Bone Mineral Density: How to Detect Osteoporosis Accurately
April 27, 2009 by Information On Osteoporosis
Filed under Bone Health
Few diseases can be considered as silent assassins; meaning, conditions that can slowly take your life without you knowing it. Osteoporosis is one such condition. Although this condition does not instantly lead to death like cardiac arrest, it can surely take away your lifestyle as you know it. One’s loss of bone density can be difficult to predict and prevent just like that of cancer or diabetes.
With osteoporosis, you can go on with your life as if nothing wrong is happening to your bone structure. The only time that you will know you have osteoporosis is when you start breaking bones far too easily. In fact, this condition will not even render you any signs of physical weakness. What makes things more complicated is that osteoporosis shares the same symptoms with most other diseases; hence, it is easy for medical doctors to overlook the fact that you are already suffering from this disease.
Although symptoms like a steady decline in your height, excruciating back pain, and noticeable changes in your overall posture can point at osteoporosis, many people are still unaware about this condition until their bones actually snap like ice cream sticks. The key to preparing against osteoporosis, and other silent killer diseases for that matter, is to undergo diagnostic exams and early treatment procedures if you are found to be positive with the disease.
For osteoporosis, doctors offer bone densitometry to determine the density of your bones. This procedure, also referred to as bone density testing, makes use of a device fitted with double energy x-ray that can measure the rate at which photon beams are absorbed by a particular body part. The information that this machine can deliver measures your bone mineral density.
When your doctor knows what your bone mineral density is, your risk of having bone fractures and osteoporosis can be easily and more accurately studied. With the same information, your body’s response to any ongoing treatment against osteoporosis can be closely monitored too. These results have made bone densitometry become the widely-accepted means of identifying the existence of osteoporosis in individuals.
Unlike ordinary x-ray machines where you need to experience a decline in bone density of at least 30% before the onset of osteoporosis can be detected, bone densitometry can provide you with an analysis regarding your future susceptibility to osteoporosis based on the present indications of your bone mineral density. This gives you a lot of time to prepare and take in necessary supplements to reverse the loss of minerals in your bone structure.
Apart from osteoporosis, a bone density test is often required by your doctor if you are in your menopausal stage wherein bone loss is often a symptom. If you had a bad fall and you had a fractured bone, bone densitometry can also help you check out the rate at which your bone heals and the effects of the medication that you take in. You must also remember that you become more prone to loss of bone density or osteoporosis as you grow older; testing your bone mineral density via bone densitometry becomes more imperative as you step into your forties or fifties. This way, you will be more aware about how to take good care of your bone structures.
Whatever results come out from your visit with your doctor, you must work to ensure that your bones have all the minerals they need to be strong and flexible. One way to go about this is to take in supplements like Osteozyne to increase the levels of calcium and other minerals necessary for your bone’s proper functioning. For more details about how to improve the health of your bones, visit www.osteozyne.com/.
Thanks to Sharon Bell for contributing this article to our Osteoporosis blog:
With osteoporosis, you can go on with your life as if nothing wrong is happening to your bone structure. The only time that you will know you have osteoporosis is when you start breaking bones far too easily. In fact, this condition will not even render you any signs of physical weakness. What makes things more complicated is that osteoporosis shares the same symptoms with most other diseases; hence, it is easy for medical doctors to overlook the fact that you are already suffering from this disease.
Although symptoms like a steady decline in your height, excruciating back pain, and noticeable changes in your overall posture can point at osteoporosis, many people are still unaware about this condition until their bones actually snap like ice cream sticks. The key to preparing against osteoporosis, and other silent killer diseases for that matter, is to undergo diagnostic exams and early treatment procedures if you are found to be positive with the disease.
For osteoporosis, doctors offer bone densitometry to determine the density of your bones. This procedure, also referred to as bone density testing, makes use of a device fitted with double energy x-ray that can measure the rate at which photon beams are absorbed by a particular body part. The information that this machine can deliver measures your bone mineral density.
