Do You Have Bones That Keep Breaking?

Osteoporosis is a brittle-bone disease. This means that your bones are prone to breaking and fracturing due to the fact that the bones are lacking the calcium that is essential to strengthen the bones.

This affects mainly adults- men and women- over the age of 50. Half of women over 50 years old and 25 percent of men over 50 years old will break a bone because of this disease. Also, a lot of times, postmenopausal women are at an elevated risk of inheriting this disease. Overall, osteoporosis affects over 10 million people in the United States, with 34 million more being at risk of developing the disease.

To help give your bones the strength they need, you need calcium, protein and Vitamin D. Protein is what a large portion of your bones are made of. Calcium is what keeps the bones linked together and in tact. Vitamin D helps your body absorb the calcium so that the calcium can get to your bones. To know how much you need of each is crucial for you to give your body what it needs. Adults need to get around 700 IUs (international units) of Vitamin D and around 1,200Mg (milligrams) of Calcium daily. The amounts are higher for the people most at risk of developing the disease.

Most dairy products supply a good amount of calcium and protein. If you are not a dairy lover, you can still get the calcium and protein needed. Options include fortified juices, cereals, oatmeal, beans, dark leafy greens, salmon, and some nuts (for example, almonds). If the case is that you don't get enough with your diet, you need to take vitamin supplements so that you are able to get the Calcium and Vitamin D needed on a daily basis.

Also, an important fact to remember- your bones have built up about 90% of all of the bone you will ever have by the age of 20. After you are over the age of 20, it is all about containing your bone density to help prevent your bones from becoming brittle.

The number one habit to avoid is smoking! The second habit to break is drinking soda. Soda contains acids and artificial sweeteners that decay the actual bones themselves. Along with breaking those habits, having the right balanced diet and exercise play the most important part in becoming a healthy and strong you!