Maintain Strong Bones

The strength of all of the bones in our body is governed by a few simple factors. We want to make sure that our bones are strong and we can even improve our bone strength.

Exercise

Exercise is essential to maintain good health and increase our bone density. There are two cells that alter the form and strength of our bones. These are the osteoclasts which thicken our bones and then we have the osteoblasts which have the reverse effect and will break the bones down. When we exercise, we can alter the activity of these cells. When you exercise, you are putting force on your bones and this in turn creates an electric current that moves along the bones. During exercise the osteoclasts are stimulated and the result is that this stimulation builds up the bones which are being stressed. When this is happening, the osteoblasts will absorb small amount of bone that is not required.

This action will help increase the strength of the bones.

Diet

Your bones come from a crystal formation called apatite. Large amounts of calcium and a small amount of phosphorus is needed by apatite. We have always been told we need calcium in our diet. Vitamin D (also known as the “sunshine” vitamin) helps the body absorb and use calcium. These days they now add a form of vitamin to some milk products.

Dairy products such as cheese and milk are a great source of calcium. If you tend not to use diary products, there are other ways of getting calcium. Calcium is found in many varieties of nuts, green leafy vegetables, legumes and grains. The nutrient found in milk and other dairy products stick to the calcium and you can lose it. Calcium in dairy products is harder to digest and absorb. That is why you should also get your calcium from the other sources we have already named.

So now you can see why you should maintain a good healthy diet and exercise on a regular basis. Your exercise regime should include both aerobic and flexibility components.

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