Hi Ken,
Okay. We agree that exercise, in the context of a good diet, enhances 
bone mineralization. But I don't work
out or lift weights or do the vigorous exercise that I used to do. (I 
worked at carpentry and furniture moving
until I was 40 years old.) So maybe I wasn't as clear as I could have 
been about my activity level. For my
age and lung health I am pretty active. And I have some relevant 
experience with bone mineralization.

About 15 years ago I broke a couple of ribs shingling a shed in the back 
yard. I went to the doctor and got a
bone scan. I was almost osteoporotic. Based on my reading of the medical 
literature, I started taking Mg
supplements. I didn't change anything else until about 4 years later 
when I started taking some calcium too.
After 5 years I got another bone scan. My bone density was close to that 
of a 25 year old. My doctor
was convinced that the test was wrong because that can't happen. I have 
taken a number of falls, bumps, and
abrasions since then without any broken bones. I certainly wouldn't 
claim to be at peak fitness, even for a
person with my lungs, but I believe that I am doing pretty well, mostly 
on diet. I have an operation coming up in
March that will limit my activity even further for a few weeks but I'm 
optimistic. Given what you and others
have said, I plan to increase my activity level for the next 2 months to 
improve my recovery. That said, I
recovered very quickly from a major surgery a few years ago, with my 
wife bringing all of my food from home.
While others undergoing similar surgery were kept in the hospital for 14 
+ days, I was out in 4. The doctor
attributed my speedy recovery to my "incessant" walking in the halls, 
wheeling my IV unit along. I can't handle
jogging or running but I do stride along at a pretty good pace and I 
walk at least several miles on my daily trek.
Thus, although I'm comparatively sedentary, I'm not sitting in front of 
the TV set for 8 hours a day or anything
like that.

My operation, by the way, is to correct torn cartilage in my knee from 
an accident  in the 80s that I
re-injured building our house a in 2008. 

Best Wishes,
Ron

Ken O'Neill wrote:
> Ron:
>
> Your points are well taken; nevertheless, loss of muscle results in loss of
> bone calcium. NASA noted in the early manned space flights of the 60s that
> calcium loss was a noteworthy problem. Their early solution was to
> supplement calcium along with other electrolyte. With the skylab projects of
> the 70s involving much longer flights, loss of muscle fiber, strength, and
> upon return to Earth stability focused attention to sarcopenia arising from
> longer periods in zero gravity. Since then other studies have noted the same
> consequences of long term bed rest - some experiments having human subjects
> remain bedridden for six months.
>
> If you've ever carved meat from its attachment to bone you'll understand how
> inseparably linked the two are as one operational unit. Stressing muscle
> stresses bone, as well as enhancing blood flow bringing nutrients to both.
> Atrophy of one is atrophy to the other.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paleolithic Eating Support List [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Ron Hoggan
> Sent: Tuesday, January 05, 2010 2:27 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Art DeVany's book: "The New Evolution Diet"
>
> Hi Ken,
>  I agree with much of what you say and Joseph says. However, in support 
> of your perspective, I would argue that the calcium losses
> are likely due to factors such as magnesium deficiency (which is needed 
> for parathyroid maintenance) autoimmunity (resulting from
> neolithic food consumption) and acidity (resulting from grain, dairy, 
> etc.,  consumption).
>
> Activity certainly is a big factor as well.
> Best Wishes,
> Ron
>
>   


-- 
PK