Want to prevent osteoporosis? Watch out for these 3 big enemies of bone health. In this video, Vonda Wright, MD, reveals why too much salt, alcohol, and smoking are bad for your bones.
If you want to avoid bone loss then put down the salt, toss out the cigarettes and keep it to one drink. Hi, I'm Dr. Wright. These three no nos are just waiting to damage your bones. Too much salt can cause you to excrete excessive amounts of calcium in your urine depriving your bones of this important nutrients.
To lower your sodium consumption, limit canned, processed and fast foods. It's also important to avoid drinking too much alcohol which can inhibit bone formation. Drink in moderation. For women, that's no more than one drink per day which is 12 ounces of beer, five fluid ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of distilled liquor.
If you smoke, quit. Smoking cigarettes hurts nearly every organ in your body, so it's no surprise that it can impact your bone health too. Smoking speeds up the breakdown of bone tissue causing faster bone loss and weakening bones. According to studies, females smokers also tend to have lower levels of oestrogen, the hormone that keeps bones strong.
For more ways to stay healthy, watch all our smart tips.
Osteoporosis affects both men and women. Learn about bone density screening and find out how good nutrition (especially vitamin D) and exercise, such as strength training, help build strong bones to prevent osteoporosis.
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