Information about Healthy Bones

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Information about Healthy Bones

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Most people take their bones for granted until they break it or are diagnosed with bone-thinning in old age. You may not really regard your bones as a resource that needs lifelong protection and nurturing. But what you don’t know is that there are a few surprises creep around inside your bones, and some habits can even harm bones in old age. Here are some important bone facts that you might want to know.

Your bones may feel like rocks, but they are living things. A group of cells (osteoblasts) are continually churning out new bone, while another group (osteoclasts) tears down bone by gobbling it up. This constant motion is called bone remodeling and this is why bones regenerate after a break, grow hastily during youth, and, unfortunately, decline in old age when the balance tips toward destruction.

So you want your bones to grow stronger and denser? Then start saving them now. Playing sports, lifting weights, and almost any activity that moves a muscle will prompt your bones to put aside more minerals and get sturdier and thicker. Since bone density peaks around age 30 and then starts to slip away, the more you build when you’re young, the more you can use later. Think of it this way: If you have more money in the bank before bone loss, you won’t reach a level of deficiency that sets you up for fracture.

Bones are like storage space. If you want extra minerals, check your bones. If you need more calcium because e.g. you’re a breast-feeding mom, your bones discharge extra calcium in a way that benefits baby and doesn’t hurt mom. The only problem is that sometimes toxic substances such as mercury can get stuck in the bone storage, too. But other than that, the bone is a major storage pool for calcium and phosphate. And it is very improbable that what our bones store (whether good or bad) will come out in big amounts and cause health problems.

We already know that drinking too much alcohol damages your liver, brain, and other parts of your body. But what some of you don’t know is that alcohol can also be a big problem for bones. Heavy drinkers are more at risk to losing bone density. When these levels get low enough, it’s called osteopenia which is a milder condition than osteoporosis. But regular heavy drinking can cause calcium deficiency and the more severe bone condition known as osteoporosis.

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Tags: • bone health • osteoclasts • osteoblasts • osteoporosis • calcium • breast feeding • heavy drinking • health problems • bone density •

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