What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become weaker and more likely to break.  Bone is living tissue that constantly renews itself.  There are cells that build bone and cells that take away bone.

When the cells that take bone away work faster than the cells that build bone, it could cause bone loss and, over time, that can lead to osteoporosis.  Because bone loss can silently progress, many women are unaware that they have osteoporosis, even if they have fractures in their spine.

A Healthy Lung and A Bad Lung

On the left you see a healty lung from a non-smoker, and on the right you see a lung from a smoker that has smoked one pack of cigarettes a day for twenty years. Scary if you ask me.

A Healthy Heart

Heart Disease

Heart disease is the leading cause of the death in the U.S. Over one quarter of all deaths are from heart disease. It is also a major cause of disability. The risk of heart disease increases as you age. You have a greater risk of heart disease if you are a man over age 45 or a woman over age 55. You also are at greater risk if you have a close family member who had heart disease at an early age.

Fortunately, there are many things you can do reduce your chances of getting heart disease. You should

• Know your blood pressure and keep it under control
• Exercise regularly
• Don't smoke
• Get tested for diabetes and if you have it, keep it under control
• Know your cholesterol and triglyceride levels and keep them under control
• Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables
• Maintain a healthy weight

Quote

The only exercise some people get is jumping to conclusions, running down their friends, side-stepping responsibility, and pushing their luck!  ~Author Unknown

5 Food Groups That Lower Bad Cholesterol

1.  Fiber Fortifiers
2.  Fish Fixes
3.  Olive Oil for Life
4.  Nut Tune-Up
5.  Powerhouse plant Sterols & Stanols

Warm Up to Keep Your Game Up

Don't rush into any sport or exercise without warming up first — muscles that haven't been properly prepared tend to be injured more easily.  Start out with some light cardiovascular activities, such as easy jogging, jumping jacks, or brisk walking, just to get your muscles going.  Follow your brief warm-up with some stretches. (Stretching works best after a warm-up because your tissues are more elastic [flexible] due to the increase in heat and blood flow to the muscles.)

Why Should You Take Vitamins?

Our bodies need many different vitamins and minerals to function properly.  Vitamins and minerals also offer us protection against a host of ailments, including heart disease and some cancers, such as colon and cervical cancer.   They also, boost the immune system, support normal growth and development, and help cells and organs do their jobs.  The good news is that we can get most of the vitamins and minerals our bodies need daily by choosing the right foods and eating a wide variety of them.

Taking Care of Your Body

It's important that you take care of your body to fulfil your duties because a healthy body is a healthy mind.