Know Bones About It

I was reading the Health Section of our local newspaper, sipping coffee and having an all-around great day.  Then I discovered how much danger my bones are in and it kind of knocked the great off of my day.  I need these bones.

The columnist, a dietician, wrote that she’d had a bone density test come back indicating osteopenia - a reduction in bone mass.  Osteopenia can lead to osteoporosis, a bone-weakening disease where your bones become fragile and are more likely to fracture or break.  If you knew how accident prone I am, you’d know why my knees are knocking.

The dietician listed several factors that lead to bone loss:

1. Heavy alcohol consumption
2. Smoking
3. Inactivity
4. Cortisone
5. Salt
6. Caffiene
7. High doses of thyroid medications

I was feeling untouched by 1-4.  Then #5 got my attention (my Diet Dr. Peppers pack tons of sodium).  But #6 (coffee, tea, soda - I do them all) and #7 gave me a jolt.  I’ve been on thyroid medicine for over 15 years.

Then she wrote about the importance of milk and dairy products.  I’ve never drunk a glass of milk in my life.  I’ve bathed cookies in it before, sure, but drink it for the sheer taste of it?  Ewwwww.  I also don’t care for cheese, and I’m not even that into ice cream.

By bones don’t feel too good about their future.

Our bodies don’t make calcium, so we have to get it from our diet.  If our calcium levels get too low in our blook, calcium is taken from our bones.

We need between 1,000-1,000 milligrams of calcium a day. Also, to keep our bones healthy, we should do the following:

• Consume 2-3 servings per day of milk or other dairy products.
• Be physically active - especially with weight-bearing activities like walking, running, dancing, and tennis.
• Don’t forget about Vitamin D.  It helps our bodies absorb calcium.  It’s can be gotten from milk, some fish, and from the sun.
• Limit caffeine (ouch), alcohol, and sodium.
• Don’t smoke.
• Take a calcium supplement with Vitamin D if you can’t get enough from your diet.  I’ve already bought mine.

Next trip to the store, I’m grabbing some Chocolate Nestle Quick, cheese, and yogurt.  Yogurt’s cool.

Bone loss isn’t.

Joi

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