Mailbag! Struggling with Weak Muscles? Try This!
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted August 31, 2021
My legs are getting weaker and it’s harder to get around. Is there anything that will help heal or further prevent this loss of the use of my legs?
–Janet from Wichita, KS
*********
Janet,
I’m sorry to hear what you’re going through. It sounds incredibly frustrating!
But don’t worry – I have a solution.
You see, many folks out there are also dealing with weakness like this. And it happens for one reason: losing muscle mass.
Many studies have shown that you lose muscle mass as you age – and as you can guess, this is a problem for many reasons.
First, you need muscle mass to maintain a healthy weight. Most of your metabolism is determined by how much muscle mass you have. That’s because muscles burn more energy than anything else on your body.
Muscle mass also helps you live longer. Weaker muscles have been linked to poorer health, including higher death risk, cardiovascular disease, and fractures.
And that’s not all. The more muscle mass you have, the better your bone density and blood flow will be.
So how do you fight muscle loss as you age?
You’ll want to start with exercise. Since you’re suffering from weaker leg muscles, you’ll want to begin there.
I suggest taking a class or getting a trainer. If that doesn’t work for your schedule or budget, then simply try climbing stairs. Start off with one flight of stairs a day and increase it to as many as you can.
It can be really difficult to start building muscle, but the good news is that it gets easier and easier, and you’ll notice the change fairly soon.
You can also get results faster by adding a few key nutrients into your diet.
- Protein is absolutely essential to building and repairing muscles. Eating a wide variety of proteins is your best bet.
- Magnesium helps build muscles, promote muscle relaxation, and prevent cramping.
- Iron helps bring oxygen to your muscles. This is important because without oxygen your muscles can’t function properly. Do not take iron if you’re post-menopausal or male, however, unless you have a blood test showing a deficiency.
- Vitamin D is necessary for a strong immune function and bones, but it’s also important for muscle growth maintenance because it helps build testosterone. Despite what you might think, testosterone is essential for muscle in men AND women.
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
P.S. Have a health concern that’s worrying you? Click here to submit your questions and get featured in the weekly mailbag!
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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