As men and women age, we BOTH lose levels of calcium, phosphorus and other important minerals from our bones. It can be due to poor diet, lack of exercise, genetics, metabolic problems, smoking, alcohol, long-standing usage of steroids and hormone changes to name a few culprits.

The bone density changes as fewer nutrients remain in the spinal bone’s composition. It’s like removing some of the walls and studs from your house and expecting it to withstand wind, rain or snow.
 
Until we are around 30 years of age, our body stores calcium in our bones like a bank. After that, we make withdrawals from our savings account. Continued exercise and proper nutrition are a few ways to limit how many withdrawals you make from your bank. Due to hormones in our food supply causing early development, some researchers believe today’s kids only have until their early 20’s to store their calcium.
 
Research shows that astronauts lose muscle tone and mass, and develop osteoporosis during space travel because they are not weight-bearing. Without the strain of gravity on our bodies they start to wither and weaken. That is no different than when we’re sitting on our bottoms. That confirms the move it or lose it theory. Bus driver, “Move…that…BUTT!”
 
Most recently, a study by the University of South Carolina was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association determining which was more important, being fit or being fat. In the 12 year study of people over 60, people who were fit, or able to walk briskly five times a week for 30 minutes, were more likely to avoid heart problems than inactive, skinny people. It had nothing to do with the person’s appearance as in fat or skinny, but in their ability to be active. So simply looking “marvelous” is not all it’s cracked up to be.
 
For 20 years, Zoe Koplowitz has been participating in the NY City Marathon. No, she’s never won it, but her time crossing the line in under 29 hours in 2007 is another example of not making excuses. You see, she has Multiple Sclerosis and Diabetes, and nothing stops her. Now that’s inspiring.
 
Exercise has also been shown to thwart off Diabetes, Cancer, Heart Disease, Back Pain, Alzheimer’s and Arthritis. So how do you attempt to get back into an exercise routine if you’ve been kickin’ back for a while?
  • Park further away from your destination.
  • Take the stairs.
  • If you take public transportation, get off a few stops early and walk.
  • Grab a neighbor or family member and take a walk.
  • During a TV commercial go walk your stairs or do pushups for 2 minutes.
  • Put your exercise equipment in the same room as your TV. It will help pass time.
  • With gas prices, you may want to walk, bike or skateboard in to work and save a buck.
  • Use weights or exercise tubing at home and watch TV or crank up some tunes.
  • Rent an exercise DVD from the store or library and follow it at home.
  • Your friends may already have some you can borrow or swap DVDs for.
  • Check garage sales for cheap equipment or videos.
  • TV has programs with skilled instructors to walk you through their program.

There are foods that have been found to deplete calcium from our bones. Now some people will be very unhappy here. The list includes: salt; soda and caffeine. Gulp!! Yep. These in excess, more than a soda/day or 100mg of caffeine/day, can harm the body over the years to come.

Salt requirements by the body are roughly 2300 milligram

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