Osteoporosis and Aging – Say No To Brittle Bones

Osteoporosis and aging is a worldwide phenomenon affecting more women than men. As the name suggests, osteoporosis means formation of “pores” in the bone. In fact, osteoporosis is a bone decay disease that makes the bones weak and brittle.

Aging is the most important factor for osteoporosis. With progressing age and particularly after menopause in women, the activity of osteoclasts, cells that break down bone, is greater than that of osteoblasts, cells that build bone. Eventually, this leads to osteoporosis. Older women are known to suffer from osteoporosis at rates of 4-6 times than that of men.

Moreover, menopausal women have difficulty is assimilation of calcium, an extremely important constituent of bone, due to decrease is estrogen hormone in their bodies. This factor also increases the risk of osteoporosis among aging women.

As the bones become weak and brittle, they become less unable to support the weight of the body, and result in frequent fractures. Heavier women suffer more from the consequences of osteoporosis than women with lighter bodyweight.

While aging will inevitably make the bones weak, the best way to delay its impact is regular calcium supplementation and having protein rich diets, particularly soy for menopausal women. Antioxidant supplements can reduce free-radical damage in the body and retard the pace of decay. So they should be regularly taken.

Exercise is also important, as it improves strength and flexibility, and improves blood circulation that helps in reaching nutrients to different parts of the body as well as in quick removal of toxins.