With Halloween just around the corner, I’ve been thinking about our skeletons.  More specifically bone health and what we can do as women to ensure healthy bones well into old age.  According to the Harvard School of Public Health, osteoporosis occurs in a whopping 80% of all menopausal women!  Menopause may be a long way away for some of you, but plan ahead!  Building and maintain healthy bones now will pay off later.  Osteoporosis is a preventable disease and not something we have to live in fear of as we age.  We can and should take the necessary steps to insure that our bones remain strong throughout our entire life.

Proper diet is crucial for overall health not just bone health.  While the jury is still out regarding just how much calcium and Vitamin D ought to be consumed, they have been studied enough to indicate that they are both important for bone health.  Also, a diet rich in fruit and vegetables is vital though if you’ve been with me long enough you already know just how important they are!

What we do know, according to the Harvard School of Public Health, is that exercise, especially weight-bearing exercises (grab your kettlebells!) are crucial for bone health and the prevention of osteoporosis. Weight-bearing exercises (including bodyweight exercises) puts a beneficial stress on our bones that triggers growth.  This growth forces our bones to become denser and stronger.

As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  Many of us who are still young enough don’t often think about our health and wellbeing in the long-term, but we really should especially as women.  Looking good is important, but feeling great well into our twilight years is even better!  Think holistically.  Much of the work you do now with me – sweating it out at the ZGym and eating right – will pay off exponentially down the road.  In fact, it might just make all the difference in our longevity and wellbeing.