Post-Baby Exercise Prevents Bone Loss

Nov 2, 2009 | Filed Under: Fitness,Health & Beauty,In the News | Tags: Health

Time, energy and youth are not the only things kids take from us — they also drain our calcium!

In fact, women lose a significant amount of calcium to their babies, who need the mineral to grow.  So new mothers who are breastfeeding should exercise to prevent bone loss, say nutrition experts at the University of North Carolina.

As most of you know, calcium deficiency can lead to bone density loss and increased risk of osteoporosis.  My OB/GYN recommended taking a calcium supplement — which I wash down with ice cream to get even more calcium (hey, can never be too proactive!) — however, nutritionists recommend also walking, jogging and/or taking Pilates to stimulate bone growth and keep the skeleton healthy.

Researchers measured the bone density of 20 women between one and five months after they had given birth.  Those who did not exercise lost about seven percent of the bone density in their lower spine during the study period.  Yikes.

And those who just watched “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” marathons all day long lost about forty percent of their brain mass.