5 Ways to Boost Bone Health
Five Non-Pharmaceutical Ways to Boost Bone Health and Fight Osteoporosis
By Kyle Zagrodsky
Bone health is a major concern for most people over age 50, and with good reason. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, approximately 54 million Americans have osteoporosis or are at risk of developing the disease because of low bone density.
Studies show that about one in two women and one in four men age 50 and older will break a bone because of osteoporosis. The illness currently costs about $19 billion each year, and experts say the cost will rise to about $25.3 billion per year by 2025.
When someone is diagnosed with low bone density or osteoporosis, doctors generally recommend medication to either slow the rate of bone loss or encourage the body to produce new bone more quickly. However, medications can be expensive and come with a wide range of side effects that can be unpleasant, disruptive, and painful. For those who are interested in a non-pharmaceutical solution to bone health, there is hope.
Learn about osteogenic loading, which can reverse osteoporosis completely.
Osteogenic loading is a short set of specific, intense resistance movements that trigger the body’s natural bone rebuilding response. Osteogenic loading can be more effective at boosting bone mass than exercise because monitored sessions allow the user to safely resist four or more times their own body weight, which is the amount of pressure required to build new bone. Patented osteogenic loading technology closely monitors sessions so that even a massive amount of pressure will never become uncomfortable or cause injury, no matter how weak bones are to begin with. The rebuilding process is triggered in just 10 minutes, but the body continues rebuilding bone for days.
Learn your family’s medical history.
Find out as much as you can about whether others in your family have dealt with low bone density. According to the Mayo Clinic, people of Caucasian and Asian descent are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis. If your family has a history of fractures, or if a parent or sibling has osteoporosis, you’re also at greater risk. Knowing whether you are more likely to develop osteoporosis can help prevent it, so learning your family history is important.
Encourage friends and family to have an active lifestyle, too.
When we encourage others, we become part of something bigger and are more motivated to do good things for ourselves. Encouragement delivers a natural boost that also inspires us to do the thing we hope others will. Since staying active can help prevent weak bones, put together an activity group, ask your book club if you can walk during meetings instead of lounge, or take the grandkids for an outing instead of letting them plop in front of the television during visits. Staying active isn’t always about a total life overhaul, but about small steps that add up to a sustainable change.
Flush your calcium supplements.
Lots of people take calcium supplements in the hopes of increasing bone strength, which seems logical—calcium builds stronger bones, so more is better, right? Wrong! Recent studies show that calcium supplements might not strengthen bones and could do more harm than good. Some studies have linked calcium supplements to increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, kidney stones, and prostate cancer, so ask your doctor before continuing to take supplements.
Get nutrients like calcium through a natural diet.
The human body doesn’t produce calcium, a necessary nutrient for healthy bones, muscles, and nerves. Natural sources of calcium include dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese. Canned sardines and salmon are also great sources of calcium. If you like fruits and vegetables, you can get calcium from collards, turnip greens, kale, okra, and broccoli. To improve your body’s ability to absorb and use calcium, get plenty of vitamin D, which is in salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines.
It’s never too late to build better bone health. Medications may help, but they aren’t the only option for building stronger bones. Do your own research, stay optimistic, and decide what’s right for your optimal health.
Kyle Zagrodzky is president of OsteoStrong, the health and wellness system with a focus on stronger bones, muscles, and balance in less than 10 minutes a week using scientifically proven and patented osteogenic loading technology. OsteoStrong introduced a new era in modern fitness and anti-aging in 2011 and has since helped thousands of clients between ages 8 and 98 improve strength, balance, endurance, and bone density. In 2014, the brand signed commitments with nine regional developers to launch 500 new locations across America. Today, the OsteoStrong brand is staying true to its growth towards a brand with global reach with the addition of more franchise sales and new regional developers.
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