Fitness is the key to the previous statement. Muscle and bone strength peak in the mid-30’s and begin to decline afterwards. Women, particularly during menopause, can lose up to 5%/year of bone mass/year, increasing the risk of muscle atrophy and osteoporosis. In fact, 1 out of 2 women over 65 is at risk of developing osteoporosis-frightening. Muscle strength decreases by 30-50% during the course of life, mostly consequences of a sedentary lifestyle. Muscle atrophy and weakness are not merely cosmetic problems-most professionals now link them with falls, a major couse of immobility, loss of independence, and death in the American elderly population. The medical costs of inactivity are staggering. This is so ironic, because it doesn’t have to be this way. You can have fitness, investing as little as 10 minutes/day. Keeping the activity intense-short burst work with short recovery periods not only increases muscle and bone strength, but also gives your heart a good workout and burns fat. Did you know that if you eat only 50 calories more per day than you expend, you’ll gain 5 lbs. in a year. The flip side is also true-if you burn an extra 50 cals, you’ll lose 5 lbs. If you cut 50 cals/day and burn 50/day, that equals 10 lbs. in a year! The basic equation for weight control is simple: calories in = calories out= no weight gain. Increase either side and you know what happens, either weight loss or gain. So get going!
Health tip. For those of you with liver dysfunction or disease, I came across an article in Julian Whitaker MD Health & Healing newsletter regarding a “triple therapy” approach to dealing with hepatitis B and C, auto immune hepatitus, biliary cirrhosis, and sclerosing cholangitis. It consists of 600 mg alpha lipoic acid, 900 mg silymarin(from milk thistle), and 400 mg selenium, taken in divided doses 2x/day. Take 30-60 minutes before eating.
Stay well, John R. Blilie, M.S.