Experts from the Arthritis Research Campaign say the gnarled finger of osteoarthritis wilt poke one in five of us by 65.

Prevention

Go swimming: it strengthens joints and reduces cartilage wear. If in doubt, always see the physic.

Men put up with partially torn ligaments. But festering injuries can lead to old-age pain.

You already know that slurping soda will rot your pearly whites, but now a new study shows that drinking milk may actually help prevent tooth decay. Professional researchers soaked teeth in orange juice or diet Sprite, and then doused them in milk, artificial saliva, or water. Turns out, the teeth exposed to milk had less enamel erosion than the ones immersed in the other two liquids.

The calcium in milk may bind to the acid from the juice and soda, decreasing its effect on enamel erosion. Who’s going to chase pop with milk? No one. So just skip to the last step: Option for dairy, not soda.

Don’t wait until you’re in a nursing home to eat prunes. Eat up now-a chemical in dried plums may keep your arteries clear. Scientists and nutritionist found that mice that consumed prune powder had less plaque in their arteries than mice on a prune-free diet. The mechanism isn’t yet identified but certain flavonoids in the fruit may help prevent the inflammation that can damage blood vessels. More studies will determine if the fruit has the same effect in humans.

If you need more motivation to improve your diet, just think of junior and his sister: Eating regular meals with your kids may make them healthier teenagers. When researchers tracked the eating habits of a group of 12-year-olds, they found that children who ate with their families 5 days a week were more likely to take in greater amounts of calcium, fiber, and potassium in their late teens. If parents set a precedent of serving healthy foods at family meals while their kids are young, the children are more likely to adopt good eating habits as they grow up.

On frantic schedules keep you and your children apart at dinner time? Move family meals to the morning, and make breakfast the new dinner.