard your hip joints and back muscles.

Posture is also important when lifting and carrying. For example, if you use a backpack, be sure to put it over both shoulders instead of slinging it over one. Being lopsided puts more stress on your joints. When lifting, use the biggest muscles in your body by bending at your knees instead of bending your back.

7. Protecting Your Body Protects Joints

Make sure you always wear a helmet, knee pads, and elbow and wrist pads when taking part in high-risk activities, including work-related ones such as repetitive kneeling or squatting. Even if you think you're a pro on a bicycle or on a pair of Rollerblades, you should never go without safety gear. Hit the wrong bump in the road and you could be headed for a lifetime of joint pain. Serious injuries or several minor injuries can damage cartilage.

Preventing injuries can help ward off early onset arthritis. Elbow and wrist braces, or guards, also help reduce stress on your joints during activities.

8. Add Ice for Healthy Joints

Ice is a great drug-free pain reliever. It helps relieve joint swelling and numbs pain. If you have a sore joint, apply ice wrapped in a towel or a cold pack to the painful area for no more than 20 minutes. Don't have ice or a cold pack? Try wrapping a bag of frozen vegetables (peas work best!) in a light towel. Never apply ice directly to the skin.

9. Eating Right Nourishes Joints

A healthy, balanced diet helps build strong bones. Strong bones can keep you on your feet, and prevent falls that may lead to joint damage. Make sure you get plenty of calcium every day. You can do this by drinking plenty of milk and eating foods such as yogurt, broccoli, kale, and figs. If those foods don't tempt your taste buds, ask your doctor if calcium supplements are right for you.

Recent research indicates that a diet that contains the proper amount of vitamin D is important for good bone and joint health. You should ask your doctor about the proper amount of vitamin D and ways you can get it.

Oranges may also give your joints a healthy boost. Some studies suggest that vitamin C and other antioxidants can help reduce the risk of osteoarthritis.

Salmon is particularly beneficial for your joints. Not only is it a good source of calcium, it also contains omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s promote healthy joints and reduce joint pain and swelling in people with arthritis. Mackerel is another source of omega-3s. You can also get omega-3s by taking fish oil capsules.