Maintaining Strong Bones for International Osteoporosis Day

Osteoporosis is the most prevalent bone disease in the world and it is associated with bone density loss caused by the bones becoming porous. This ultimately weakens the bones making them lighter, fragile and more susceptible to serious fractures. Once the bone mass of a person has decreased by 25% in comparison to other healthy adults of the same age and gender, the diagnosis is almost always osteoporosis.

With International Osteoporosis Day taking place on the 20th of October, we felt it would be the perfect time to remind you of the dangers associated with this degenerative disease and how you can help reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is the most prevalent bone disease in the world and it is associated with bone density loss caused by the bones becoming porous. This ultimately weakens the bones making them lighter, fragile and more susceptible to serious fractures. Once the bone mass of a person has decreased by 25% in comparison to other healthy adults of the same age and gender, the diagnosis is almost always osteoporosis.

The mechanism responsible for this is called bone resorption. Bone resorption is the process by which osteoclasts break down bone and release the minerals, resulting in a transfer of calcium from bone fluid to the blood.

Bone resorption can also be the result of not moving the body and working the muscles via weight-bearing exercises. Astronauts are a good example of this...in fact, many of them experience some form of bone resorption due to the lack of gravity.

"Out of everyone who is diagnosed with osteoporosis, 80% of them are women...50% of them are usually over the age of 50 and will likely experience a fracture as a result of this disease in their lifetime".

It's kind of like a battle of tug o' war...when we're little and growing up, bone formation exceeds resorption, but as we age resorption exceeds formation. Resorption tends to start around the age of 30. However, some people won't have any issues with their bones for many years, while others will succumb to bone density loss much faster.

Out of everyone who is diagnosed with osteoporosis, 80% of them are women...50% of them are usually over the age of 50 and will likely experience a fracture as a result of this disease in their lifetime. This is because many women face serious calcium defi ciencies after menopause.

In men, only around 15% of them over the age of 50 will face this issue. Although ethnicity is not as strong of a factor in osteoporosis as it can affect anyone, Caucasian and Asian people are usually most susceptible because of their genetics.

Medications like Fosamax are common, but this particular drug is known for inhibiting the development of new bone, which isn't exactly helpful when it comes to improving bone health. It does help prevent bone density loss, but the costs may be too high for some.

Many people assume that a lack of calcium is the only culprit when it comes to bone density loss. However, even with enough calcium in our diet, we can still lose bone density. If bone density loss occurs even though a person is still getting enough calcium, it's usually a good indication that the body is not absorbing the calcium properly.

The most important truth to keep in mind when considering options to improve the density of your bones is that if you do not address all the other issues which contribute to weakened bones, taking the extra calcium may do you more harm than good.

If you have general nutrient defi ciencies, your body will not absorb the additional calcium but will also continue to pull calcium from your bones to distribute to other organs and cells.

For example, you may have high homocysteine which causes inflammation and bone loss. Calcium alone will not fix that. Here's another example, you may be deficient in Vitamin D, or Boron, or Strontium, or Vitamin K2. Without any of these key ingredients your body will not absorb any extra calcium you give it.

There are three ways to address bone density loss, and/or brittle bones. These are all natural and are really the only solutions. No drug can really provide the solution.

Carefully review your diet. Ensure that it is balanced and contains plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Also your diet should be, as much as possible, free from processed foods and refi ned carbohydrates.

Exercise is another solution to help with bone health. However, you need to do more than just take a walk or ride a bike. Your bones need resistant exercise to keep them strong and flexible, so strength or weight training is recommended for people of all ages. It doesn't matter if the resistance is 2 kilograms or 20 kilograms, just as long as you are giving your bones some type of strength training to help make them stronger.

Take the preventative measures that are helpful in reducing your risk of developing this common yet seriously debilitating disease. By supplementing your diet with the right nutrients and ingredients that not only help nourish your body, but also help it absorb calcium and prevent this mineral from leaching from your body, you'll be improving the health of your bones for many years.

Xtend-Life has an excellent supplement formula to help build strong bones and joints called Bone-Protec. If you have already been diagnosed with osteoporosis then this is a good option for you as it has a generous amount of calcium present, plus all the key factors needed for calcium uptake by your bones.

However, if you are like most people and don't have an immediate problem and want to do everything you can to avoid a future one, then you would be best advised to take one of the Xtend-Life Total Balance supplement along with the Omega 3/DHA Fish Oil. These products may help your body build new bone and prevent the loss of calcium as well as reducing inflammation.

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