As we get older, our muscles begin to weaken. Everyday tasks, such as walking up a flight of stairs, carrying suitcases, or lugging groceries, become more difficult. We can feel unbalanced on our feet and tire easily.

There is also the risk of falling and getting hurt. I’m talking about all the ways we can injure ourselves, including bruises, fractures, cuts, and contusions—there are hundreds of different bad things that can happen to the human body when it endures a fall.

And speaking of falls, one in three people age 65 or older will suffer a fall. And worse than that, it appears that your odds of dying from injuries related to a fall have risen quite a bit over the past 10 years. This is sad news, and it keeps us doctors busy.

I would rather that you be the busy one, getting out of the house and doing things you love to do no matter what your age—play sports, without worrying about whether you’ll fall and break something. You can have a great life by taking care of your musculoskeletal system-your muscles, bones, and joints. Without these vital body parts, we wouldn’t be able to stand, walk, or even sit, so taking care of them is essential starting right now.

Movement

When it comes to preventing injury and preserving the health and vitality of your bones, muscles, and ligaments, this should be your number-one priority.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

With all the movin’ and groovin’ you’ll be doing, you’re sure to lose weight and maintain that lower healthy weight. You’ll enjoy so many great benefits of weight loss, including putting less stress on your joints (like your knees) and lower levels of inflammation (which can lead to arthritis). Who wants to be stiff, achy, and cracking with every step when they’re pushing 100 years old? Not you!

Stay Hydrated

Proper hydration helps lubricate the joints. When it comes to the knee joint, friction is the enemy, because that can cause cartilage to break down. Water helps the joints slide smoothly. But bones aren’t the only benefactors: Muscles crave water too. In fact, they’re mostly made of water! So, drink up for strong bones and healthy muscles.

Avoid Smoking

Smoking can lead to bone breaks later in life because the toxins in the smoke weaken the overall bone structure by limiting the blood supply to the bones, which they desperately need in order to continue their process of building and strengthening over time. Plus, smoking keeps your body from being able to absorb calcium properly from your food. If you’re a nonsmoker or have recently decided to quit, kudos! Your bones are thanking you.

Fortunately, there are other strategies, in addition to diet, that you can follow on your journey. You can find more strategies in my newest book, The 17 Day Plan to Stop Aging. My book explains that it is totally within your power to prevent and even reverse these symptoms of aging and proposes a 4-cycle plan that uses nutrition, physical fitness, and mental exercise to get you ready for longevity. Please visit this page to learn more about the 17 Day Plan to Stop Aging: CLICK HERE!

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