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BRAIN-BUILDING, PREVENTING OSTEOPOROSIS, WHAT CARDIOLOGISTS DO FOR HEART HEALTH… AND THE NEW CANADIAN EATING GUIDELINES

January 11, 2020 11 Comments

I was at a boxing day party of cardiologists this year, many of whom had come straight from the local hospital where they’d been treating Christmas day heart attacks as well as looking after the usual heart-diseased in-patients. I noticed (glumly) that none of the cardiologists were drinking or snatching at the canapes, so I did some sleuthing. After briskly working the room asking for a new year’s resolution that could improve the health of all of us, this is it:

  1. Eat less
  2. Drink less alcohol
  3. Exercise more

Simple stuff. And all of the cardiologists I chatted to exercised regularly – and to a breathless degree. If you watched Michael Mosley (Trust Me I’m a Doctor) on Wednesday night, you’ll have seen how walking, and particularly fast walking, reduces fat, lowers blood pressure and raises mood.

We already know that exercise can improve how the blood vessels in our brains work, keeping our brains in tip-top shape. But a study last week found that any exercise that makes you a bit breathless increases the amount of grey matter (the dense clumps of cells) in our brains. The volume of our grey matter mirrors our ability to do certain types of brainwork, including focussing and recalling. Studies have found that musicians who’ve been accumulating knowledge for years typically have more grey matter. A decline in grey matter is also associated with dementia and general ageing.

This study involved more than 2000 Germans (over a fifteen year period) and found that ‘peak oxygen uptake’ correlated with ‘increased grey matter volume’. The neurologist author noted that enlarging grey matter using vigorous exercise was as effective for older people as it was for mid-lifers. Whatever your age, keep exercising and pushing yourself just that little bit further. Take it slowly and check with your GP if you’re not used to exercising.

So this year I’ll be continuing my practice of walking everywhere, as fast as I can. I’ll be avoiding urban walking on pollution-heavy days: a study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health and published last week showed a clear link between air pollution and poor bone health. It follows a 2017 study that found exposure to air pollution led to a loss of bone mineral density and a greater risk of fractures. Even very small increases in PM 2.5 (the tiniest particles of pollution) resulted in a greater number of bone fractures in older adults. Researchers aren’t sure why this happens but think that ‘inhaling polluted air could lead to bone mass loss through oxidative stress and inflammation.’ Others speculate that pollution affects our production of Vitamin D. The 2017 study, however, found people living in polluted areas had lower levels of parathyroid hormone, a hormone that regulates calcium levels in our blood, raising it when it becomes too low.

I was diagnosed with osteopenia last year, rather to my surprise. Osteopenia is the precursor to osteoporosis but – with the right sort of exercise and diet – it can be halted in its tracks. Having osteopenia (early bone thinning) doesn’t mean you’ll develop osteoporosis. But it does mean you need to avoid those things that contribute to bone thinning and embrace those things that prevent it. For me the diagnosis was a wake-up call – I need to do more for my bones. The prospect of breaking a bone whenever I hug a grandchild or trip on a kerb isn’t hugely appealing.

Professor Baccarelli, who led the 2017 study, found that Vitamin B can diminish the effects of pollution-induced heart disease as well as pollution-induced epigenetic damage to DNA. He doesn’t know if the benefits of Vitamin B extend to osteoporosis, but I’m eating a diet rich in B vitamins just to be sure. And I’m making sure I get plenty of calcium. I’m not a fan of supplements (studies suggest food is a much better source of vitamins) but we’ll be digging into the latest data on B and calcium supplements, just to be sure. Watch this space. In the meantime Vitamin D helps our bodies absorb calcium, so I’ll continue taking a daily D supplement.

I’ve also ordered a pollution mask. Just for those days when I have to walk or sit in slow-moving traffic. I’m not sure if I’ll wear it (I find them rather terrifying, but perhaps in the future we’ll all wear them, as they do in Chinese mega cities) but I’ll keep it in my bag. Just in case. The latest masks filter almost 100% of PM2.5. More to follow once I’ve trialled it.

Because of my osteopenia diagnosis I’ve added running and jumping to my exercise programme. If you’ve read our book or come to one of our masterclasses, you’ll know that jumping is a favourite activity of Susan. You’ll also need to do a little strength or resistance training. 10 minutes a day of weight lifting or working with your own body weight (squats, planks, lunges) is all that’s needed.

