Osteoporosis and Your Health

A few years ago, my mother severely broke both her wrists. She was angry about something and slammed her fists down on the arm of her couch. Now, my mother has a pretty bad temper, but breaking both her wrists seemed a bit extreme. Granted, her couches are old, but that just didn’t explain how she could cause so much bodily damage simply by hitting them. Well, we soon found out. My mother was suffering from what 10 million Americans suffer from every day, Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue. The damage from this disease can lead to bone fragility and increased risk of fractures and breaks. While both men and women can get osteoporosis, it is usually associated with women, as 80% of those who suffer from it are female. But, not all the news is bad. There are ways you can help prevent getting osteoporosis.

One of the best things you can do to help lower your risk of getting osteoporosis is to never smoke and to quit if you are currently smoking. Because our bones are made up of calcium, among other things, getting enough of it in your diet is vital. You can help boost your calcium intake by eating low-fat dairy foods such as yogurt and milk as well as taking a daily vitamin supplement.

Excessive use of alcohol can also lead to osteoporosis, but weight-bearing exercise is a great way to help hold it at bay. Smaller women are more susceptible to this disease, so if you are under 5’5” and weigh less than 127lbs, you have to be even more vigilant than the average woman. Just like anything else, with a healthy diet and consistent exercise routine, you can help to greatly minimize your risk of ever getting osteoporosis as well as many other harmful diseases. Have fun, work out and drink lots of milk!