When your doctor knows what your bone mineral density is, your risk of having bone fractures and osteoporosis can be easily and more accurately studied. With the same information, your body’s response to any ongoing treatment against osteoporosis can be closely monitored too. These results have made bone densitometry become the widely-accepted means of identifying the existence of osteoporosis in individuals.
Unlike ordinary x-ray machines where you need to experience a decline in bone density of at least 30% before the onset of osteoporosis can be detected, bone densitometry can provide you with an analysis regarding your future susceptibility to osteoporosis based on the present indications of your bone mineral density. This gives you a lot of time to prepare and take in necessary supplements to reverse the loss of minerals in your bone structure.
Apart from osteoporosis, a bone density test is often required by your doctor if you are in your menopausal stage wherein bone loss is often a symptom. If you had a bad fall and you had a fractured bone, bone densitometry can also help you check out the rate at which your bone heals and the effects of the medication that you take in. You must also remember that you become more prone to loss of bone density or osteoporosis as you grow older; testing your bone mineral density via bone densitometry becomes more imperative as you step into your forties or fifties. This way, you will be more aware about how to take good care of your bone structures.
Whatever results come out from your visit with your doctor, you must work to ensure that your bones have all the minerals they need to be strong and flexible. One way to go about this is to take in supplements like Osteozyne to increase the levels of calcium and other minerals necessary for your bone’s proper functioning. For more details about how to improve the health of your bones, visit www.osteozyne.com/.
Thanks to Sharon Bell for contributing this article to our Osteoporosis blog:
Sharon Bell is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine http://www.healthnfitnesszone.com.
Health: What is Osteopenia?
April 26, 2009 by Information On Osteoporosis
Filed under Bone Health
Health: What is Osteopenia?
Osteopenia is considered the first step along the road to osteoporosis, a serious condition in which bone density is extremely low. Osteopenia, if not treated, may result in osteoporosis. Osteopenia encompasses a wide range of fracture risks including age, bone mineral density, and clinical risk factors. Osteopenia, the milder bone-loss disease, is less well known but affects an estimated eighteen million young and middle-aged women, including those in their late teens and early twenties.
Some people who have Osteopenia may not have bone loss, but they may naturally have a lower bone density. It is diagnosed with a bone mineral density (BMD) test, usually done to see whether a person has osteoporosis. A standard X-ray is not useful in diagnosing Osteopenia because it is not sensitive enough to detect small amounts of bone loss or minor changes in bone density. Bones do not reach their greatest density until about 30 years of age. For children and people younger than 30, anything that helps increase bone density will have positive long-term benefits. A balanced diet and regular exercise will help slow the loss of bone density, delay Osteopenia, and delay or prevent osteoporosis.
Women are far more likely to develop Osteopenia and osteoporosis than men because they lose bone mass sooner and faster. Women who diet excessively to maintain a low body weight often eliminate dairy products from their diet. This puts them at an increased risk of bone loss because they may lose their primary source of calcium, a vital source of bone strength. Women should eat a healthy diet, maintain a sturdy weight, exercise, and avoid smoking. Low bone mass appears in about 50 percent of women in their 50’s and more than 85 percent of women in their 70’s. Approximately 90 percent of women over the age of seventy-five have experienced a bone fracture. Osteopenia affects an estimated eighteen million young and middle age women. That includes women in their late teens and early twenties. It is imperative that we teach our young girls that they must eat healthy and include foods that are high in calcium in their diet.
To maintain good bone health you should eat a balanced diet that includes adequate calcium and vitamin D, using supplements when necessary. You should also engage in regular physical activity, refrain from smoking, and avoid heavy alcohol use. While most doctors would recommend medication for women with osteoporosis to prevent fracture, doctors argue about whether medications are necessary for women with Osteopenia, the less severe form of bone density loss.
