Research shows that using your muscles also helps your mind. Animals who exercise regularly increase the number of tiny blood vessels that bring oxygen-rich blood to the region of the brain that is responsible for thought. Exercise also spurs the development of new nerve cells and increases the connections between brain cells (synapses). This results in brains that are more efficient, plastic, and adaptive, which translates into better performance in aging animals. Exercise also lowers blood pressure, improves cholesterol levels, helps blood sugar balance and reduces mental stress, all of which can help your brain as well as your heart.

With today’s busy lifestyle, many of us don’t think much about bone and joint health unless we experience an injury or the signs of degeneration, where pain is often an indicator. As prevention, postmenopausal women or men over age 50 might take a calcium supplement or get a bone density test. Still, a staggering “140 million adults in the U.S. suffer from some form of joint or connective tissue disorder.1” And 27 million people over 25 already have degenerative joint disease (DJD)—that’s 14% of the American population! What’s worse is that over 34% of those over the age of 65 have DJD.2

So, what can you do if you are already experiencing or have been diagnosed with a degenerative condition? Although there is no known cure for osteoporosis or other degenerative joint diseases, there are several natural ways to support the body’s joint and bone health.