“Work out”, they say.
“It will be good for you”, they say.
Working out surely does the body good. Blood flow is stimulated. Your heart stays in shape. Your muscles can grow stronger and leaner. But who out there harks about the benefits of working out…for your bones?
Well, everyone should!
Bones literally support your body every step of the way. Keeping them strong and healthy has always been a priority, even if it wasn’t yours. (You remember your mother making sure you drank your milk before you were allowed to leave the dinner table when you were a child?)
Your bones should be something you continue to care for your whole life. The way you care for them when you’re younger—like in your 20s and 30s—will have a direct impact on the status of those calcium-dense bony-bones later in your life.
When you’re growing, your bones are constantly being broken down and rebuilt. Then, when you hit about 30 years old, when you’re generally at your peak bone mass—the bone-building starts to go downhill a bit. Vitamin D, calcium, and potassium are star players for keeping your crucial bones healthy, but regular exercise also helps immensely.
Weight-bearing exercises like running, walking, jumping rope, stair climbing, and weight training help your bones grow denser over time, which means they’ll be stronger for the long haul. Sign up for an aerobics class at your local gym (or search for one on YouTube!) and you’ll be all set!