Yes, it’s a bit of effort and sacrifice, but osteoporosis is the most common reason for broken bones in the elderly, and the risk of death after a fracture rises by 20%. Only 40% of those who’ve had fractures regain their independence. Many of those live with a much greater level of fear in their lives. Fear of falling leads to a fear of moving. And once you stop moving… well, we know what happens then. Health deteriorates. Life shrinks. Besides, who wants to live with fear?

Quick reminder – the following foods are great sources of Vitamin B: whole grains, meat and fish, eggs and dairy, beans and lentils, nuts and seeds, dark leafy veg, avocados, bananas and citrus fruit.

The following are great sources of calcium: cheese, seeds, sardines and salmon (canned with the bones), yogurt, beans and lentils, almonds.

Note: women over 50 need extra calcium. An extra 20% a day is usually recommended (1,200 mg rather than 1000 mg of calcium).

If you haven’t had a bone density test (ladies) and you’re 50 or over, please ask your GP for a DEXA as a matter of urgency. Knowing I have osteopenia enabled me to make changes to my exercise programme and eating habits that I might not otherwise have made.

To my age-well goals for 2020 I’ve added: I will not get osteoporosis. It’s a powerful motivator.

Finally, pictured above is the new Canadian eating model, the first major update since 2007. Every country has guidelines on how best to eat. And they’re all a bit different. The Canadian guidelines downplay the role of dairy, acknowledging that calcium can be found in tofu, almonds and leafy greens. Note, too, the small quantities of meat. We like this model, but we’re still fans of cheese and yogurt in moderation. Both are good sources of probiotics as well as calcium, magnesium and other nutrients vital for … bone health! Read more about the Canadian food model here.

We’ve also written about bone health here and cheese here. And we’ve lots of recipes for building strong bones, so do have a dig, using the search bar and the word ‘bones’.

Happy new year!

Annabel

  • Conditions: Bones, Brain and Dementia, Frailty, Heart disease
« HOW TO AGE HAPPILY IN 2020
How diet boosts brain power: the science »

Comments

  1. Frances says

    January 11, 2020 at 11:53 am

    Great information as always and I appreciate how you personalise the information with your health story it brings it more to life for me. 😀.

    Reply
    • Annabel Streets says

      January 12, 2020 at 9:01 am

      Thanks so much!

      Reply
  2. Antonia says

    January 11, 2020 at 1:05 pm

    A very useful analysis of what foods to prioritise plus exercise tips. I already eat these things and try to have daily bowl of live yoghurt. Yeo valley low or non fat the one I like most. With a sprinkle of Lizi granola for its nuts, seeds and texture and now add slivers of toasted almonds.
    Since buying your book and hearing you and Susan speak in October I have got out my skipping rope and will integrate its use into park walks.

    Reply
    • Annabel Streets says

      January 12, 2020 at 9:05 am

      Thanks for your comment. We love yogurt and eat it liberally! Keep skipping…

      Reply
  3. Sue Watson says

    January 12, 2020 at 7:33 am

    Jutmping is brilliant for strengthening bones but don’t forget it can weaken pelvic floors. Learn how to do pelvic floor exercises before you add another health crisis. The recommendation is to do them 3 times a day and start young!!!!
    Why not try a Scottish Dancing class? There is plenty of bouncing from one foot to the other in setting steps. Learning, remembering, anticipating the next steps are all good brain exercises. It naturally includes some HIIT training. It’s very sociable. My husband is 90 in June. On Thursdays he instructs a 2 hour Scottish dancing class. His class are all over 60 years & one has turned 80. They spend as much time laughing as dancing. Look for a class lke that–some are serious!!!!

    Reply
    • Annabel Streets says

      January 12, 2020 at 9:11 am

      Oh yes, we love dancing and studies have already found Scottish dancing to be linked to better health, both brain and body. When I was growing up my town had weekly barn dances – similar to Scottish dancing I think? – but they seem to have fallen out of fashion. I remember them being great fun. Good point re pelvic floor – we were just discussing it two days’ ago! Thanks for the comment…

      Reply
  4. Peter Douglas Trethewey says

    January 13, 2020 at 1:37 pm

    How do you feel about being vegan?

    Reply
    • Susan Saunders says

      January 17, 2020 at 9:51 am

      We applaud anyone who takes that decision from an ethical standpoint. Our focus is longevity and we feel it’s hard for vegans to get the nutrients they need to live a long and healthy life without supplementation (vitamin B12 and EPA/DHA in particular). Our Age-Well diet is very plant-focussed but we haven’t entirely given up animals products: we believe we need them in small quantities for healthy longevity. We buy organic and sustainably raised as much as possible.

