FIT AT ANY SIZE
WHY FITNESS BEATS BMI IN PREDICTING LONG-TERM HEALTH
For years, we’ve been told that maintaining a “healthy” weight is the key to longevity. But new research suggests that fitness — not the number on the scale — is the real game-changer. A 2024 study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that people who are physically fit, regardless of their body weight, had a lower risk of death than those who were unfit — even if those unfit individuals had a “normal” BMI. Simply put, being active is far more important than being thin for long-term health. BMI, or body mass index, has long been used to measure health risk, but it only considers weight and height, ignoring more crucial factors like muscle mass, cardiovascular health, and overall fitness. Researchers behind this new study argue that aerobic fitness — how efficiently your heart, lungs, and muscles work together — is a much better indicator of health than weight alone. They found that individuals with higher VO2 max, which measures oxygen use during
exercise, had significantly lower risks of death. On the flip side, those with lower VO2 max were 2–3 times more likely to die from any cause, regardless of their BMI . The good news? Improving fitness doesn’t require drastic measures . You don’t need to train for a marathon or spend hours in the gym to boost your aerobic health. The key is consistency — moving your body in an enjoyable and sustainable way. Start with simple activities like a daily 20-minute walk, gentle stretching, or a few sets of bodyweight exercises. If joint pain is an issue, try swimming or water aerobics, which provide a great workout without putting stress on your knees or hips. Health isn’t about fitting into a certain dress size — it’s about staying active, feeling strong, and making movement a part of your everyday life. So, forget about obsessing over the scale and focus on what matters: moving more and living better.
THE MIRACLE OF MAGNESIUM
A Most Meaningful Mineral
As one of the most essential minerals for sustaining health, magnesium is involved in more than 300 biochemical reactions in the human body. It promotes healing, growth, detoxification, and muscle repair. Magnesium also helps many people sleep better when taken before bedtime and plays a critical role in maintaining bone health and preventing osteoporosis. Despite magnesium’s many benefits, many people fall short of consuming enough of it. Adult men should take between 400 and 420 milligrams daily, while adult women should take 310 to 320 milligrams (and even more if they’re pregnant or nursing). Magnesium-rich foods include dairy, leafy greens, almonds, bananas, avocados, spinach, nuts, pumpkin seeds, and legumes. It is also found in tofu, soy-based flour, and milk.
Although magnesium is found in many foods and drinks, getting enough of it through our diets is often more difficult than we may think. Processed foods can contain up to 85% less magnesium than pure sources, and boiling vegetables and other foods can cause similar depletions. Additionally, certain common food intolerances prohibit some people from getting enough magnesium regularly.
Common signs of magnesium deficiency include nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, and vomiting. If left unaddressed, this deficiency could cause cramps, heart abnormalities, tingling, and numbness. In extreme cases, it could lead to low serum calcium and potassium levels. According to the National Institutes of Health, older adults and individuals with gastrointestinal diseases, alcohol dependency, or Type 2 diabetes are most prone to having inadequate amounts of magnesium. In common cases, people are unable to get enough magnesium through their regular diets, so taking a magnesium supplement is the best course of action. Please contact us today for information and recommendations on how to incorporate more magnesium into your life.
2
DRSLADIC.COM
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator