Isn’t it interesting how much we take our bodies for granted until something happens to remind us of the importance of good health? Take bone health, for example. Hypocalcemia, or low blood calcium, can lead to a number of problems including muscle spasms and neuromuscular excitability. Whereas hypercalcaemia, or high blood calcium, can lead to high deposits of calcium phosphate in your tissues and that can actually lead to organ failure or disfunction. Calcium plays an important role in your muscles responding properly. So, if you aren’t taking in enough calcium, after a while you begin to lose bone mineral density. And that, my friends, is not so good. See, us ladies lose 8% of our bone mass a decade due to aging and hormones. For the guys, it’s 3%. When we lose levels of circulatory estrogen, we are at risk for developing osteoporosis. The places that experience the biggest decline? The ends of our long bones–so that means the vertebral column, our hips and jaws. Translation: those spots are at greater risk for fracture. The sad facts are that 1 out of 2 women and 1 out of 4 men will get a osteoporotic fracture after age 50. And worse yet, is that 1 out of 4 hip fracture patients die within a year afterwards. This is usually from pulmonary thrombosis due to lack of movement. Did you know that a person loses about a year of bone mass in just 1 week of bed confinement? Wow…! But take heart, the good news about all of this is that bones regnerate quickly. (Our bodies truly are AMAZING.) What helps? You guessed it: physical activity and resistance /weight bearing movements. Hit the gym or do some plyometrics at home, my friends. It will do your body good. Add a healthy diet to the mix and you have the perfect recipe for healthy and longevity. And if you are have nutrional Qs, seek the counsel of a good nutritionist or dietician.
Be healthy,
Lisa
