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For many people, healthy bones fall into that category of things to deal with "when the time comes." In fact, we rarely even think about our bones-until we break one. Clearly, by waiting until orthopedic problems occur (usually in the later seasons of life), we severely limit our options for improvement.
We tend to think of our bones as unchanging because they are hard. However, bones do change in response to a number of things, such as exercise, nutritional status, and injury. Just like our other tissues, our bone tissue constantly renews and repairs itself.
Bone is made of a protein called collagen, which is arranged in a mesh or matrix. Minerals in our bodies, in the form of salts (such as calcium phosphate, magnesium, sodium, and potassium salts) are incorporated into the matrix and make it hard. Calcium is the major mineral in our bones, and bones serve as the body's calcium "reservoir." In fact, over 99 percent of the body's calcium is located in the skeleton and teeth.
The density of our bones is affected by age, heredity, sex hormones, physical activity, diet, lifestyle choices, and some medications. In women, 99 percent of total bone mineral content has been deposited by the time the early twenties hit. Bone density slowly builds until around age 30 at which point bone formation and bone breakdown are balanced. After menopause, however, bone loss exceeds bone formation leading to an overall decline in bone density. Men don't experience this decrease as early, but some men may show decreased bone density by age 50. By age 65 or 70, men and women lose bone mass at similar rates. Once bone is lost, it cannot be completely replaced.
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Stronger Bones
For many people, healthy bones fall into that category of things to deal with "when the time comes." In fact, we rarely even think about our bones-until we break one. Clearly, by waiting until orthopedic problems occur (usually in the later seasons of life), we severely limit our options for improvement.
We tend to think of our bones as unchanging because they are hard. However, bones do change in response to a number of things, such as exercise, nutritional status, and injury. Just like our other tissues, our bone tissue constantly renews and repairs itself.
Bone is made of a protein called collagen, which is arranged in a mesh or matrix. Minerals in our bodies, in the form of salts (such as calcium phosphate, magnesium, sodium, and potassium salts) are incorporated into the matrix and make it hard. Calcium is the major mineral in our bones, and bones serve as the body's calcium "reservoir." In fact, over 99 percent of the body's calcium is located in the skeleton and teeth.
The density of our bones is affected by age, heredity, sex hormones, physical activity, diet, lifestyle choices, and some medications. In women, 99 percent of total bone mineral content has been deposited by the time the early twenties hit. Bone density slowly builds until around age 30 at which point bone formation and bone breakdown are balanced. After menopause, however, bone loss exceeds bone formation leading to an overall decline in bone density. Men don't experience this decrease as early, but some men may show decreased bone density by age 50. By age 65 or 70, men and women lose bone mass at similar rates. Once bone is lost, it cannot be completely replaced.
Labels: bone, bones, family, healthy, osteoporosis
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