Facts About Osteoporosis: The Silent Killer of Women

Few people know all the facts about osteoporosis.

What is osteoporosis? It is the loss of bone density causing your bones to be brittle, fragile and more prone to fractures. And fact is – bone breakdown can begin as early as the age of 25.

While human bones are living tissues that naturally undergo a constant breakdown and renewal process, this changes during the mid-20s, when the deterioration of our bones begins.

Who are susceptible to osteoporosis?
Doctors say that smokers, alcohol drinkers, people with low calcium diets and generally inactive lifestyles are susceptible to osteoporosis. So it’s really important to live without vices, eat healthy and exercise.

Why are women more prone to osteoporosis?
Owing to hormones and petite frames, women are more prone to this disease than men. Monthly periods and pregnancy also drain the body of calcium, the nutrient with bone-building properties.

Meanwhile menopause accelerates bone loss even more, as the body produces less and less estrogen, the hormone that helps protect bones. In the Philippines, studies reveal that 1 out of 2 women is at risk for osteoporosis.

What are the symptoms of osteoporosis?
The symptoms of osteoporosis only show when the damage is already advanced. That’s why it is the “silent killer”. Some of the signs that you may have osteoporosis are a stooped back, loss in height, and the easy breakage of bones in the back, hips, wrists, and ankles.

And unfortunately, osteoporosis has no cure, but it can be prevented.

How to avoid early onset of osteoporosis or prevent it altogether?
One should engage regularly in weight-bearing exercises like running, walking and strength training. This keeps your bones strong. Also a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D is needed.

Dairy products such as milk are loaded with calcium. Likewise, tofu, soy foods, and dark, leafy green vegetables are good sources of calcium.

Meanwhile, vitamin D (which promotes better calcium absorption) is found in fatty fish (salmon, mackerel), fish liver oil and egg yolks.

Also, women between the ages of 25 and 50 years should aim to take 750 mg of calcium everyday; more for those who are older, pregnant or lactating. As for vitamin D, the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for women aged 19 to 50 years is 600 IU (international units).

How Anlene helps fight osteoporosis:
As you now know, milk is an excellent source of calcium. And to reap its full health benefits, it’s best to drink the one that offers the right amount and quality calcium.

And Anlene Milk has been found to be an ideal source of everyone’s calcium requirement. No wonder they are considered in the Philippines as the expert in bone nutrition.

Note: All data stated in this post comes from research and studies done by Anlene.

Photo credits: Valerie Everett, assbach