Undeniably bones play an important role in the body.  If you don’t have healthy bones, your life will become extremely difficult.  While it is important that you take care of your bones from a young age, it becomes particularly important to take care of them when you are growing old or have already grown old.  If you will not take care of the bones, you may develop a severe bone disease called osteoporosis.  This disease further weakens the bones and makes it difficult to walk and do normal daily activities. Those who start taking care of bone health at the right time have lower chances of developing this disease.

What are the factors affecting the health of your bones?

Here are a few factors responsible for your bone health.

Your daily calcium intake:  Calcium is an important element of the bones.  If the level of calcium is reduced, bone density also reduces causing weak bones.  Therefore it is important for you to take appropriate amount of calcium every day.  Your daily diet should include at least 1000 mg of calcium.  If you are not taking calcium rich diet, start taking it now.  Even the best healthcare centers, such as Optim health will suggest you to increase calcium intake.

Exercise and other physical activities:  People who are physically more active have lesser chances of developing bone related diseases than the people who are less active.  To make your bones healthier you need to keep yourself physically active.  Regular exercise and workouts are a great way to maintain good bone health.

Consumption of alcohol and tobacco: A research shows that alcohol and tobacco have negative impact on the bones of the body.  Alcohol and tobacco reduce the body’s ability to absorb calcium.  Therefore they indirectly affect the bone health.  To maintain good bone health, stop the usage of alcohol and tobacco or minimize it.

Sex, age and size:  Women are more prone to bone related diseases than men because they have lesser bone tissues.  This is the reason why they need to take special care to maintain the calcium level of the body especially post-menopausal. Growing age is another factor which contributes to weakening of the bones.  With growing age bone loss rate becomes faster than the bone tissue creation rate.  This cannot be completely controlled but minimized with proper diet and exercises.

Genetic issues: If your family has a history of bone issues then the chances are you too will have the same problem.  People of Asian descent are known to be more prone to bone related diseases.  Genetic issues mostly cannot be avoided but there effect can be minimized, again with appropriate diet and physical activities.

Inappropriate eating habits:  People, especially women, who go on a diet regime for weight loss purposes often end up taking lesser amount of calcium.  This negatively impacts the bone health.  Even when you are going on a diet, make sure that you consume enough calcium.  Calcium deficiency will cause short term and long term bone problems.