Healthier, Happier You

Regular exercise not only supports a healthy lifestyle, it also provides a host of other benefits, including a more positive mental outlook, less stress, and a more positive body image.

Exercise helps you feel good about yourself when you see that you're dedicated and disciplined enough to put yourself first and spend some time regularly exercising your body. You'll feel stronger and more fit, not to mention reap the benefits of endorphins – the powerful chemicals produced by the brain that are natural painkillers and responsible for what is known as the "runner's high", a feeling of euphoria and general state of well-being often experienced by exercise enthusiasts.

When you look better, you feel better, and exercise assists you with both. Regular physical activity not only helps to maintain optimal weight and body composition those who regularly exercise enjoy significantly decreased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer, among others. And these benefits are more than just short term; those who regularly exercise are sick 30% less often than non-exercisers, and fit people generally enjoy longer lives than their less fit counterparts.

When you exercise, focus on how you feel and you'll likely stick with your exercise program. If the thought of dragging yourself to the gym for weight loss isn't motivating to you, maybe it's your body's defense mechanism, encouraging you to love yourself the way you are. When you exercise, seek activities that are fun and leave you feeling strong and empowered, whether it's a challenging spinning class, a relaxing yoga session, or a brisk walk on the treadmill. Your body will thank you for taking good care of it, and you'll reap the many rewards of a healthier body and mind.

Strontium for Bone health

 

STRONTIUM is a mineral which is closely related to calcium and metabolized in the body in similar ways.  For this reason, strontium and calcium should be supplemented at different times of the day because they compete for absorption.  Almost all of the 300-350mg of strontium found in your body is in your bones or teeth.  We usually get about 2mg daily in our food such as spices, seafood, whole grains, root and leafy vegetables, and legumes. 

 Strontium stimulates new bone growth by improving bone turnover rather than inhibiting it as do many of the osteoporosis medications. It does this by stimulating osteoblast formation (the bone building cells) and inhibiting osteoclast activity (the bone breakdown cells). There have been several clinical double-blind placebo-controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of strontium in supporting bone growth. Strontium Ranelate, a particular salt form of strontium is available by prescription in Europe and the UK. The results of a larger clinical trial were published in 2004 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study evaluated the progress of 1649 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

 The treatment group received 2 grams daily of Strontium Ranelate plus calcium and vitamin D. After 3 years those taking the strontium had increases in bone density of 14.4% in the lumbar spine, 8.3% in the femoral neck of the hip, and 9.8% in the total hip. Also, those taking strontium had 41% fewer spine fractures over the 3 years than those in the control group. Other studies have reported benefits with a 1 gram daily dose. Some have concluded 1 gram daily as ideal for prevention and 2 grams daily for the treatment of osteoporosis.

 Many forms of dietary supplement strontium are now available such as carbonates, citrates, chlorides and so on. Though all act similarly regarding bone metabolism, no studies have been done comparing them

 

For more information, see my "BONE HEALTH" newsletter