Our Bones Need Calcium

Our Bones Need Calcium To Stay Strong

Scientific research indicates that calcium deficiency is a major cause of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become weak, fragile, and brittle. According to the Harvard Health Letter (September 1966), Osteoporosis is a bone crippling disease that affects over 25 million people in the United States alone. Our bones need calcium to stay strong, preserve bone mass, and reduce the risk of fracture. Healthy bones require that that you eat foods rich in calcium such as cheese, yogurt, salmon, tofu, and broccoli. Milk is a particularly good source of calcium. Two glasses of milk provide about 600 mg. Calcium supplementation, in addition to proper nutrition and exercise, promotes bone strength and reduces the risk of osteoporosis.

Calcium and Aging

Calcium is less efficiently absorbed as we age. Loss of bone is painless in the early stages. You may not know you are losing bone mass until you have a fracture. Osteoporotic fractures can be slowed down and prevented. Fractures are about twice as common in women than men. According to a Mayo Clinic Health Letter (October 1997), half of all Caucasian and Asian women over the age of 50 can expect to have a bone fracture due to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis need not be an inevitable part of aging. Early detection and prevention are the best ways of preventing this debilitating disease. Medical research has shown that calcium supplementation can restore strength to bones, particularly when calcium is enhanced with other vitamins and minerals.