The Truth About Aging PART 2: BONE LOSS
“A gold medal is a wonderful thing, but if you’re not enough without one, you’ll never be enough with one”
——Irv Blitzer, Cool Runnings (1993)
THERE IS A CRACK IN YOUR FOUNDATION
Your bones are dissolving.
Not like a horror movie, but quietly 1% per year after 40. By 80? Many people have lost half their bone density. And the scariest part? You won’t feel it… until you break a hip reaching for a coffee mug.
Welcome to osteoporosis: where your skeleton turns from steel to chalk.
Why This Happens
1. Your Bones Stop Remodeling
- Before 40, cells called osteoblasts constantly rebuild bone.
- After 40? They get lazy, while osteoclasts (bone-eating cells) keep working. Net loss: 0.5-1% per year.
2. Hormones Betray You
- Women: Menopause causes up to 20% bone loss in 5 years (thanks, disappearing estrogen).
- Men: Testosterone decline means weaker bones by 65+.
3. Modern Life Makes It Worse
- Sitting all day = no weight-bearing stimulus.
- Vitamin D deficiency (thanks, office jobs) = calcium can’t absorb.
How to Fight Back
1. Lift More Than Just Your Spirits
- Bones need impact (google “wolf’s law and bones” for the full science behind this statement). Walking isn’t enough—you need:
- Weight training (squats, deadlifts)
- Jumping (yes, even in your 50s—try low-impact jumps if needed)
2. Eat Like a Goat (They Never Get Osteoporosis)
- Calcium isn’t enough. You need:
- Vitamin D3 (2000 IU/day) to absorb it
- Magnesium (nuts, leafy greens) to direct calcium into bones, not arteries
3. Scare Your Bones Into Growing
- Odd movements work best:
- Carry uneven loads (groceries in one arm)
- Stand on one leg (forces bones to adapt)
Bones that attach to other bones = a joint complex. The more you take care of the muscles and bones the less joint issues occur
The Bottom Line
Bone loss is silent but deadly. The difference between snapping your wrist from a stumble and bouncing back comes down to these above habits.
Next Up: Part 3 Brain Fog & Memory Loss (Why You’re Slipping… and How to Stop It).