Calcium is the most critical mineral for bone mass. It is a vital source of bone strength. Women who eliminate dairy products from their diet, lose their primary source of calcium. That could contribute to low bone density. In addition, diuretics, antacids, chemotherapy, hormone therapy for cancer, lithium, and some medications for seizures can also deplete the bones of calcium. Skeletal mass is the highest in your 30s and depends on diet (calcium and vitamin D), physical activity, and genetics. It is important to consume enough calcium and vitamin D throughout your life, in order to achieve maximal peak bone density in early and middle years and to maintain bone in later years. For most adults, a daily intake between 1200 and 1500 mg of calcium and 400-800 IU of Vitamin D is both safe and effective. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium and other minerals. It is added to milk and can be taken in calcium and vitamin supplements. Magnesium is also imperative for bone health. It works to keep the calcium in your bones and out of your soft tissues.
Osteopenia and Osteoporosis are not always problems of insufficient calcium intake, but rather of incorrect calcium utilization. Osteopenia may be the result of a wide variety of other conditions, disease processes, or treatments. In addition, diuretics, antacids, chemotherapy, hormone therapy for cancer, lithium, and some medications for seizures can deplete the bones of calcium. There are usually no symptoms with Osteopenia and the disease can go undiagnosed until a fracture occurs.
Treatment options for Osteopenia are often the same methods used for treating osteoporosis. Treatment depends on age and risk factors, but it often includes calcium and vitamin D supplementation along with a program of weight-bearing exercises. For some people medication is prescribed. Treatment is strongly recommended to stop further bone loss and minimize the risk of fractures.
Osteopenia usually occurs gradually over the course of many years. It is the term used for bones that have become less dense than normal. Osteopenia occurs either when the body fails to form enough new bone, when too much old bone is reabsorbed by the body, or when both occur. Remember to do everything you can to prevent Osteopenia and osteoporosis because both can lead to fractures.
For a free exercise routine you can visit www.StrengthTeacher.com.
By Karen M. Goeller, Fitness and Gymnastics Author
Thanks to Karen Goeller for contributing this article to our Osteoporosis blog:
Osteopenia is considered the first step along the road to osteoporosis, a serious condition in which bone density is extremely low. Osteopenia, if not treated, may result in osteoporosis. Osteopenia encompasses a wide range of fracture risks including age, bone mineral density, and clinical risk factors. Osteopenia, the milder bone-loss disease, is less well known but affects an estimated eighteen million young and middle-aged women, including those in their late teens and early twenties.
Some people who have Osteopenia may not have bone loss, but they may naturally have a lower bone density. It is diagnosed with a bone mineral density (BMD) test, usually done to see whether a person has osteoporosis. A standard X-ray is not useful in diagnosing Osteopenia because it is not sensitive enough to detect small amounts of bone loss or minor changes in bone density. Bones do not reach their greatest density until about 30 years of age. For children and people younger than 30, anything that helps increase bone density will have positive long-term benefits. A balanced diet and regular exercise will help slow the loss of bone density, delay Osteopenia, and delay or prevent osteoporosis.
Women are far more likely to develop Osteopenia and osteoporosis than men because they lose bone mass sooner and faster. Women who diet excessively to maintain a low body weight often eliminate dairy products from their diet. This puts them at an increased risk of bone loss because they may lose their primary source of calcium, a vital source of bone strength. Women should eat a healthy diet, maintain a sturdy weight, exercise, and avoid smoking. Low bone mass appears in about 50 percent of women in their 50’s and more than 85 percent of women in their 70’s. Approximately 90 percent of women over the age of seventy-five have experienced a bone fracture. Osteopenia affects an estimated eighteen million young and middle age women. That includes women in their late teens and early twenties. It is imperative that we teach our young girls that they must eat healthy and include foods that are high in calcium in their diet.
To maintain good bone health you should eat a balanced diet that includes adequate calcium and vitamin D, using supplements when necessary. You should also engage in regular physical activity, refrain from smoking, and avoid heavy alcohol use. While most doctors would recommend medication for women with osteoporosis to prevent fracture, doctors argue about whether medications are necessary for women with Osteopenia, the less severe form of bone density loss.
