Support Your Skeletal System

There are some simple things you can do to support your skeletal system and promote strong bones, even as you age. If your body is a house, then your bones are the all-important framing holding everything else up. Without a strong frame, no house will stand very long; without strong bones, it is hard to experience abundant health and vitality. Often, people are worried about supporting their cardiovascular system, or organ systems like the skin, or their brain health. These are all important too, but we need to remember to employ strategies to keep our bones strong and healthy. 

Luckily, there are some easy things you can do that will promote strong bones, even as you age. Fortunately, these are all easy things to incorporate into your Kaufmann Diet regimen. Like many aspects of health, when you control your lifestyle factors like diet and exercise, all body systems seem to be synergistically supported. 

1. Exercise

Exercise is great for cardiovascular strength and muscular strength, but exercise also strengthens your bones. This is one reason why you see astronauts rigorously working out in space, which is an environment where the absence of gravity can lead to bone loss. Particularly, you want to participate in resistance training––such as lifting weights––or activities that involve impact, such as walking. The pressure exerted on your bones in these settings is thought to assist in keeping them strong. 

2. Eat vegetables and healthy fats. 

Vegetables are rich in nutrients like vitamin C, which may have bone-protective qualities, and a variety of minerals. Vegetables like onions, broccoli, cabbage might be beneficial for bone health. Foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids are also important; they have been shown to prevent bone loss as we age. 

3. Get enough calcium, zinc, and magnesium. 

Everyone knows calcium is good for bone health. Plenty of foods on The Kaufmann Diet are rich sources of protein, including salmon, sardines, almonds, collard greens, spinach, and kale. Magnesium and zinc, however, are two minerals that are just as important too; magnesium and zinc are both important factors for strong bones. 

4. Maintain a healthy weight. 

Being underweight can affect the density of bones, so it is important to not let yourself get underweight. Very low calorie diets can negatively affect your bones, so it is important to consume enough calories. Fortunately, for those trying to lose weight with The Kaufmann Diet, you are never asked to starve yourself or even count calories. However, extra weight adds extra stress to your skeletal system perpetually, and may contribute to things like fractures. Losing a lot of weight can contribute to lower bone density, but the health benefits for your entire body––including your skeletal system––typically far outweigh any of these risks.  

5. Get Enough Vitamin D 

Our bodies make vitamin D when our skin comes into contact with the sun. Vitamin D is important for many aspects of health; among those functions is supporting bone health. Vitamin D assists our bodies in processing calcium, which is vital for bone health. 

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