Bone up on bone health with helpful hints that you
can incorporate into you daily routine to help increase your bone density over
time. Your goal is to raise your level of bone density while decreasing your rate
of bone loss; this helps to prevent osteoporosis. Osteoporosis results in weak bones which leaves you prone to fractures (bone breaks). Osteoporosis affects both women and men;
however, women are affected in much greater numbers.
1. Exercise
daily doing weight bearing exercises such as walking, stair climbing, running,
dancing. A little exercise goes a long
way in building bone mass. Even if you don’t want to train for 10 K’s or
marathons; simply walk at least 30 minutes daily and incorporate taking the stairs whenever the opportunity arises.
Or, take a dance class for fun and fitness to help fight boredom while building bone mass.
2. Weight
lifting/resistance training is not only for the lower body, but for the upper body too, to help build bone mass above the waist. Again, you don’t need to become a body
builder; simply incorporate a routine for this, doing it two to three times
per week. Weight training should be every other day to help prevent overuse
injuries and give the muscles time to rest in between work outs.
3. Get
your Vitamin D level checked by your
doctor. Many people are low in Vitamin D and don’t even know it. If you Vitamin
D levels are low, your body won't be able to absorb Calcium properly; calcium will not be able to enter the bones without enough Vitamin D on board.
So get it checked if you’ve never had this done. Sunshine can provide us with
Vitamin D, however, as we age, our body's ability to convert sunshine
into active Vitamin D decreases; many people need supplements to provide to correct
amount. Vitamin D also helps with muscle strength and has also shown promise in
helping to prevent certain types of Cancers and Type 2 Diabetes. People that are low in Vitamin D tend to have more aches and pains. Having enough Vitamin D in your system helps prevent this as well giving you more strength.
4. Take
in enough Calcium every day. In
general the requirements for adults are 1000 mg daily, however, children,
the elderly and pregnant females have different requirements. Try to consume
Calcium rich foods with every meal, non fat milk and Greek yogurt, low fat cheeses all contain Calcium. Some greens
contain Calcium also. If you don’t consume enough Calcium each day to support
the needs of your body such as heart function, your body will take it from your
bones; not good over time.
5. Be
aware of Calcium depleters, such as diets high in salt (sodium), drinking soda pop, too much alcohol and caffeine, and certain medications such as (but not limited to) corticosteroids and having high levels of thyroid
hormone, all of which can interfere with Calcium absorption and can place you at a higher
risk of developing Osteoporosis. *Also, women in menopause lose estrogen. Estrogen helps women absorb Calcium into their bones and helps to prevent Osteoporosis. Menopausal women should consult with their doctor regarding getting their estrogen level checked to determine their need of a prescription of a bio-identical hormone; all depending of course on the advice of your physician, your medical history and your family medical history. Women with a personal or family history of estrogen induced breast cancer would not be candidates for this; other medical conditions may also preclude you from taking this.
*Contact your doctor before taking any supplements, starting an exercise program or for any questions about your health.
