Keeping your bones healthy is key if you want to remain comfortable and mobile for years to come. You may be young and sprightly now, but if you don’t take care of your bones, this could all change as you age. Many people think that to look after their bones, all they need to do is drink milk. Well, we can tell you it takes a lot more than a glass of milk to keep your bones strong and healthy! Here’s the truth about looking out for your bone health:
Eat Calcium Rich Foods
While people think that milk is the best source of calcium, they are wrong. You will actually get far more calcium from vegetables than you will from milk! This makes getting your 5 a day even more important. Dark leafy vegetables like broccoli are perfect, as are almonds, tofu, and soy milk.
Take Calcium Supplements
Calcium supplements could potentially help to keep your bones strong and healthy if you’re worried you may not be getting enough. One popular choice out there today is AlgaeCal. However, before you purchase any supplements you must make sure you’ve done your research. You may also want to seek advice from a qualified doctor.
Don’t forget to add vitamin D to your supplement regime, as this helps the body to absorb more calcium.
Reduce Stress All Day Long
Did you know that stress can actually rot your bones faster than you’d imagine? When we’re stressed, the body produces more cortisol. Not only can this cause numerous other problems, it can also break down collagen, which is the foundation that bones are built upon. Magnesium also drains from the body, which is known as an important bone builder. Try to reduce stress as much as you can from the moment you wake up!
Get Some Exercise
Not only is exercise a brilliant stress buster and fantastic for our health in many other ways, it also simulates new bone growth. This is because it muscles and tendons to pull on the bones as you move. Exercising 3 times a week will help to improve bone density. Not to mention you’ll sleep better, look younger, fight of disease, and feel happier! You can try things like walking, skipping, and even pilates. Many of these exercises will improve your posture, balance, and coordination too.
Cut Back On Any Bad Habits
Tobacco and alcohol use have been linked with weakened bones. Alcohol inhibits the body’s ability to absorb calcium, so more than 2 a day could seriously impact your bone health. Limit drinking through the week and make sure you stick to the recommended amount of units. Stay away from smoking completely, as we all know the rest of the damage it can do to the body. Then, make sure you’re not consuming alcohol in excess.
Hopefully these tips have given you far more insight into the kind of things we need to do for our bone health. It definitely isn’t all about chugging milk!
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