Which Foods Can Weaken Your Bones?

Bones serve several functions in the body, including construction, organ protection, muscle anchoring, and calcium storage. While it is important to maintain strong and healthy bones during childhood and adolescence, you may also safeguard bone health into maturity. To maintain your bone density, you must avoid nutrition and some foods that weaken your bones to prevent fractures and movement problems when you grow older.

It is simpler than you think to protect your bone health. This essay will discuss why bone health is essential, what can affect bone health and density, and the foods that weaken your bones.

Why is Bone Health Important?

Your bones are constantly changing, with new bone being formed and old bone being destroyed. When you’re young, your body creates new bone quicker than degrades old bone, so your bone mass grows. Around the age of 30, most persons reach their maximal bone mass. The bone remodeling process then continues, but you lose somewhat more bone mass than you acquire.

 

What are the Chances of Developing Osteoporosis?

A condition called osteoporosis affects bones and makes them brittle and weak. It is determined by how much bone mass you have attained by 30 and how quickly you lose it. A person’s peak bone mass increases as bone density increases, and osteoporosis is less likely to develop as they age.

 

What Can Affect Bone Health?

A variety of things can have an impact on bone health. As an example:

• The calcium intake of your diet. A calcium-deficient diet relates to decreased bone density, early bone loss, and an increased risk of fractures.
• Physical exercise. Physically sedentary people are more likely to develop osteoporosis than physically active people.
• Tobacco and alcoholic beverage usage Tobacco usage may contribute to bone weakness, according to research. Similarly, more than one alcoholic drink per day for women or two alcoholic drinks per day for males may raise the risk of osteoporosis.
• Sex. Women are more likely to develop osteoporosis than males because they have less bone tissue.
• Size. If you are exceptionally thin (BMI 19 or below) or have a tiny physical frame, you are in danger because you may have less bone density to draw from as you age.
• Age. As you age, your bones become thinner and weaker.
• Race and familial background You are more likely to get osteoporosis if you are white or of Asian heritage. Furthermore, having a parent or sibling with osteoporosis increases your risk, particularly if you have a family background of fractures.
• Hormonal balance Thyroid hormone excess might result in bone loss. Because estrogen levels diminish after menopause, bone loss in women accelerates rapidly. Menstruation cessation (amenorrhea) before menopause raises the risk of osteoporosis. Low testosterone levels in men might result in bone mass loss.
• Eating disorders and other medical issues Food restriction and being underweight can deteriorate bone in men and women. Furthermore, weight reduction surgery and illnesses like celiac disease might impair your body’s capacity to absorb calcium.
• Some medicines. Long-term usage of corticosteroid drugs, including prednisone, cortisone, prednisolone, and dexamethasone, is terrible for your bones. In addition to aromatase inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, methotrexate, phenytoin, phenobarbital, and proton pump inhibitors, many different anti-seizure medicines also increase osteoporosis risks.

 

Bad Habits FOr Bone Health

Adding too much salt 

The more salt you add to your meals, the more calcium your body excretes, implying that it is no longer present to assist your bones. Slices of bread, cheese, chips, and cold meats are among the foods with the highest counts. You don’t have to completely avoid salt but aim for fewer than 2,300 mg of sodium each day.

Binge watching

It’s quite OK to watch your favorite show. But it’s all too easy to lose track of time while sitting on your couch in front of a computer. When you make it a practice to recline, you don’t move enough, and your bones suffer as a result. They become stronger via exercise. It’s healthiest for your skeleton if your feet and legs bear the majority of your body weight, forcing your bones and muscles to struggle against gravity.

Too much bike riding

Your heart and lungs become stronger as you pedal to work or ride for hours on the weekend. Your skeleton? Not at all. Unlike walks, runs, and hikes, bike riding do not build bone density since it is not a weight-bearing exercise. If you enjoy cycling, you should incorporate some weight-lifting into your regimen, as well as other sports such as tennis, hiking, dancing, and swimming (water resistance strengthens your bones).

Spending most of your time in your “Cave”

Perhaps you should go out more. Sunlight causes the body to produce vitamin D. It just takes 10-15 minutes a few times a week. But don’t go overboard. Spending too much sun exposure might increase your risk of developing skin cancer. There are some more catches as well. Your age, skin color, time of year, and location can all make it more difficult to produce vitamin D. Sunscreen can do the same. Include fortified cereals, juices, and kinds of milk in your diet. You can include plant-based milk like almonds, rice, and soy, as well as low-fat dairy. Also, consult your doctor to see whether you require a vitamin D supplement.

Having many bowls of wheat bran with milk

What could be more nutritious than 100% wheat bran? The body absorbs less calcium when it is consumed with milk. So if you eat foods containing wheat bran, like bread, don’t worry about them. You should wait at least 2 hours between taking the bran and your calcium supplement if you’re a fan of the concentrated stuff.

Being underweight

A low body weight, defined as a BMI of 18.5 or below, increases the risk of fracture and bone loss. Do weight-bearing workouts and see your doctor about whether you need additional calcium in your diet if you have tiny bones. If you’re not sure why you’re underweight, consult your doctor. They can determine whether the cause is an eating disorder, unhealthy diet, or another medical condition.

 

Foods That Weaken Bones

We’ve been told that eating well is essential for building strong bones. However, most people are astonished to learn that eating the incorrect foods can drain minerals from bones, reducing their strength and inhibiting their capacity to recover. Here we discuss top drinks and foods that weaken bones (and keep in mind that some of these bone-zappers are items we eat daily):

 

Alcohol

Alcohol works as a calcium blocker, stopping the bone-building nutrients you consume from being absorbed. Heavy drinking also interferes with bone remodeling by blocking osteoblasts, or bone-building cells, from performing their work. So, not only can bones weaken, but when you break a bone, alcohol can impede healing.

