Breaking the myths on osteoporosis

MANILA, Philippines - When it comes to eating healthy, Nesvita Pro-Bone Protection can be your ideal partner in ensuring your bone health. It has the most amount of calcium per 100 grams and has a special combination of essential vitamins and minerals called CalciLock. CalciLock helps maintain bone health in three ways: 1) Improves the absorption of calcium (vitamin D); 2) Strengthens the bones (calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, zinc, vitamin C); and 3) Locks in the absorbed calcium (vitamin K).

Here are some of the common misconceptions about this disease and the truths behind them:

• Osteoporosis only occurs in old age. People who are afflicted by osteoporosis show no symptoms for many years, that’s why it is called the “silent killer.” In many cases, it’s not until serious injuries happen that the problem is detected.

• You are never too young to make lifestyle choices that will help you maintain healthy bones. Doctors recommend a diet high in calcium to protect bones from osteoporosis. Regular exercise and physical activity in proper amounts increase muscle strength, prevent bone thinning, and reduce the risk of bone fracture.

• Osteoporosis only afflicts women. Osteoporosis knows no gender. Although it is more common in women, men can be afflicted with this disease as well. Like women, elderly men usually suffer from fractured spine, wrists, hips, and other bones.

Aside from following a healthy diet, doctors recommend everyone to avoid smoking and to drink moderately. Clinical studies have found that smoking cigarettes and excessive drinking are known to speed up bone loss.

• Osteoporosis is just a natural part of aging. Not everyone will have osteoporosis as they age. The reason this disease is seen in many elderly people today is they didn’t know how to prevent it when they were younger. If you start improving your lifestyle as early as today by eating healthy and being active, you can prevent having osteoporosis.

• Osteoporosis is not a serious disease. Some think that the worst that can happen to a person afflicted with osteoporosis is having a broken bone. The truth is, many people afflicted with osteoporosis need long-term care after suffering injuries brought by the disease. People could also die due to the complications caused by the disease.

It is projected that by year 2050, about 50-pecent cases of all osteoporotic fractures will come from Asia.

• I’m too old to do anything about osteoporosis. While early prevention of osteoporosis is important, older people can still do something about this disease. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, making healthy lifestyle choices (like exercising regularly and eating healthy) when you’re older can still have positive effects on bones.

And even though food cannot build bone density, having the right diet can significantly slow down the rate of bone loss. It’s important to make sure that you include calcium-rich foods, like milk, in your diet.

Add Nesvita Pro-Bone Protection to your diet to improve your bone health and prevent osteoporosis.