All women have to grow old and all will have some osteoporosis.How much and how we deal with it will make all the difference.And its easy...
So what is this scary sounding osteoporosis-actually nothing much except the bones become soft, porous, bend and break easily. It can easily be prevented.Why does it happen and what has menopause got to do with it ?
Ok-short-since we have menses our ovaries produce estrogen(sex-hormone) which helps in preventing our body from using calcium from our bones when there is less of it in the body.Calcium is needed for many other body-functions including maintaining blood pressure.
So our bones are saved. After menopause we dont get menses and our estrogen levels fall and body starts using calcium from our bones IF the calcium levels in our body falls.This happens because as we age body"s capasity to absorb calcium from food decreases (result of the overall aging effect).
So we need to see our diet has enough calcium so that body does not need the calcium from our bones and they dont become porous and weak due to loss of calcium.Plenty of food with calcium--milk,cheese,grains,fruits-banana, custard apple(sitaphal),tofu,almonds,green leafy vegetables,herring etc.Remember Vit D also needs to be produced by body for good calcium levels(exposure to sun).
Supplements or calcium tablets are again SYNTHETIC and will only give temporary benefit.Do take it if levels are low or you are suffering from chronic disease and body is unable to cope with production.In case you prefer it then I would recommend you to take it say for some time and all the while improving your diet to include more calcium.
Problems with prolonged intake of calcium -latest research says no significant difference in women with menopause taking calcium supplements from those not taking.Too much of Calcium in blood puts load on kidney to remove them from body.Excess calcium produces stones which again have their own problems.
If all this is too much for you -make it easy for yourself- take a walk daily for 20mts 5days a wk.Eat a cup of yogurt daily or banana or almonds or cheese and forget the rest !
Remember you are getting old and body will be changing -its Ok and you really dont want to run about.Right?
So what is this scary sounding osteoporosis-actually nothing much except the bones become soft, porous, bend and break easily. It can easily be prevented.Why does it happen and what has menopause got to do with it ?
Ok-short-since we have menses our ovaries produce estrogen(sex-hormone) which helps in preventing our body from using calcium from our bones when there is less of it in the body.Calcium is needed for many other body-functions including maintaining blood pressure.
So our bones are saved. After menopause we dont get menses and our estrogen levels fall and body starts using calcium from our bones IF the calcium levels in our body falls.This happens because as we age body"s capasity to absorb calcium from food decreases (result of the overall aging effect).
So we need to see our diet has enough calcium so that body does not need the calcium from our bones and they dont become porous and weak due to loss of calcium.Plenty of food with calcium--milk,cheese,grains,fruits-banana, custard apple(sitaphal),tofu,almonds,green leafy vegetables,herring etc.Remember Vit D also needs to be produced by body for good calcium levels(exposure to sun).
Supplements or calcium tablets are again SYNTHETIC and will only give temporary benefit.Do take it if levels are low or you are suffering from chronic disease and body is unable to cope with production.In case you prefer it then I would recommend you to take it say for some time and all the while improving your diet to include more calcium.
Problems with prolonged intake of calcium -latest research says no significant difference in women with menopause taking calcium supplements from those not taking.Too much of Calcium in blood puts load on kidney to remove them from body.Excess calcium produces stones which again have their own problems.
If all this is too much for you -make it easy for yourself- take a walk daily for 20mts 5days a wk.Eat a cup of yogurt daily or banana or almonds or cheese and forget the rest !
Remember you are getting old and body will be changing -its Ok and you really dont want to run about.Right?
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