VOA常速英语:还觉得自己骨骼清奇？再不锻炼就老了

Everyone’s bones weaken with age.But there are things people can do to protect them and keep from getting osteoporosis.
随着年龄增长，人们的骨骼会越来越脆弱。但是我们可以采取一些保护措施，避免患上骨质疏松症。

Osteoporosis literally means "porous bones."The bones become so weak and thin that they break easily, some fractures, like hip fractures, can be fatal.
顾名思义，骨质疏松指的就是“多孔的骨头”。因为骨头变得又弱又薄，所以非常容易折断。而某些骨折，比如髋骨骨折，则有可能会致命。

Two hundred million people have osteoporosis worldwide and the number is expected to shoot up dramatically as people age.
全球有两亿多人罹患骨质疏松症，而且预计随着年龄增长，这个数字会急剧上升。

Inactivity is one risk factor, but even active people can have low bone density, which can lead to osteoporosis.
不运动是一个危险因素。但即使是经常运动的人，骨骼密度也可能不高，并最终导致骨质疏松。

Every week, Dean Hargett bikes more than 160 kilometers.It’s good for his heart but it doesn’t do much for his bones, Hargett was shocked to discover he had low bone density.
Dean Hargett每周骑行距离都不下160公里。这对他的心脏的确有好处，但是对他的骨头却没多大帮助。所以当Hargett发现自己骨骼密度也低的时候，着实吃了一惊。

It alarmed me…I don’t want to have fragile bones.I want to be able to, to be, you know, strong and healthy throughout the rest of my life."
“我真是吓到了……我不想让自己的骨头脆弱不堪。我希望自己能够，就是，余生都能健康强壮。”

“About one in four men will have an osteoporotic-related fracture in their lifetime.”
“大概四分之一的人一生中都会出现一次骨质疏松性骨折。”

Over a 12-month period,University of Missouri researcher Pam Hinton studied how resistance and jump-training exercises affected men’s bone health.The results showed these exercises did more than just slow the rate of bone loss.
过去12个月的时间里，密苏里大学研究人员Pam Hinton对阻力和跳跃训练影响人们骨骼健康的方式进行了调查。结果表明，这些运动除了可以减慢骨质流失的速度之外，还有其他的作用。

“We actually saw an increase in bone mass with either type of exercise, so that was a very encouraging and exciting result.”
“实际上我们看到，每种锻炼都能够增加骨量，这个结果实在是很振奋人心。”

The exercises decreased the level of sclerostin, a protein that slows bone growth.While they increased a hormone that promotes bone growth.
这些锻炼降低了硬骨素的水平，作为一种蛋白质，硬骨素会减缓骨骼生长。而这些锻炼则能为人体增加一种促进骨骼生长的激素。

Hargett now knows he has to do more than cycle and swim to strengthen his bones.
如今Hargett知道，要想增强骨骼，除了骑自行车和游泳，他还得做出更多努力。

“Don’t take your bone strength for granted, they can wither just like any other part of your body, use it or lose it. ”
“千万不要把骨骼强健当做是理所当然的事情。它们可以像你身体任何部位一样不断老化。所以要么动起来，要么废下去。”

Weightlifting is now a regular part of Hargett’s exercise routine, getting enough calcium and vitamin D also helps.And if you smoke, quit.
现在Hargett的日常锻炼里面又加上了举重这一项。摄入充足的钙和维生素D对增强骨骼也有帮助。另外，如果你平时抽烟，现在就戒了吧。

Carol Pearson, VOA news, Washington.
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