Keeping Healthy As a Baby Boomer

Baby boomers are members of a group of babies that exploded into the world at the end of World War 11 and beyond. Between 1946 and 1964, there were 76 million of us born. The oldest of us is at or nearing retirement age. Studies have shown that as a demographic, we are more interested in our health and staying fit than any other group in history. We spend a lot of money to improve and preserve our health.

As we age, we tend to be more prone to aches, pains and injuries than younger fitness buffs. These aches and pains, we laughingly refer to as “boomeritis.” Despite this, we have helped the fitness and health club business grow stupendously since the first boomers hit the big “four O.” In addition, as a group, we contribute one-third of all players to the basketball, hockey, baseball, volleyball and tennis teams. We also participate in biking, running and other individual sports. No wonder our aging frames are getting creaky.

Our biggest contribution to our boomeritis is that we are competitive and take to our physical activity with a passion. We get tennis elbow, bursitis, tendonitis, arthritis and sports-related injuries all in the name of staying fit.

As we age, our body frame is not the same as when we were 20, so the way that we train needs to change. Our hormones are different which can result is us losing muscle mass. Our bones may not be as strong. We lose water and become chronically dehydrated, which affects our bendable parts to the point where they can become stiff and less flexible. Boomers tend to have systemic dehydration because we naturally lose more water as we age. According to sports nutrition researchers, muscles will only work efficiently in a very narrow range of pH where there is almost zero acidity. Your arterial blood flow also works best in an environment of zero acidity but it can’t if it is too dehydrated. Unfortunately, body acidity and dehydration go hand in hand. What does that mean? Your body has an acid/alkaline balance and an alkaline water level that is not only designed to keep you healthy, but to make moving more comfortable and efficient.
Researchers have found that as you begin to move more vigorously, the muscles move out of “rest” and start using fuel, creating acid as the fuel is burnt. The more times the muscles are out of rest, the more acid they produce. You may remember leg cramps near the end of a long run. That’s the lactic acid build up as the muscles are out of rest. The harder your muscles work, the quicker you “go acid” and the more prolonged it stays there.

The ability of muscle to generate power and movement is entirely dependent on hydration and body acidity. Water is the super highway in the body that transports fuel and waste products where they need to be. If there is insufficient water and the muscle pH drops below 6.5, the muscles cannot fuel themselves properly, nor can they rid themselves of the rapid acidic buildup because the hydration cycle is interrupted. The ability of muscle to generate power and movement is then restricted. Blood flow and breathing are also dramatically affected.

To promote efficiency of movement, there must be an intervention to alkalize and flush the system before, during and after exercise. The most efficient is alkaline, ionized water. Its alkalizing effect on the body reduces muscle fatigue, stiffness and pain. Since many people, including athletes, do not consume enough alkaline rich foods, such as fruits, nuts and vegetables, they tend to “go acid” faster than they need to. By hydrating properly there is a greater chance that the joints will receive enough water to avoid injury and strain. Drinking enough water, also makes the blood flow more efficient, transporting available oxygen faster and helping to eliminate waste more quickly.

Long term and consistent hydration helps the body perform better, lubricating the joints and preventing lactic acid build-up and dehydration which limits the potential for muscle extension and movement. Because boomers participate in physically demanding sports, it becomes easier to move and prevent boomeritis if the body is slightly alkaline.

There are two types of fibers in the body, collagen and elastin which are predominant in musculoskeletal tissue – muscles, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, in addition to many other body parts like skin and nails. These two fibers shrink when they are dehydrated , restricting movement, flexibility and range of motion. The muscle sheaths cannot slide effortlessly over one another, nor can the joints move fully and with flexibility. Everyone including boomers need to drink half their body weight in ounces of water, not other liquids, every day. During intense exercise they may need more.

If you are a boomer, it makes even more sense to keep your body hydrated, alkaline and oxygenated.  Include Cerra Water into your life style as  keeping fit and healthy is really important to us. After all, there is more than boomeritis out there to be concerned about as we age.

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