Nutrition and Better Bone Health
Posted on March 8, 2023 in Diet, Healthy Eating, Nutrition & Bone Health by Dr. Joshua Hackel
Posted on March 8, 2023 in Diet, Healthy Eating, Nutrition & Bone Health by Dr. Joshua Hackel
March is National Nutrition Month, and as part of the conversation, the North Florida Bone & Joint team wants to emphasize the impact diet can have on your bone health. Before diving in, it's essential to understand the role the skeleton plays in your body. Specifically, the skeleton—and the bones its comprised of—serve the following functions:
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, childhood and adolescence are the ideal time to focus on increasing bone mass. Considering most of us reach our peak bone mass between the ages of 25 and 30, building healthy bones at a young age helps prevent issues as we age.
A gradual loss of bone mass generally begins around age 35, with women ultimately losing 30% to 50% of their bone density while men lose 20% to 30%. By age 50, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicates that half of all Americans have "weak" bones. However, regardless of age or gender, diet management can help you develop a framework for healthy bones.
Here are a few key nutritional factors to consider as you make your way toward better bone health, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS):
Don't forget that regular weight-bearing exercise is also vital to the health of your bones. Activities such as brisk walking and hiking, jogging and/or running, dancing, jumping rope, tennis, ping pong, pickleball, basketball, soccer, volleyball and stair climbing all stimulate bones and can ultimately help strengthen them.
If you are concerned with bone loss or have experienced a fracture or other musculoskeletal system issue, visit us online and learn more about Dr. Josh Hackel and the common conditions he treats. You can also complete our convenient online appointment request or call 850.916.3700 to schedule a visit.
Arthritis represents a wide variety of joint inflammation diseases. Patients most often have chronic Arthritis in their wrists, hands, and fingers, experiencing flares of inflammation, soreness or stiffness affecting the joints. As we recently wrapped up Bone & Joint Action Week, this is an excellent opportunity to bring awareness to the most common categories of Arthritis, proactive methods for pain prevention and available treatment solutions.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), often referred to as runner's knee due to its prevalence among runners, is characterized by a dull pain that occurs around or behind the kneecap. While it's common among runners, it can affect anyone participating in an activity that requires repeated knee flexion, such as jumping, walking, or even biking. Here's a closer look at this common knee problem, the causes, common symptoms, how it's treated, and some helpful prevention tips.
The knee joint is a large, complex joint that connects the tibia to the femur. It absorbs an incredible amount of pressure and impact from routine, daily activities like walking or going up a flight of stairs. Since the knee joint is so complex, it is susceptible to injury, and any knee injury should be taken seriously. While many knee injuries are easily treated with conservative measures such as physical therapy and bracing, more severe injuries may require the skill of an orthopaedic surgeon.