Did you know that women tend to take better care of their health than men? June is Men's Health Month, a time to raise awareness of preventable health issues, and encourage wellness through healthy living, check ups and screening.
Bone health is an important issue for men, as the number of men with osteoporosis by age 50 is around 2 million.1 A bone fracture can be the first warning sign of osteoporosis. Living tissue in our bones constantly grows, rebuilds, replaces, and repairs itself, but this process slows down as we age.2
Every stage of life demands healthy bones. These tips can optimize bone health for men:
- Exercise: Working out and staying active builds strong, healthy bones the same way it does muscle. You can benefit your bones by incorporating weight-bearing activity into your daily routine. A resistance training routine using weights is also highly recommended.
- Diet: The recommended daily calcium and vitamin D intake for people under 50 should be 1,000 mg and 400-800 IU. A daily dose of 1,200 mg of calcium and 800-1,000 IU of vitamin D for people over 50.3 Eating a diet rich in whole foods is essential for healthy bones.
- BMI: Getting proper nutrients like calcium and vitamin D while maintaining a healthy BMI is critical for bone health. Being overweight or underweight can cause a difference in bone quality. This difference in bone quality may also increase the risks of a fracture or broken bone.
Your body needs enough calcium, vitamin D, and exercise to maintain strong and healthy bones. Diet, hormones, and lifestyle choices greatly influence men's bone health. Men should not put off their own health and wellness, and make time for health screenings and annual doctors appointments.
AUTHOR: Dr. Paul Jacob is a certified master surgeon in joint replacement and robotic joint replacement of the hip and knee in Oklahoma City. Dr. Jacob is recognized as one of the Top 3 Orthopedic Surgeons in Oklahoma, who has performed over 5000 robotic joint replacement procedures. Dr. Jacob is active in numerous research studies on joint replacement technology and robotic outcomes.
