Bones play a very important role in our health and even more as we age. They provide structure, protect our organs, anchor our muscles, and store calcium for our body. When you are young, you are able to rebuild your bone mass quickly, but as you age your bone mass decreases and it takes much longer for your body to replace the old bone.
Different things can affect your bone health and below are some factors to think about.
- The amount of calcium in your diet.
- Try to incorporate foods high in calcium and talk to your physician about taking a calcium supplement.
- Physical activity
- People who do not exercise are at risk of osteoporosis.
- Tobacco and alcohol use
- Research has shown that tobacco and alcohol contribute to weak bones
- Certain medications
- Long-term use of certain medications has shown to affect bone mass
Source: Mayo Clinic