Get Better Bones with Running

Studies show a direct link between regular weight-bearing exercise, such as running, and bone thickness. The stronger a bone, the more stress it can handle before it breaks. This health benefit is especially important for women runners. Everyone starts losing bone mineral density after the age of 30. When women are past menopause, their estrogen levels drop, and their bones lose even more density. But running, along with a diet rich in calcium, can halt this loss. The upshot is that runners are less likely to suffer from osteoporosis, a disease in which bones become brittle and break easily.