(8 letters) Overtwisted, like an injured knee
strained
...will improve your body's ability to use insulin, the hormone that regulates levels of this, aka blood sugar
glucose
A bear's young, known as these, are usually born 2 at a time, 1/2 to 1 pound, eyes closed & without fur
cubs
Skinny:
Tiredness
fatigue
A single unit of language &
a sharp weapon with a long blade
word, sword
(8 letters) Injuriously long periods of low precipitation
droughts
...will reduce this, the pressure of modern living; it's been described as "the common cold of the psyche"
stress
Ringed seals are a primary food for this bear that can weigh 1,600 pounds, but it has killed Beluga whales, too
polar bears
Good:
To harass or pester
badger
A fashion show runway walker &
to sing in a style that fluctuates between falsetto & normal
model, yodel
(7 letters) German for "German"
deutsch
...will reduce your risk of this, aka high blood pressure
hypertension
Black bears prefer to fish for food while remaining as dry as possible, unlike the brown bear that develops superb fishing skills for this migrating fish, a staple in their diet
salmon
Slow:
Excessively particular
fastidious
An unrecognized person &
fury
stranger, anger
(8 letters) What the mouse said
squeaked
...reduces the chance of apoplexy, this brain event that can be hemorrhagic, embolic or ischemic
stroke
AKA silvertip for the white hairs on its brown coat, this bear can eat 90 pounds of food a day
grizzly bear
Near:
A former coin of Great Britain
farthing
Your immortal part
& a ball out of play
soul, foul
(8 letters) Vigor
strength
...will improve muscle tone & strength, including in this muscle with a 2-word name, the largest in the body
gluteus maximus
3,500 of this subspecies of brown bear live on the Alaska archipelago of the same name
kodiak
Small:
This person with more than one spouse
bigamist
A large carnivorous feline of Asia &
a landlocked desert nation of West Africa
tiger, niger