Osteoporosis is a condition which makes the bones weak and causing them to break easily. As the bones are fragile the slightest movement can break them, especially joints like the hip, spine and wrists. Increasing age makes you prone to this disease, men over fifty and post-menopausal women are the most common patients of osteoporosis. This breakage of bone occurs within a couple years of menopause due to reduction in estrogen levels. After years of erosion the bones give away causing pain, spinal deformity and fractures.
Some common factors
- Women are more prone to osteoporosis than men.
- Increasing age
- Hereditary
- Low estrogen and testosterone level in women and men respectively.
- Thin and frail body structure or suffering from anorexia nervosa
- Calcium and vitamin D deficiency
- Lack of exercise
- Smoking and drinking alcohol has adverse effects on the bone density.
- Use of certain medication or drugs
Remedies for Osteoporosis
Eat a healthy diet which includes plenty of calcium and vitamin D. Exercise regularly and cut down on alcohol and cigarettes. For good source of calcium have low-fat milk, yoghurt, cheese, orange juice, green leafy vegetable like spinach, cereals and breads.
A twenty minute walk three to four times a week may help you tremendously. You can also go biking, swimming or join aerobic dancing classes to improve the bone condition. Engage in weight-bearing exercises as these help in strengthening the bones. If you have a swimming pool or a beach around your house, go walking in chest deep water for 30 minutes at least three days a week. This prevents stress on your bones hence there is less erosion.
A cup of milk has 100 international units of vitamin D. Four cups a day could be your daily dose of vitamin D. Studies have also shown that post-menopausal women can have supplements containing manganese (5 mg/day), copper (2.5 mg/day), and zinc (15 mg/day) in combination with a calcium supplement (1,000 mg/day). It is termed to be more effective than having the calcium supplement alone.
Consume less salt and avoid food products which have more than 300 milligrams of salt per serving. Stay away from carbonated beverages like cola and soft drinks. The phosphoric acid present in carbonated drinks contains phosphorus, which if had in excess, can cause elimination of calcium from the body.
Studies have shown that vitamin K is very useful in maintaining healthy bones. It is found in green, leafy vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce and spinach. You can also consume vitamin K supplements.
If you want to increase calcium content include Parmesan cheese in your diet. To lessen fat intake and increase calcium, add powdered non-fat dry milk powder in soups, casseroles and other beverages. Some of the food products that promote healthy bones are avocado, black pepper, cabbage, cod liver oil, Dandelion, garlic, onions, Parsley, Pigweed and Horse tail. Eating pineapple also prevents bone fractures due to the presence of manganese in pineapple.
Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.
