Boost Your Bone Health

Most people think that bones are hard, lifeless parts of their bodies when in fact bones are living organs full of blood and cells that are an extremely important part of our overall health. Far from static, our bones are constantly rebuilding themselves and grow stronger or weaker depending on how active we are and how well we are supplying the nutrients they need.

It is a fact of life that our bones lose minerals as we age. Osteoporosis, a disease where the bones become fragile, is called a silent disease since there are no outward signs that you are losing bone mass.

There are many risk factors for osteoporosis:

• It is estimated that there are 10 million Americans affected by osteoporosis and at least 80% are women.

• The amount of bone mass you start out with has a big impact on your risk of osteoporosis. If you are female, petite, white, Asian, or have a family history of osteoporosis, then you have a greater risk.

• Research suggests that tobacco, heavy alcohol use, and low physical activity can all reduce bone mass.

• Gastric bypass, low testosterone, high thyroid, and certain medications (like steroids or thyroid meds) can all increase a person’s risk.

• Bone loss rapidly accelerates after menopause, so that is an important time to make sure you are doing all you can to nurture your bone health.
  

What Can I Do?

The good news is that no matter what your age, you can begin making changes today that will improve your bone health going forward.

Here is your action plan:

• Start early: Remember that bone loss starts around 30 years old. Nourishing your bones during your teens, twenty’s and beyond - getting ahead of the game is very helpful. But remember, it is never too late to start nourishing your bones.

• Include weight-bearing exercises into your routine: Weight-bearing exercises increase the density of your bones because they become stronger when put under pressure. Consider weightlifting, walking, running, hiking, dancing, and tennis.
  

• Make healthy choices: Don’t smoke, limit alcohol use, and maintain a healthy weight.

• Key nutrients: 

• Calcium is the most abundant mineral in our bones. Your diet should include high-calcium foods like dairy foods, leafy green vegetables, and soybeans. But, for your body to absorb the calcium, it needs other things too:

• Vitamin D is essential for the proper absorption of calcium. Vitamin D deficiency is linked to accelerated bone aging. If you don’t have enough Vitamin D, it could lead to reduced bone density, reduced bone quality, and increase the aging of bones.

• Magnesium is the second most abundant mineral in bones necessary for long term bone health.

• Vitamin K is less well known than other vitamins, but just as essential for bone building.

• Other trace minerals such as zinc, copper and manganese are important too.
  

Smart Supplementation can be helpful if you’re one of the many who aren’t getting enough from your diet.  Shaklee’s Osteomatrix is an excellent choice.  Clinically tested for absorption and specially formulated to provide a unique matrix of key nutrients needed to build and maintain strong bones and minimize bone loss providing it has all the bases covered.

• Nature's most concentrated and easily absorbed sources of elemental calcium (1,300 mg)

• Magnesium to help strengthen bones* (500 mg)

• Vitamin D to stimulate calcium absorption* (750 IU)

• Also including vitamin K, zinc, copper, and manganese in small, easy-to-swallow coated caplets.
  

Start taking care of your bones today. Small steps today can lead to benefits later in life.