Great Aunt Bluma came to visit last year. She came from the
States and stayed at our place. She was fun to entertain, yet
I was in a constant state of anxiety. Maybe she would fall
off her bed. Maybe she would trip coming up the three flights
of steps. Maybe she would slip in the shower. Although I was
sad to see her leave, I breathed a sigh of relief and thanked
Hashem that she didn't fall, trip or slip.
We treat the elderly as though they are fragile. We can't
yank them or let them be on their own too long for fear that
they will hurt themselves. Their bones are weak; therefore
we need to be more careful around them. It's quite common for
a senior citizen to break a bone.
Yet although we care and help them, most of us forget that
one day we might be in that very same position. We don't like
to think about it, so we pretend that day is far, far away. I
certainly hope that your bones will always be strong and
capable. And one way to realize that hope is by taking care
of your bones now.
Osteoporosis is a disease that affects ten million Americans,
according to the National Institutes of Health. On top of
that, eighteen million more have low bone mass, which mean
that they are at increased risk of developing this
disease.
Just like the tissue in our skin, hair and nails constantly
renews itself, so, too, the bones in our body renew and
repair themselves as well. As we age, the bone keeps breaking
down, however it no longer rebuilds itself as quickly. This
results is a decline in bone density. In simple terms it
means that the bones become weaker and more brittle and
therefore they are prone to breaks and cracks.
It's a lot easier to prevent osteoporosis than to cure it
later on. How can we prevent it?
Calcium is the main mineral in our bones. Like our mothers
all insisted, "Drink that milk!," it seems that they were
right all along. Milk is full of calcium, which is great in
creating strong bones. And the earlier you begin to pump
calcium into your bones, the better chance you have of
fending off this disease.
Milk is the ideal food to consume to ensure an adequate
supply of calcium to your bones. But for those who cannot or
will not go anywhere near milk, there is another way.
Exercise. Not enough can be said about the benefits of
exercise. Weightlifting is especially beneficial in
developing stronger bones. I don't mean these sixty pounds of
iron. A set of small weights is fine enough. Join a toning
class. Exercise in the privacy of your home, remember though,
to keep your posture correct. Take a walk around your
neighborhood, either with a set of weights in your hands or
without. The more you use your bones, the less likely you are
to lose them.
Again, the earlier you begin to worry about your bones and
begin an exercise program, the better it is, preferably with
weights, but any exercise helps.
Important: It is always necessary to check with your
physician before you begin any exercise program. Good luck
and have fun!