Calcium is the most critical mineral for bone mass. It is a vital source of bone strength. Women who eliminate dairy products from their diet, lose their primary source of calcium. That could contribute to low bone density. In addition, diuretics, antacids, chemotherapy, hormone therapy for cancer, lithium, and some medications for seizures can also deplete the bones of calcium. Skeletal mass is the highest in your 30s and depends on diet (calcium and vitamin D), physical activity, and genetics. It is important to consume enough calcium and vitamin D throughout your life, in order to achieve maximal peak bone density in early and middle years and to maintain bone in later years. For most adults, a daily intake between 1200 and 1500 mg of calcium and 400-800 IU of Vitamin D is both safe and effective. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium and other minerals. It is added to milk and can be taken in calcium and vitamin supplements. Magnesium is also imperative for bone health. It works to keep the calcium in your bones and out of your soft tissues.
Osteopenia and Osteoporosis are not always problems of insufficient calcium intake, but rather of incorrect calcium utilization. Osteopenia may be the result of a wide variety of other conditions, disease processes, or treatments. In addition, diuretics, antacids, chemotherapy, hormone therapy for cancer, lithium, and some medications for seizures can deplete the bones of calcium. There are usually no symptoms with Osteopenia and the disease can go undiagnosed until a fracture occurs.
Treatment options for Osteopenia are often the same methods used for treating osteoporosis. Treatment depends on age and risk factors, but it often includes calcium and vitamin D supplementation along with a program of weight-bearing exercises. For some people medication is prescribed. Treatment is strongly recommended to stop further bone loss and minimize the risk of fractures.
Osteopenia usually occurs gradually over the course of many years. It is the term used for bones that have become less dense than normal. Osteopenia occurs either when the body fails to form enough new bone, when too much old bone is reabsorbed by the body, or when both occur. Remember to do everything you can to prevent Osteopenia and osteoporosis because both can lead to fractures.
For a free exercise routine you can visit www.StrengthTeacher.com.
By Karen M. Goeller, Fitness and Gymnastics Author
Thanks to Karen Goeller for contributing this article to our Osteoporosis blog:
Karen Goeller is the author of the Swing Set Fitness books and the Gymnastics Drills and Conditioning books. She is the author of more gymnastics books than anyone in the USA. Besides being a well known author, Karen Goeller writes fitness programs and offers training through the web. For more information on Karen Goeller visit www.KarenGoeller.com . For more information on her fitness books visit www.SwingWorkouts.com . For more information on her gymnastics books visit www.GymnasticsBooks.com.
Rebounding your Way to Stronger Bones!
April 26, 2009 by Information On Osteoporosis
Filed under Bone Health
We need to understand that our bone is not just a hard and lifeless structure. In fact, it is a very complicate living tissue. Our bones provide structural support for our muscles, protect our vital organs, and store the calcium essential for bone density and strength necessary for our daily activities and survival.
As the bones are constantly changing, they can heal by themselves and could even be affected by factors such as diet, nutrition and exercise. According to the growth and development, it is only till the age of around 30 where our body builds and store bone efficiently.
Following which, as part of the natural aging process, our bones start to break down at a much faster rate then new bone can be formed. Bone loss accelerates even faster after menopause in particularly for women, since the ovaries stop producing estrogen, which is the hormone that protects against bone loss.
If we imagine our bones as a savings account without interest of course, we can only have as much bone mass in our account as we deposit through our growth and development stage. The crucial year for developing bone mass is before adolescence to around age 30. It is believed that women in their teens can increment their bone mass by as much as 20 percent with proper nutrition and exercise, where this is a critical factor in preventing against osteoporosis in their later stage in life.
Osteoporosis is the medical term which is used to describe bones with lots of big holes. Osteo refer to bone, while porosis refers to containing pores. It is known that all human bones do contain holes and osteoporosis refer to having more and bigger holes or pores than what is desired. It is the thinning of the bones with reduction in bone mass due to depletion of calcium and bone protein.
According to National Osteoporosis Foundation (www.nof.org), in the United States, 8 million women and 2 million men have osteoporosis. An additional 34 million Americans currently have low bone mass. It is also estimated that about half of women and one-fourth of men aged 50 and above will suffer osteoporosis-related fracture within their lifetime.