 

Salt

Salt is among the foods that weaken bones over time by removing calcium from bones. Dietitians estimate that for every 2,300 milligrams of salt consumed, you lose roughly 40 milligrams of calcium. Unfortunately, our American diet is highly salty; many consume 5,000 milligrams of salt daily, which is more than double the recommended amount. Salt may be found in the following foods: canned soup, canned and bottled sauces, deli meats, frozen dinners, canned vegetables and foods, store-bought baked goods, pizza, and fast food, including burgers and french fries.

 

Soft drinks

The fuzziness in carbonated beverages is frequently caused by phosphoric acid, which enhances the speed at which calcium is expelled in the urine. Soft and fizzy drinks are high in phosphoric acid, which leads to an increase in blood acidity. Consequently, the body extracts calcium from our bones to restore normal acidity levels. At the same time, soft drinks fill you up and quench your thirst without giving any nutrients that milk or juice would.

 

Hydrogenated oils

Hydrogenated oils are manufactured fats generated by mixing vegetable oils with hydrogen gas at extremely high pressure, resulting in artery-clogging trans fats. Any naturally occurring vitamin K in the vegetable oils is destroyed during this procedure resulting in foods that weaken the bones. Furthermore, because vitamin K is necessary for good bones, we recommend avoiding all meals containing trans fats. Examine the ingredient list (even though the label says trans fat-free!) for any “hydrogenated oils” or “partially hydrogenated oils” to guarantee these filthy fats don’t taint your meals. These are synonyms for trans fats, which are likely to be hidden in your meals. This cruel monster undoubtedly qualifies as one of America’s 23 Worst Food Additives!

 

Vitamin A-rich foods

Moderate doses of vitamin A are excellent for eyesight and the immune system. You can find vitamin A in full-fat dairy products and vitamin-fortified meals. However, having too much vitamin A can make foods weaken the bones. Postmenopausal women, for instance, appear to be vulnerable to vitamin A overload. Many doctors indicate that women who consume more than 5,000 IUs per day have more than double the fracture incidence of women who consume less than 1,600 IUs per day. The American diet is highly enriched in vitamin A, and most multivitamins also include vitamin A, so it’s feasible to obtain far more than the recommended daily dosage of 5,000 IUs (international units), which many experts believe is excessive.

 

Carrots and sweet potatoes

Because carrots and sweet potatoes are high in calcium-leaching vitamin A, they may become foods that weaken your bones if eaten in considerable and consistent amounts. And by big numbers, we mean far more carrots and orange potatoes than you could ever consume in a single day. For sweet potatoes, that’s around 4 sweet potatoes each day consumed over a long time. For carrots, it’s approximately 10-11 cups of raw carrots every day, most likely for a long time. So it appears that most of us aren’t eating as many orange vegetables as we should. Whew.

 

Sodium-rich foods

High-sodium foods weaken the bones as you get older. In fact, for every 2,300 milligrams of salt consumed, around 40 milligrams of calcium are lost. The USDA presently advises limiting your daily sodium consumption to less than 2,300 mg, which is difficult to achieve given the prevalence of salt in many American diet staples such as bread, canned soups, deli meats, and fast food. The easiest method to minimize additional sodium from seeping into your bones is to avoid processed meals as much as necessary, put away the salt shaker, and avoid the typical suspects and hidden salt sources.

 

Beef liver

Beef liver is the most abundant source of animal-derived vitamin A, commonly known as retinol. While vitamin A can help clean up acne, improve eye health, and even enhance your immune system, too much of it might harm your bones. High intakes of beef liver, more than three ounces, may induce osteoclast activity or bone destruction. So skip the steak and make a healthy chicken meal for tonight’s dinner.

 

Coffee 

This caffeinated drink, like soda, might reduce your body’s capacity to absorb calcium, making you weaker. However, you should be alright if you limit your coffee consumption to fewer than three cups each day. If you need an extra couple of espresso shots in the morning, go for an apple instead. Due to their high concentration of simple carbohydrates, some experts claim that apples deliver more energy than a cup of coffee.

 

Nutritional Care in Las Vegas

Our caregivers help your loved ones in developing a nutrition plan that is appropriate for their needs and physical condition. Aside from doing light housekeeping,  providing proper food is a critical duty for our carers. Of course, if your older person enjoys being part of the culinary process, our carers will try to work with them in the kitchen.

Qualified carers make meals and provide nourishment will save you from grocery shopping. Not only can they create meals but provide food supplies for cooking. Another responsibility of our carers is to sanitize the kitchen to prevent food-borne illnesses.

If you are in Las Vegas, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to learn more about the services we can provide.

 

Conclusion

Most individuals understand the importance of eating foods high in bone-building calcium and its osteoporosis-fighting sidekick, vitamin D. Foods and drinks that degrade bone health is as essential but less frequently mentioned. Certain meals, ranging from highly salty snacks to high-sugar drinks, might prevent your body from taking in calcium, diminish bone density, and more. Therefore, you need to keep an eye out for foods that weaken the bones.

 

FAQ

Which fruit is best for bones?

Fruit rich in vitamin C, calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K is suitable for your bones.

 

What are the causes of bone density loss?

• Lupus
• Diabetes
• Asthma
• Celiac Disease
• Arthritis
• Lupus

 

Is tea harmful to one’s bones?

Ordinary tea (not decaffeinated or herbal tea) includes caffeine, which, in excess, can induce bone loss.