      Susan

      Reply
  5. Peter Douglas Trethewey says

    January 17, 2020 at 11:37 am

    Susan.
    Thank you for your well considered remarks. I also feel that totally vegan is maybe a bit over the top.We are aftet all omnvores and not herbivores.
    Peter.

    Reply
  6. Miranda Jones says

    January 20, 2020 at 2:41 pm

    I too have been diagnosed with osteopenia; my grandmother had osteoperosis, and my mother was also osteopenic, so no surprise there.

    I’m interested in two issues related to your investigations:

    – Calcium supplements. On diagnosis my doctor suggested a calcium suppliment, but looking into this it seems this is bad advice as there are several vitamins and minerals in specific proportion that are essential to calcium absorption, otherwise it’s like vitamin C – it just goes through you.

    – Hormones. I was told by my HRT doctor that its connected to hormone levels, hence why women over 50 become more suseptible.

    I look forward to your findings.
    Miranda.

    Reply
    • Susan Saunders says

      January 21, 2020 at 1:53 pm

      Thanks Miranda. Annabel’s busy researching this at the moment and will blog more about osteopenia soon. You’re right – calcium on its own isn’t terribly helpful but there are specific bone formulation supplements you can look at. We don’t recommend specific supplements. And there must be a hormonal element, mustn’t there?

      Susan

      Reply

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Everything we’ve learnt about ageing well points Everything we’ve learnt about ageing well points to a time (for women at least) in their mid-60s when the chronic conditions of ageing, like diabetes, heart disease and dementia, are - statistically - more likely to kick in. 

And we know that our reproductive hormones do so much more than prepare us to have periods and babies, we have receptors for them throughout our bodies and brains. 

Oestrogen, in particular, helps keep bones strong, blood vessels flexible, brains firing and inflammation levels low. Essentially, it wraps us up in a cosy protective cloak to keep us safe and healthy while we're able to reproduce, but once the eggs have run out - we're on our own! 

Between the average age of menopause at 51, and that time in our 60s when the chronic conditions of ageing are more likely to kick in, we have a decade or so in which it’s vital to focus on our health.

And how to do that? It’s on the blog - link in bio

#longevity #womenover50 #agewell #ageingwell #agingwell #longevityblog #healthblog #agewellblog #over50bloggers #womenover50 #healthspan #womenover60 #menopause #menopausehealth #postmenopause #postmenopausefitness #postmenopausal #oestrogen #hormonalhealth
If you’re lucky enough to have good metabolic he If you’re lucky enough to have good metabolic health you might want to thank your Mum today. Recent studies have found that women who move around during their reproductive years and during pregnancy and then breastfeed for a bit pass on a compound in their milk called 3SL which provides lifelong protection against poor metabolic health. The offspring of moving, breastfeeding Mums appear to have a lower lifetime risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and other chronic metabolic disease. Even gentle strolling during pregnancy and while nursing can produce this compound. So today we thank our Mums for that - as well as everything else.  Susan’s mum in the hat. Annabel’s mum in the pony tail. 

#mothersday #mothers #move #agewell #goodhealth #longevitylifestyle #longevity #walk
There’s been lots of good news for walkers recen There’s been lots of good news for walkers recently. A study published last month found that over-60s who walked between 6000 and 9000 steps a day cut their risk of heart disease (including strokes and heart attacks) by 40-50 percent, when compared to a more typical 2000 steps a day. In fact this study found that for every additional 1000 steps walked, the risk fell still further. 

How far are you walking to age well? Let us know in the comments and there’s more on the power of walking on the blog - link in bio

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A big hug from us to you to mark International Wom A big hug from us to you to mark International Women’s Day! 

The campaign this year reminds us to embrace equity as a way to recognise that each of us has different circumstances, and we need different resources and opportunities to reach an equal outcome. Of course, this is as vital in ageing and health outcomes as in every other field.  

So we’re embracing our age and hoping to grow older in a more equitable society ❤️

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We’ve learned to love walking backwards! So many We’ve learned to love walking backwards! So many benefits when it comes to ageing well. 

If you’re not sure how to start or are worried about looking silly (we were) - there are lots of tips on the blog, link in bio. 

If you’re a backwards walker, let us know in comments below! 

If you’re planning to start, save this post for when you’re ready for some reverse walking 

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