Bones support your body and movement, protect your internal systems and comprise your essential skeleton. A bone is a living, growing tissue made of collagen and calcium. Bone formation and the acquisition of bone density peaks between the ages of 20 and 30. After 35, both men and women start losing bone mass. The good news is you can prevent the loss of bone mass by taking healthy actions and being cognizant of your habits. Here are some reasons bone health is so important.
Prevent Osteoporosis
If your bone deposits deplete faster than your body can redeposit calcium into them, you can develop osteoporosis, a disease in which bones become weak and brittle. Osteoporosis makes your bones more likely to break. By keeping up with your bone health now, you can work to prevent osteoporosis in old age. Learn more about the costs of testing for osteoporosis.
Protect Your Systems
Healthy bones make up the framework of your body that acts as “armor” for the softer, more vulnerable organs and muscles inside. Healthy bones ensure these internal systems are taken care of and prevent bodily injury.
Keep Moving
Healthy bones mean healthy movement. If your bones become weak and brittle later in life, your range of movement and ability to move will be severely limited. By working to keep our bones healthy and add to our bone density early in life, we’re able to better prevent an immobile lifestyle later on. Plus, a new study points out that exercise can help you save money on medical expenses, saving you up to $2,500 a year.
Now we’ll look into some tips for how to promote healthy bones.
Exercise Regularly
An exercise regimen consisting of high- and low-impact weight training can maintain bone density. Weight-bearing exercises create tension on your muscles and put more pressure on bones, leading to additional bone production. Think of it like adding cement to the foundation of a house.
Eat Well
A diet rich in calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K and fruits and vegetables can work to keep bones dense and strong. Avoid bad habits like smoking and overconsuming alcohol. Tobacco use contributes to weak bones and alcohol can inhibit the absorption of calcium into the body.
Maintain a Healthy Body Weight
Maintaining a healthy body weight contributes to bone density and health. Being underweight or having an eating disorder such as anorexia can lead to bone density issues and even osteoporosis later in life.
Look at Your Medications
Some medications can cause bone loss. Be sure to ask your doctor if any of your medications contribute to bone density loss. If so, talk to him or her about other options for treatment or how you can compensate for this side effect. Also, be sure to price shop for your medications to make sure you’re getting the best deal available.
The choices you make today to promote healthy bones will have a large effect on your bone health later in life. Making healthy changes to your habits and behaviors can ensure you’re healthy and moving long into life.
