1. ASK THE NIFS EXPERT Why Am I Shrinking?
Did you know that men and women can shrink up to three inches during the course of their life? Some people start to see signs of shrinking as early as their 20’s. There are a couple factors as to why one person might shrink, but the major reason people shrink is due to their spine.
Your Spine
Your spine is made up of 24 bones that stack on top of each other like building blocks. Between the bones are discs that almost look like a jelly doughnut (a thick outer layer and a jelly middle). The discs are primarily made up of water and account for 33% of your height. Over time, the discs dry out and collapse which in turn makes you shorter. You may be wondering how the discs would dry out. This happens due to a lack of proper motion in the spine. With proper motion the discs are able to act as pumps, meaning they bring water and other nutrients in and out of the discs. When motion stops, the discs start to dry out and you begin to shrink. The second thing that can cause you to shrink is having a deformation of the spine. This could be due to a bone disease known as Osteoporosis, which causes the bones to become weak and brittle.
What You Can Do
You can’t stop the aging process, but you can help slow it down. Exercise is one of the most important things you can do to help slow the process. Weight bearing exercises are the best exercises for building and maintaining bone density. It is important to focus on your core muscles because a strong core will help support the spinal column and thus alleviate pressure on the spine while hopefully improving posture. If you need assistance in performing these exercises, ask your health fitness specialist in your fitness center! It is also important to make sure you are getting enough calcium and vitamin D, these two nutrients work together to help prevent broken bones and the onset of Osteoporosis. You can get calcium from dairy foods such as milk, cheese, and yogurt. Calcium is also naturally found in plant foods including broccoli and kale. Great sources of vitamin D include salmon, egg yolk, and mushrooms. You may also consider seeing a chiropractor; they may be able to fix a spinal misalignment if it is caught in the early stages.
ASK THE NIFS EXPERT
For more information about this topic, please speak with the NIFS expert at your community fitness center.