As we start a New Year, we often focus on diet and wellness. Instead of diet, think about eating right for your musculoskeletal health and instead of wellness, think of being active.

By eating a proper balanced diet, high in vitamins (for example, vitamin K) and minerals (for example, Zinc, Magnesium), not only you can obtain a healthy lifestyle, you may decrease the risk for development of musculoskeletal conditions (back pain, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis). By keeping your muscles, bones and joints healthy through proper nutrition, your musculoskeletal system can actively move and function optimally.

Therefore by being active, there are many direct and indirect benefits. These include helping with back and neck pain, supporting bone health, helping to manage weight, helping to support mental and brain health, helping to manage diabetes, and helping to reduce risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Combine regular physical exercise with a healthy diet and you’re well on your way to reducing your risk for musculoskeletal conditions as well as the occurrence of injuries and accidents.

For more information about managing your New Year’s nutrition and exercise, click here to book an appointment with Dr. Edward today!

References

1. International Osteoporosis Foundation, Nutrition, https://www.iofbonehealth.org/nutrition.

2. https://bjdonline.org/public-and-patient-education/ Pedersen BK, Saltin B. Exercise as medicine: evidence for prescribing exercise as therapy in 26 different chronic diseases. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2015;25(S3): 1-72.

3. Public Health Agency of Canada. Diabetes in Canada: Facts and figures from a public health perspective. Date modified: December 15, 2011. Accessed September 22, 2017.

4. CCA website

5. Paillard, Thierry, et al. “Protective Effects of Physical Exercise in Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease: A Narrative Review.” Journal of Clinical Neurology (Seoul, Korea), Korean Neurological Association, July 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4507374/.