One of the challenges astronauts face after returning to earth after long periods in space is how to deal with brittle bones. Without gravity, bones lose a high percentage of their minerals and become suceptable to fractures. Living on earth, we are subjected to the constant stress of gravity and our bone minerals tend to stay put depending on our level of activity, family history etc.
This is due, in part to something called Wolff’s law which states that the amount of strength (minerals) in our bones depends on the amount of stress we subject them to. We can make Wolff’s law work for us. All we need to do is come up with a way to put our skeleton through enough stress to cause the body to hold on, and add to the minerals we already have. We need not look any further than our own closet and a comfortable pair of walking shoes.
Research shows that walking is the best way to have the body deposit minerals into the bone structure. Okay, so what about swimming, running, bicycling and all that great resistance training in the gym? They are all great for many reasons, but it’s walking that works best for most of the population. Every time the heel strikes the ground, it sends a shock (stress) wave up through the bone. This triggers the body in it’s innate wisdom to deposit calcium, phosphorus and other essential minerals in the bone to add strength to handle the repeated stress.
Consumming additional calcium in the diet may be a good idea and certainly won’t hurt, but it’s walking that has been scientifically proven to make bones stronger. So if you’re concerned about osteoporosis and weakening bones, going for a daily walk will make a big difference.
