“Youth is wasted on the young.” Have you heard that
saying? Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. supposes that there is
a bit of truth in that for all of us - and particularly
our Auburn spines - as we age. When we’re young, our
bodies need8 our attention more than we realize. Our young
bones and spines and bodies require good nutrition so
that our older bones and spine and bodies are in good shape
when we want to live our lives less painfully and more
fully. Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. reveals what Auburn
chiropractic patients can do now to tackle bone mineral
density (BMD) issues, regardless of their current age.
BMD AND OSTEOPOROSIS: BUILD BMD WHILE YOUNG
Elevating peak bone mass early in life may reduce
osteoporosis risk later in life. A recent report stated
that Vitamin D and calcium in females positively affected bone mineral density
into young adulthood. Intakes of phosphorous and the calcium:phosphorous ratio
at adolescence for females negatively influenced BMD in young
adulthood. Calcium intake in adolescent males strongly negatively affected
BMD in the lumbar spine at young adulthood. Other influential
factors were body weight at adolescence and young adulthood which positively influenced
BMD. (1) Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. cannot emphasize enough just
how important nutrition is for their future well-being.
BENEFITS OF IMPROVED NUTRITION BEYOND BETTER BONE MINERAL
DENSITY
Osteoporosis is a disease of older folks that results
from youthful (in)attention. Low serum levels of vitamin D in osteoporotic
women tend to have an increased chance
of having any type of cancer and breast cancer. (2) Calcium intake during
the teen years of life is important to reduce the
risk of osteoporosis later in life. Teen girls absorb calcium better: 326mg in teenage girls versus just 73mg in older women of 1332 mg taken a day.
Even more problematic is that teen girls’ daily consumption
of calcium is far lower than what it should be. Increasing
bone mass by only 5% cuts the risk of fracture
by 40%. (3) Achieving healthy bones hinges on more than just calcium and vitamin D however.
Deficiencies of vitamins B, C, E, and K as well as retinol compromise
the health of bone. (4) Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. shares
these findings to encourage us all to increase
intake of nutrients to build bone mass early and support it
later to keep it healthy.
IMPROVE ABSORPTION OF NUTRIENTS
Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. knows that kids and their
families want to be sure that their nutritional efforts will be of value. TIP: Dietary fiber may boost the body’s
absorption of calcium but does it differently for older
men and women. Higher intake of dietary fiber and fruit fiber was
protective against bone loss in men but not women. Fiber from vegetables was
protective against spine bone loss in women but not men. Cereal fiber or nut
and legume fiber improvements didn’t relate to bone loss in either men or women. Higher dietary fiber may decrease
bone loss in men. (5) Who would have imagined that fiber would
have anything to do with bone mineral density? Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. supposes
that many of our Auburn chiropractic patients would not
have!
FIBER’S DEFENSE OF MEN’S BMD
Luckily, there are some keenly
alert researchers and doctors around!
They found that fiber intake was a protective factor of
lumbar spine BMD in men 18-45 years of age but not in females. In men over 65 years, nutrient
intake indicated no effect on BMD. In women between 18 and 45,
fiber did not produce a significant effect
on BMDs, but daily fat intake did significantly. (6) An interesting side note: It had been thought that bone
mineral density may be a risk factor for lumbar disc herniation in
young persons, but a recent study discredited that
idea. (7) However, there is
evidence in the medical literature that emphasizes the overall
value of nutrition - and now fiber intake in men - on the well-being
of the body, its bones and its spine.
CONTACT Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C.
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Nike Taylor on The Back
Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as she helps a patients with
chronic low back pain with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
Schedule your next Auburn chiropractic
appointment with Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. where your spine, body and its bones are well understood
in their current age whether they were treated well in their youth or not!