Osteoporosis is also responsible for about 2 million fractures (broken bones) each year in men and women above 50 years old. The most common locations where fractures occur are the hip, vertebral, and wrist, where they often require hospitalization and major surgery. They may also lead to other serious consequences, including permanent disability and death.
This condition is found most prevalently in astronauts, senior citizens and those who are bedridden. The reason is due to the fact that bones become stronger under stress and lose its strength when there is no stress. The main form of stress which our body is acting under is Gravity, which is the natural opposition of reaction force that helps to keep our bone strong and healthy.
Almost all forms of exercises will help to strengthen the bone under normal healthy body conditions. However, when one is found to be suffering from osteoporosis, it is advisable to exercise under caution to minimize any instantaneous trauma and impact on the weight bearing joints.
Weight bearing exercises refer to those which force your body to work against gravity and add stress to your body and bones. Recommended forms of exercises by the National Osteoporosis Foundation include Taichi, walking, jogging; weight training and rebounding exercise are very beneficial to bone strengthening. When one is at risk or already having osteoporosis, besides taking medication, the doctor will most likely include exercises as part of the overall treatment program.
The next question comes to deciding which form of exercises is most beneficial. As mentioned in the earlier paragraph, walking, jogging and running is all very good form of weight bearing exercises, provided proper posture alignment is adopted and habitualised. When running with poor body posture and technique, it can add unnecessary stress to the joints, especially on the knee, which is undesirable.
Rebounding exercise using the trampoline offers a more convenient form of weight bearing exercises with the major advantage of its low impact level to the different body joints.
Exercises alone cannot help in preventing or cure osteoporosis, but rebounding exercises or other form of weight bearing exercises together with proper nutrition and medication as prescribed by the doctor is essentially important for maintaining osteoporosis. However, like in all form of exercises, it has to be done on a regular basis to be of positive value.
Rebounding exercises have been know to exhibit the following benefits
* Develop bone to become more mineralized, denser and stronger
* Develop balance and core stability
* Develop good posture and alignment
* Improves cardiovascular fitness
* Improves body coordination
* Improve bone mass & strength
* Strengthen muscles, especially in the lower leg & pelvic
* Protects the joints from chronic fatigue and impact delivered by exercising on hard surface
* Maintain homeostasis
* Increase lymphatic system circulation
Thanks to Yip See Kit for contributing this article to our Osteoporosis blog:
As the bones are constantly changing, they can heal by themselves and could even be affected by factors such as diet, nutrition and exercise. According to the growth and development, it is only till the age of around 30 where our body builds and store bone efficiently.
Following which, as part of the natural aging process, our bones start to break down at a much faster rate then new bone can be formed. Bone loss accelerates even faster after menopause in particularly for women, since the ovaries stop producing estrogen, which is the hormone that protects against bone loss.
If we imagine our bones as a savings account without interest of course, we can only have as much bone mass in our account as we deposit through our growth and development stage. The crucial year for developing bone mass is before adolescence to around age 30. It is believed that women in their teens can increment their bone mass by as much as 20 percent with proper nutrition and exercise, where this is a critical factor in preventing against osteoporosis in their later stage in life.
Osteoporosis is the medical term which is used to describe bones with lots of big holes. Osteo refer to bone, while porosis refers to containing pores. It is known that all human bones do contain holes and osteoporosis refer to having more and bigger holes or pores than what is desired. It is the thinning of the bones with reduction in bone mass due to depletion of calcium and bone protein.
According to National Osteoporosis Foundation (www.nof.org), in the United States, 8 million women and 2 million men have osteoporosis. An additional 34 million Americans currently have low bone mass. It is also estimated that about half of women and one-fourth of men aged 50 and above will suffer osteoporosis-related fracture within their lifetime.
Osteoporosis is also responsible for about 2 million fractures (broken bones) each year in men and women above 50 years old. The most common locations where fractures occur are the hip, vertebral, and wrist, where they often require hospitalization and major surgery. They may also lead to other serious consequences, including permanent disability and death.
This condition is found most prevalently in astronauts, senior citizens and those who are bedridden. The reason is due to the fact that bones become stronger under stress and lose its strength when there is no stress. The main form of stress which our body is acting under is Gravity, which is the natural opposition of reaction force that helps to keep our bone strong and healthy.
