🌻 Health & Wellness with Flava: Caring for Your Joints When the Cold Creeps In

This topic isn’t something I just read about — it’s personal. I’ve lived with arthritis for years. It runs deep on both sides of my family — my mother’s and my father’s. I’ve had double knee replacement surgery, and while that chapter brought some relief, the story didn’t end there. When the fall chill hits Seattle and the air gets damp, I feel it in my hips, hands, and shoulders.

So when I share these tips, it’s not theory. It’s lived experience mixed with lessons learned the hard way — a reminder to care for your body like it’s been carrying you through storms and seasons, because it has.

1️⃣ Keep the Warmth In

Seattle’s cold doesn’t just visit — it settles in.

Layer up: Think thermal base layers, gloves, and soft socks. Keep your joints warm from head to toe.

Use heat therapy: A heating pad across the hips or shoulders, a warm towel, or a long soak in the tub — heat is your friend.

Compression gear: Gloves or sleeves help keep circulation flowing and give your joints gentle support.

2️⃣ Move — But Move Smart

Stillness stiffens the body, but mindful movement keeps things fluid.

Go low-impact: Indoor walking, a stroll at the mall, or swimming in a heated pool — it all helps without extra strain.

Stretch daily: Simple stretches, especially before and after activity, keep you flexible.

Warm up first: March in place, roll your shoulders, get that blood flowing before moving.

Balance it out: Don’t overdo it — movement is medicine, but rest is healing too.

3️⃣ Feed Your Joints Right

What you eat matters more than you think.

Eat color and balance: Fruits, veggies, salmon, walnuts — the anti-inflammatory crew.

Cut the junk: Processed foods, sugary drinks, and too much fried anything just fuel the ache.

Check your Vitamin D: With our Seattle skies, you might need a supplement — talk to your doctor.

Drink up: Water keeps your joints lubricated even when you’re not breaking a sweat.

4️⃣ Mind Your Mind

Pain and stress have a way of feeding off each other.

Find calm in your day — through deep breathing, journaling, quiet tea time, or a moment of prayer. Protect your peace. Your body listens to how you treat your spirit.

5️⃣ Work with Your Healthcare Team

If the cold hits harder this year, don’t tough it out.

Talk to your doctor: Adjust meds or ask about topical relief.

Physical therapy: Strengthening and gentle movement tailored to you can change everything.

🌻 Lady Flava Closing Thought

Living with arthritis doesn’t define me — but I’ve learned to listen to my body through the seasons. This fall and winter, let warmth, nourishment, and movement be your medicine. Take care of those joints that carry your story, because they’ve been doing the work for years.