Bone health is essential in all ages and stages of life. The skeleton is our body's store bank for calcium, a mineral that is required for our bodies to operate. Calcium is very significant as a bone forming nutrient. Calcium must be obtained from the foods we consume. Calcium is withdrawn from where it is stored in our bones if we do not consume enough calcium to maintain our bodies functioning. This causes our bones to weaken over time. Loss of bone strength can result in osteoporosis, a condition in which bones become highly weak and more prone to breaking. Breaks in the wrist, hip, and spine are most common in older persons with osteoporosis. Mobility and freedom might be severely hampered by these fractures.

Development of the skeleton and the attainment of peak bone mass are critical during puberty. Puberty produces half of total body calcium reserves in women and up to two-thirds of calcium stores in males. Men have around 50% more body calcium than women at the end of adolescence.

Based on science, girls often enter puberty around the age of ten and begin menstruating around the age of twelve. A regular menstruation is vital for the bone health of girls and women because it signals that enough estrogen is being generated. Estrogen is a hormone that aids in calcium absorption in the kidneys and intestines.

We only have a limited amount of time to influence our peak bone mass. The optimal time to increase bone density is during a period of fast growth. Through food and activity, we may dramatically enhance our peak bone mass during childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood. We may, predictably, make decisions that reduce peak bone mass, such as smoking, poor diet, inactivity, and excessive alcohol consumption.

The majority of people attain their maximal bone mass between the ages of 25 and 30. By the age of 40, we begin to lose bone mass gradually. We may, however, take precautions to prevent serious bone loss over time. Bone loss may be considerably delayed for the majority of us by following a healthy diet and engaging in regular exercise.

PNFP Jezer Z. Calingacion, RND

Sources:

https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/staying-healthy/healthy-bones-at-every-age/

https://mantyhlab.medicine.arizona.edu/biology/

https://dukeahnmd.com/2016/12/02/1495//

https://www.raiseupwa.com/popular-guidelines/what-is-normal-bone-mineral-content/