#4 Support System: Bones, Joints, and Muscles

(This is #5 of 7 posts on Targeted Solutions. Here is the link to the first post - Improve Your Health-Targeted Solutions. It is important first to get on a foundation program of a protein and multi-vitamin... and then focus on "Targeted Solutions" - Targeted Solutions refers to systems within our body that may need special attention.)​

The 4th system to focus on is your support system which consists of bones, joints, and muscles.

Strong bones, healthy joints, and strong muscles are important at any age. It becomes more of a challenge to keep them healthy as one gets over 40. As with the other systems, there are several contributing factors that can affect our bones, joints, and muscles besides nutrition, but there are nutrients that play a significant role in growth, prevention and recovery.

Bones
The main nutrient that helps to build strong bones is calcium. Osteoporosis can develop which makes your bones weak and brittle.
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Calcium is also important for muscle contraction and relaxation. Milk has also been known as “nature’s tranquilizer. It used to be common to drink a glass of warm milk before bedtime. And of course, your most important muscle is your heart. More information about muscles is below.

Dairy products are the main source of calcium, but did you know there are several other sources of calcium that are non-dairy? Broccoli, sardines, salmon, and almonds are good sources of calcium.

It is important to note that calcium is not easily absorbed (bioavailable) without proper amounts of magnesium and Vitamin D. Not all supplements or products found in the stores provide a natural source and/or may not be properly absorbed. See the post on Bioavailability for more information. 

Shaklee provides clinical proof that their calcium products are bioavailable, thus contributing to strong bones and muscles. In addition to providing a separate calcium supplement, calcium is part of several of Shaklee’s products such as the Life Shake and the Vita Lea.

Osteomatrix is the main calcium supplement from Shaklee. It contains all the key nutrients needed to build and maintain strong bones and minimize bone loss and has been clinically tested for absorption.

Joints
Joints can also begin to weaken through age and overuse.
Glucosamine is the mineral that helps to restore joints by providing cushioning for the joints. It is a building block for tendons and ligaments.

Natural sources of glucosamine are limited mostly to the shells of shellfish, which are commonly used to make glucosamine supplements.

Advanced Joint Health Complex is an awesome product that has glucosamine and Boswellia Extract (which has also been clinically proven to improve join comfort.)  Shaklee states that you will feel a different in as few as five days!

There are two reasons why I am concerned about taking steps to ensure I have healthy bones, muscles, and joints. 

First, is my family history. My grandmother had osteoporosis. Both my parents suffered from falls in their senior years from weak bones.

Second, as a runner and working out in the gym I was concerned with my knees.

As a preventative measure I have consistently taken Shaklee supplements, eat calcium rich foods including dairy and consistently exercised. The Advanced Joint Health with glucosamine especially was helpful for me to recover from exercise and maintain healthy knees.

Muscles
The main nutrient for muscles is protein. Proteins are made up of amino acids. There are 8 amino acids that we must get from our foods.

Meat is the main product that we think of when it comes to protein, but there are many vegetable sources of a high-quality protein – soy, whey and a pea protein.

Shaklee provides Energizing Soy Protein and the Life Shake Soy or Plant protein. These should already be part of your nutritional foundation. They are a delicious drink that can be used in place of a meal, in addition to a meal, or as a snack. These proteins are great for maintaining strong muscles.

On weight loss programs, the problem is that when a person eats less than 2,000 calories a day, they may lose weight from muscle. This in turn lowers metabolism and the weight comes back on but in the form of fat. The Life Shake contains the extra amino acid Leucine which helps to maintain muscle, thus the studies showed that the weight loss from following the Shaklee 180 program was from fat not muscle. The muscle helps to maintain metabolism, so you have more energy to exercise and to prevent regaining the weight.

Exercise and sports can cause sore muscles. Instead of using muscle creams and aspirin, reach for natural ingredients that won’t harm your health and will give you a quicker recovery time.
Shaklee has a great muscle cream product Joint and Muscle Pain Cream

Some foods that help are tart cherry juice, eggs, ricotta, sweet potatoes, and whole grains. Bananas also provide potassium.

Here are a couple of Shaklee products that are great for recovery of sore muscles that I love that were formulated for sports and fitness. These products are also used by over 150 Olympic medal athletes.

Physique Bio Build is a banana flavored whey drink mix. I enjoy it in milk or orange juice. I like it best in the afternoon to help with exercise and/ or aging muscle aches. There is also a low-calorie version for those who are concerned about calories.

Performance™ PM Recovery Complex is a capsule of herbs that helps reduce muscle soreness and speed recovery. It includes tart cherry and Boswalia extract.  Even though Shaklee suggests taking these in the evening, I take these instead of aspirin any time I feel sore or feel like I have a headache. 
 
Collagen 9 is also a popular product for healthy bones and joints but I’m keeping the explanation for this product for the last segment on Anti-aging.

Strong bones, muscles, and joints will keep you active and that will help keep you healthy. Take preventative measures now. 

Go to #5. Emotional System: Stress, Hormones, Depression