Osteoporosis is considered by many to be a degenerative disease of the bones which leads to easier fractures that only the old suffer from. To understand the cure, you must first understand the disease, and therefore you must first discover the possible causes of osteoporosis. After all, this is what preventive medicine is all about.

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You would be therefore glad to know that osteoporosis can be prevented and you can choose to lead that healthy lifestyle that you've always desired even when you are old.

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What causes Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is the decrease of bone mineral density together with the altering of various minerals and protein structure in our bones. This leads to increased fracture because the bone tissue has weakened within and outside. If you have osteoporosis, you face an increased risk for fractured bones, particularly in the hip, spine, and wrist. It is thus important to know how we can improve our bone architecture.

Synergistic Action of Minerals and Vitamins

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and is needed for strength and structure of teeth and bones, blood clotting, nerve function, muscle contraction and relaxation, enzyme regulation, and membrane permeability.

Most of the calcium in the human body is found in teeth and bones and thus low calcium intake can potentially lead to osteoporosis, as the calcium can be used up and not replenished.

You can find good sources of calcium in broccoli, legumes, fortified orange juice, dairy products, and fish. Many dairy products are also fortified with vitamin D, which plays an important role in calcium absorption.

Another component needed in the formation of healthy bones is vitamin D. Now, many research scientists and doctors have long suspected a link on the effects of the lack of sunlight with the occurrence of osteoporosis.

This is probably because natural sunlight helps to create vitamin D in our skin and eyes, and since vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient essential for bone growth and general health, a lack of it, would actually contribute to osteoporosis. The lack of vitamin D could also lead to an increase in cholesterol levels in your body, and that would be discussed in another article.

Exposing yourself to the sun is the most important source of vitamin D for most of us and you could find some amounts of vitamin D from food, including fortified milk, certain types of fish, and fortified breakfast cereals

The third component needed for healthy bones is Magnesium, which is an essential mineral for many fundamental processes in the body as well. It is primarily stored in bones. Magnesium plays an integral role in hundreds of enzymatic functions and is important for nerve, muscle, and bone health.

Magnesium helps with the absorption of calcium and depends on vitamin D for its own absorption. Food dietary sources of magnesium include spinach, legumes, nuts, and grains.

Basically, the building of good strong bones need a range of minerals and vitamins such as magnesium, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, silicon, vitamin K, (in particular, vitamin K2, which is especially important) and of course calcium. So calcium is always the biggest component in any nutritional supplements for the bone.

Calcium supplements must contain all these vitamins and minerals, because without these essential components, the calcium may not be absorbed in the bones where it is intended, and might end up in our blood vessels or our heart, where it causes harm. So long as these other nutrients are taken as well, many studies have shown that added calcium plays an important role in building and maintaining bone mass.

And so with regard to the recent news on the intake of calcium supplements leading to heart attacks, the question that needs to be asked would be, were all these minerals and vitamins in synchronisation with each other? Therefore the main take away from that research is that calcium supplements are not magic bullets and should not be taken in isolation. There should be equally good multi-vitamins and minerals to complement it.

If you are still convinced by the news and intend to skip your calcium supplements, there are alternatives such as embarking on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), or by taking bisphophonate drugs like Fosomax. All drugs have side effects, and that is why I opine that it is better to be safe and consume optimum and good calcium supplements than to risk it and end up having to ingest drugs made by all these pharmaceutical companies.

Summary

So, since you now know that magnesium, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin K and calcium work hand in hand together, in great synergy to promote strong and healthy bones, you must therefore chose an optimum calcium supplement with these carefully formulated ingredients. You should find one that has been manufactured to U.S.P. guidelines for guaranteed purity and potency, so that what you see on the label is what you would eat.

Include your daily calcium supplements with an essential mix of multi-vitamins, and you would be provided with a complete nutritional support for optimal bone development and maintenance throughout your life.

Osteoporosis - Good Calcium Supplements, Vitamin D and Magnesium Can Help

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