• Home
  • Advertise With Us
  • Login

KC Our Health Matters

University Health KC
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Awards & Events
    • Advertise With Us
  • Our Departments
    • Cover Story
    • Publisher’s Greeting
    • Health
    • Mental Health
    • Community
    • Food & Fitness
    • Online Articles
    • Videos
  • Digital Magazine
    • Digital Magazine
    • Caregivers Resource Guide
  • Subscription
  • Community Events
  • Contact Us
You are at :Home»Health»Aging Changes Our Bones
Aging Affects Bones

Aging Changes Our Bones

Health

Exercise and a well-balanced diet can help prevent bone loss, or osteoporosis.

By OHM staff

As we age, our bones lose the ability to replace certain cells as fast as they degrade, and if that degradation is significant, it can result in osteoporosis (bone density/bone loss), or osteopenia (loss of bone mineral density). According to the American Journal of Managed Care there are 54 million people with low bone density. They project more than three million osteoporotic fractures a year by 2025, with related expenditures of $25 billion a year.

What can we do to support bone health?
The musculoskeletal (bones and joints) system is designed to be resilient against the physical demands we place on them. For our bones and joints to function properly, they must be challenged regularly with weight-bearing exercises. Examples include:

  • Jumping jacks
  • Hiking
  • Walking
  • Climbing stairs or using an elliptical
  • Low-impact aerobics
  • Dancing

These exercises work directly on the bones in the legs, hips and lower spine to slow mineral loss.

What causes low bone density, and how is it treated?
During childhood and adolescence, much more bone is deposited than withdrawn as the skeleton grows in both size and density.

Between ages 25 and 50, bone density levels tend to stay balanced. After 50, the equation starts to work against the body, and our bones become less dense.

As with many conditions, low bone density can be both prevented and combatted in an otherwise healthy individual through exercise and a well-balanced diet.

Foods that are good for your bones include:

  • Dairy products — low-fat or non-fat milk, yogurt, cheese
  • Fruits and vegetables — leafy green vegetables (collard greens, turnip greens, kale, okra, etc.)
  • Fish — canned sardines, salmon (with the bones)
  • Fish containing vitamin D — salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines

These foods are rich in calcium and vitamin D, nutrients that help sustain strong bones.

According to the US Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, fewer than 20% of adults perform the recommended amount of physical activity, including bone-strengthening exercises, required to keep bone density at a healthy level.

Before you start any exercise, consult your healthcare provider to discuss what exercises work best for your health situation.

Sources: Osteoporosis Diet & Nutrition: Foods for Bone Health, www.bonehealthandosteoporosis.org, CDC.gov

2022-10-11
kcourhealthmatters
linkedin Facebook Instagram Twitter Pinterest Stumble More
Previous Article :

Diet and Exercise: What Children Need for Healthy Bones

Next Article :

GET THE FACTS ABOUT LONG-TERM & SHORT-TERM SKILLED CARE

Related Articles

Cost of Care in the United States

Cost of Care in the United States

kcourhealthmatters 20 Apr 2017
Income Inequality

Income Inequality

kcourhealthmatters 20 Apr 2017
Jobs, Education, and Training Support Healthier Lives

Jobs, Education, and Training Support Healthier Lives

kcourhealthmatters 20 Apr 2017

18th Anniversary

Parent Power Lab

GateWay of Hope

Transition Academy

Healthy Families. Healthy Babies.

Popular Articles

Who Cares for the Caregiver?
Health

Who Cares for the Caregiver?

kcourhealthmatters 10 Nov 2017
health matters
Cover Story

The Importance of Regular Eye Exams

kcourhealthmatters 12 Sep 2017
Achieving Goals
Health

Jobs, Education, and Training Support Healthier Lives

kcourhealthmatters 20 Apr 2017
Are Pilates Right for you
Food & Fitness

You’ve Heard of Pilates, But Is it Right for You?

kcourhealthmatters 05 Jul 2017
Five Ways to Make Getting Healthy a Family Affair
Health

Five Ways to Make Getting Healthy a Family Affair

kcourhealthmatters 05 Jul 2017
  • Community
  • Food & Fitness
  • Health
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap

KC Our Health Matters
Since Our Health Matters™ launched in 2005, we have provided readers with insight into how to live healthier lives.

Recent Posts

  • What Do You Know About Infectious Diseases?

    What Do You Know About Infectious Diseases?

    29 Nov 2023
  • Stay Healthy During Viral Respiratory Season

    Stay Healthy During Viral Respiratory Season

    29 Nov 2023
  • PACE Cutting Edge Senior Healthcare Facility Opens

    PACE Cutting Edge Senior Healthcare Facility Opens

    29 Nov 2023

Subscribe Now

    Copyright 2023, All Rights Reserved - KC Our Health Matters