Almost all forms of exercises will help to strengthen the bone under normal healthy body conditions. However, when one is found to be suffering from osteoporosis, it is advisable to exercise under caution to minimize any instantaneous trauma and impact on the weight bearing joints.
Weight bearing exercises refer to those which force your body to work against gravity and add stress to your body and bones. Recommended forms of exercises by the National Osteoporosis Foundation include Taichi, walking, jogging; weight training and rebounding exercise are very beneficial to bone strengthening. When one is at risk or already having osteoporosis, besides taking medication, the doctor will most likely include exercises as part of the overall treatment program.
The next question comes to deciding which form of exercises is most beneficial. As mentioned in the earlier paragraph, walking, jogging and running is all very good form of weight bearing exercises, provided proper posture alignment is adopted and habitualised. When running with poor body posture and technique, it can add unnecessary stress to the joints, especially on the knee, which is undesirable.
Rebounding exercise using the trampoline offers a more convenient form of weight bearing exercises with the major advantage of its low impact level to the different body joints.
Exercises alone cannot help in preventing or cure osteoporosis, but rebounding exercises or other form of weight bearing exercises together with proper nutrition and medication as prescribed by the doctor is essentially important for maintaining osteoporosis. However, like in all form of exercises, it has to be done on a regular basis to be of positive value.
Rebounding exercises have been know to exhibit the following benefits
* Develop bone to become more mineralized, denser and stronger
* Develop balance and core stability
* Develop good posture and alignment
* Improves cardiovascular fitness
* Improves body coordination
* Improve bone mass & strength
* Strengthen muscles, especially in the lower leg & pelvic
* Protects the joints from chronic fatigue and impact delivered by exercising on hard surface
* Maintain homeostasis
* Increase lymphatic system circulation
Thanks to Yip See Kit for contributing this article to our Osteoporosis blog:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Coach Yip has written various articles relating to Taichi and Sports Science. He has also previously conducted Taichi & Sports Science seminars. Coach Yip took up Taekwondo since young and attained his black belt before he started learning Taichi. He had participated and achieved many medals in various National Wushu Competitions.
Coach Yip is currently NROC registered with the Singapore Sports Council under Wushu/Taichi with a NCAP III certificate. Coach Yip approaches Taichi in a very scientific research based and systematically training system.
Besides giving personal and small group private coaching, he also specializes in Wushu/Taichi coaching for Kids in schools and has previously conducted various Mass Wushu Workout for Kids, ranging from primary to junior college level. To date, more than a thousand students had benefited from his Sports Scientific Wushu & Taichi coaching. For more information, visit www.newagetaichi.com
Bone Health and Children - How Parents Can Help
April 25, 2009 by Information On Osteoporosis
Filed under Bone Health
Parents regularly discuss their children’s health with their health care providers but rarely do they discuss their kid’s bone health, even though bone health is a central part of a kid’s overall health. Building strong bones by adopting nutritional and healthy lifestyle habits in childhood is very important and helps prevent bone loss and osteoporosis later in life.
Childhood, defined here as between infancy and adolescence, is a critical period for bone development. During this period, bones are actively formed through a process called remodeling, which involves breaking down old bones and building new ones. During preteen and adolescence, more bones are built than broken down and as a result, bone growth takes place during these periods. Kids are generally encouraged to consume foods rich in calcium because their bones need the mineral for development.
Most of the calcium (about 99%) in a kid’s body is found in his/her bone, which is used to form bone tissue. The amount of bone tissue in a given bone is commonly referred to as bone mass. As more calcium is deposited in bones, more bone tissue is made. This helps bones increase in strength and density, and this process continues until bone mass peaks, meaning that a person’s bones have achieved their maximum strength and density.
Experts do not agree on the precise age when bone mass peaks but for most people, it peaks by age 30. However, medical experts believe that 99% of peak bone mass is actually acquired by age 18 in girls and age 20 in boys, which makes youth the most important time to invest in a kid’s bone health. After this point, bone growth slows down considerably.
