Bone Density Loss
How to Avoid Bone Density Loss
Our bone health is measured in density; good diets and exercise result in high density, while a poor diet, a sedentary life style and aging can attribute to bone density loss. Learning about the importance of healthy bones can help to avoid such loss later in life.
Bones are the very basis of our being; providing support, shape, protection and health to our form. Our bones act as a shield for our brain, heart, lungs and other internal organs against outside forces, and as a conduit for calcium and other minerals. The skeleton is made up of bones of varying sizes; tiny ones around an inch long and large bones around 20 inches long. Each bone in our body faces the risk of weakening, a result of bone density loss, without the proper nutrition they need.
Each of us begins life without much of a bone structure. Cartilage, instead, fills the fetal form for the first several weeks before ossification begins. What is present are cells called osteoblasts, which help to form bone matter and osteoclasts, which help to break up old bone. As the fetus develops, its skeleton changes as osteoblasts and osteoclasts, joined with certain salts and minerals, eventually replace the cartilage as ossification takes place. Because the body is in a continual state of growth and change, bones are constantly breaking down and undergoing reconstruction to accommodate this renewing skeleton.
Over the years, up until about age 30, a person’s skeleton is under this reconstruction process. During this time, the bone development is aided by the individual’s diet, sunlight exposure or vitamin D, hormones and exercise. Proper and adequate amounts of nutrition, vitamins and exercise can ensure strong, dense bones. Diets low in calcium and vitamin D and low in exercise or hormones before age 30 may result in bone density loss in later years. Another risk is osteoporosis; a bone weakening disease affecting mostly Caucasian and Asian women, and a high number of women over 60 years of age.
It is possible to ward off bone density loss, and should be implemented before age 30 in particular. A calcium rich diet adds the additional mineral needed in the formation of strong bones. Weight bearing exercises increase the compressional capabilities of bones; athletes have denser and thicker bones than those who do not regular participate in exercise. Some type of estrogen replacement therapy can inhibit bone density loss during and after menopause when natural estrogen distribution slows.
Bone health is an extremely important aspect of our daily life; after all, our skeleton bears our every move. Understanding the significance of bone health can help all of us to diminish our own bone density loss through proper maintenance of our body.