Boning Up on Bone Loss

Osteoporosis is often known as “the silent thief” because low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue occurs without symptoms unless a fracture is detected. Statistics show that at least one in three women and one in five men will suffer from an osteoporotic fracture during their lifetime. In fact, osteoporosis fractures are more common than heart attack, stroke and breast cancer combined. The reduced quality of life caused by disfigurement, lowered self-esteem, reduction or loss of mobility and decreased independence on others can be devastating.

Osteoporosis can strike both men and women, at any age which is why it is so important to build strong bones during childhood and adolescence.

Supplementation can help build up bone nutrients that can not only prevent bone loss, but also maintain healthy cartilage and ward off osteoarthritis, the most common joint disorder, which is due to aging and wear and tear on a joint. Along with a good comprehensive bone building formula that should include highly absorbable calcium and magnesium, Vitamin D, Zinc, Boron and other trace minerals.

Research also shows that Vitamin K2 is a critical additional component for optimal bone integrity and cardiovascular health is vitamin K2. A lack of calcium in the bones usually means there is an excess of calcium in the arteries, and vice versa. The resulting lack of calcium in bone leads to osteoporosis, while the deposition of calcium in the arterial wall leads to coronary heart disease and other manifestations of cardiovascular, renal, and neurodegenerative disease.

Eating an anti-inflammatory diet, regular exercise including weight bearing routines and plenty of walking are also very important to work into your daily life.

Salt, soda and caffeine in your daily diet could be damaging your bones. The salt content of the typical American diet is twice as high as the body requires and is one of the reasons why calcium requirements are so high.

Potassium-rich foods, such as bananas, tomatoes, and orange juice may help decrease the loss of calcium.

Conventional soft drinks and other carbonated drinks contain phosphoric acid, which can increase calcium excretion in your urine.

Caffeine leaches as much as 6 milligrams of calcium for every 100 milligrams of coffee ingested.  The good news is that limiting caffeine intake to 300 milligrams a day while getting enough calcium may offset any losses caffeine causes.