The question is what can a Mom do to help? Moms can do two important things: Encourage her kids to develop healthy eating habits and to get plenty physical activity. Encouraging your kids to adopt proper eating habits now can make all the difference in the world as they age. One way to accomplish this goal is to lead by example. Believe it or not, your kids watch everything you do- good or bad and they are unlikely to do what you say rather than what you do.
The Academy of Sciences recommends that kids 4 - 8 years old should get 800 milligrams of calcium a day while those 9 – 18 years old should get 1300 milligrams. These intake levels can be easily met through balanced diet that includes dairy products, fruits, and vegetables as well as calcium fortified breakfast cereals and juice. Steps as simple as replacing a can of soda each day with low-fat milk can make a huge difference in your kid’s bone development.
Also, your kids need vitamin D each day. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium in the small intestine. The main sources of vitamin D are fortified food and sunlight. Most active kids do not have any trouble making enough vitamin D in their skin from sunlight. Exposure to sunlight for up to 15 minutes a day may be all they need to meet their vitamin D requirement.
In addition to promoting healthy eating, moms can encourage their kids to get involved in regular physical activity that puts stress on their bones. Putting stress on bones helps them increase in size and strength. There are many physical activities that are good for the bone. A few examples are running, walking, aerobics, softball, baseball, basketball, table and lawn tennis, dancing, skating, football, and weight lifting.
Bone health is an important part of a kid’s health, and moms can help their kids build strong bones. Encouraging them to eat foods rich in calcium and vitamin D is one way to achieve this goal; the other is getting them involved in regular physical activity. When it comes to bone health, there is such a thing as “too little, too late.” The health habits you help your kids form today can make, or literally break, their bones later in life.
Thanks to Chima Njoku for contributing this article to our Osteoporosis blog:
Childhood, defined here as between infancy and adolescence, is a critical period for bone development. During this period, bones are actively formed through a process called remodeling, which involves breaking down old bones and building new ones. During preteen and adolescence, more bones are built than broken down and as a result, bone growth takes place during these periods. Kids are generally encouraged to consume foods rich in calcium because their bones need the mineral for development.
Most of the calcium (about 99%) in a kid’s body is found in his/her bone, which is used to form bone tissue. The amount of bone tissue in a given bone is commonly referred to as bone mass. As more calcium is deposited in bones, more bone tissue is made. This helps bones increase in strength and density, and this process continues until bone mass peaks, meaning that a person’s bones have achieved their maximum strength and density.
Experts do not agree on the precise age when bone mass peaks but for most people, it peaks by age 30. However, medical experts believe that 99% of peak bone mass is actually acquired by age 18 in girls and age 20 in boys, which makes youth the most important time to invest in a kid’s bone health. After this point, bone growth slows down considerably.
The question is what can a Mom do to help? Moms can do two important things: Encourage her kids to develop healthy eating habits and to get plenty physical activity. Encouraging your kids to adopt proper eating habits now can make all the difference in the world as they age. One way to accomplish this goal is to lead by example. Believe it or not, your kids watch everything you do- good or bad and they are unlikely to do what you say rather than what you do.
The Academy of Sciences recommends that kids 4 - 8 years old should get 800 milligrams of calcium a day while those 9 – 18 years old should get 1300 milligrams. These intake levels can be easily met through balanced diet that includes dairy products, fruits, and vegetables as well as calcium fortified breakfast cereals and juice. Steps as simple as replacing a can of soda each day with low-fat milk can make a huge difference in your kid’s bone development.
Also, your kids need vitamin D each day. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium in the small intestine. The main sources of vitamin D are fortified food and sunlight. Most active kids do not have any trouble making enough vitamin D in their skin from sunlight. Exposure to sunlight for up to 15 minutes a day may be all they need to meet their vitamin D requirement.
In addition to promoting healthy eating, moms can encourage their kids to get involved in regular physical activity that puts stress on their bones. Putting stress on bones helps them increase in size and strength. There are many physical activities that are good for the bone. A few examples are running, walking, aerobics, softball, baseball, basketball, table and lawn tennis, dancing, skating, football, and weight lifting.
