How and Why to Get Those ZZZ’s
WHY A SOLID SNOOZE IS SO IMPORTANT As a result of the large uptick in sleep research over the last several years, we now know that good sleep quality is a predictor of physical health, mental health, and vitality. There is growing evidence that high-quality sleep can...
Let’s Go Play in the Dirt
Spring has arrived and gardeners everywhere are creating their “to do” lists. The joys of gardening don’t need to be outlined for devotees, but let’s explore the health benefits that may not be so well known. And perhaps if you’ve been wondering if you should give...
A Lesson from Killer Whales
The Collapsed Dorsal Fin of Captive Orcas For many years, there has been scientific debate concerning the reason why the naturally straight and very tall dorsal fin of killer whales (orcas) sometimes flops over. While there are various theories explaining this...
The Eiffel Tower: A Fascinating Case of Biomimicry
The Eiffel Tower: A Fascinating Case of Biomimicry At the end of every Strong Bones class, we always take a few moments to contemplate things we are grateful for in our lives. In appreciation of the human body which not only transports us through life but also allows...
A Sampling of New Research Regarding Fracture Risk Among Vegetarians and Vegans
A Large United Kingdom Study Correlates Vegetarian Diets with Higher Risk of Hip Fracture According to a new study published in BMC Medicine (Webster, et al. 2022), women who are vegetarian are more likely to experience hip fractures compared to those who eat meat. ...
Journey of a Lifetime
The John Muir trail is a 211-mile hike that spans from Yosemite to Mount Whitney in Southern California.
Trivial Pursuit for Bone Heads
How many bones are in the human body? a. 126b. 79c. 381d. 206 What is the name of the smallest bone in the body? a. The cuboidb. The patellac. The stirrupd. The scaphoid What is the main cause of osteoporosis prior to age 50? a. Lack of exercise throughout...
True or False? A Daily Serving of Prunes Helps Slow Bone Loss
The study of dried plums, (or prunes as they’re more commonly known), in relation to our skeletal health, is not new. I happen to enjoy eating prunes and was pleased to learn years ago that they have a protective effect on bone loss. Being the healthy skeptic that I...
DXA Dilemmas: Important Things to Know About Bone Density Screening
Last week, we had a particularly lively after-class discussion about dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans and their possible pitfalls. Since this is one of the primary ways our bone health is diagnosed and monitored, it is important to understand the basics of...