Bone health is an important part of a kid’s health, and moms can help their kids build strong bones. Encouraging them to eat foods rich in calcium and vitamin D is one way to achieve this goal; the other is getting them involved in regular physical activity. When it comes to bone health, there is such a thing as “too little, too late.” The health habits you help your kids form today can make, or literally break, their bones later in life.
Thanks to Chima Njoku for contributing this article to our Osteoporosis blog:
Chima Njoku is a freelance medical writer and publisher of free consumer friendly information on vitamins and minerals. To learn more about how calcium and vitamin D promote bone health, go to http://healthsolutionsontheweb.com/Calcium.html
Body pH Balance And Effect On Bone Density
April 25, 2009 by Information On Osteoporosis
Filed under Bone Health
Most people who suffer from unbalanced pH are acidic. This condition forces the body to borrow minerals — including calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium — from vital organs and bones to buffer (neutralize) the acid and safely remove it from the body. Because of this strain, the body can suffer severe and prolonged damage due to high acidity — a condition that may go undetected for years.
A recent study conducted at the University of California-San Francisco on 9,704 postmenopausal women showed that those who have higher acidity levels (also called chronic acidosis) from a diet rich in animal foods are at greater risk for lower bone density levels than those who have “normal” pH levels. The researchers who carried out this study hypothesized that many of the hip fractures prevalent among older women correlated to higher acidity from a diet rich in animal foods and low in vegetables. The body apparently borrows calcium from the bones in order to balance pH, and this calcium borrowing may result in a decrease in bone density.
Urinary pH levels can indicate how well your body is assimilating minerals, especially calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium. These are called the “acid buffers” because they are used by the body to control acid levels. When acid levels begin to increase, the body becomes less capable of excreting acid. It must either store the acid in body tissues, or buffer it-that is, borrow minerals from organs, bones, etc., in order to neutralize the increase in acidity. Urinary pH should fluctuate between 6.0-6.4 in the morning and 6.4-7.0 in the evening.
You will also want to test the pH of your saliva. The results of saliva testing can indicate the activity of digestive enzymes in your body, especially the activity of the liver and the stomach.
This reveals the flow of enzymes running through your body and shows their effect on all the body systems and your tissues. Some people will have acidic pH readings from both urine and saliva-this is referred to as “double acid.” Salivary pH should stay between 6.4 and 6.8.
Thanks to Steffen A.Hall for contributing this article to our Osteoporosis blog:
A recent study conducted at the University of California-San Francisco on 9,704 postmenopausal women showed that those who have higher acidity levels (also called chronic acidosis) from a diet rich in animal foods are at greater risk for lower bone density levels than those who have “normal” pH levels. The researchers who carried out this study hypothesized that many of the hip fractures prevalent among older women correlated to higher acidity from a diet rich in animal foods and low in vegetables. The body apparently borrows calcium from the bones in order to balance pH, and this calcium borrowing may result in a decrease in bone density.
Urinary pH levels can indicate how well your body is assimilating minerals, especially calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium. These are called the “acid buffers” because they are used by the body to control acid levels. When acid levels begin to increase, the body becomes less capable of excreting acid. It must either store the acid in body tissues, or buffer it-that is, borrow minerals from organs, bones, etc., in order to neutralize the increase in acidity. Urinary pH should fluctuate between 6.0-6.4 in the morning and 6.4-7.0 in the evening.
You will also want to test the pH of your saliva. The results of saliva testing can indicate the activity of digestive enzymes in your body, especially the activity of the liver and the stomach.
This reveals the flow of enzymes running through your body and shows their effect on all the body systems and your tissues. Some people will have acidic pH readings from both urine and saliva-this is referred to as “double acid.” Salivary pH should stay between 6.4 and 6.8.
Thanks to Steffen A.Hall for contributing this article to our Osteoporosis blog:
Your body operates ideally within a narrow pH range of 7.36 to 7.44. There is very basic explanation as to why pH balance is so important to our overall health.Find out about Body Balance pH at http://www.smartreviewguide.com/balanceph
