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Helping build healthy bones is an important job that we all should know how to do.
Children build half of their bone mass during adolescence and reach their peak bone mass by age twenty. The three most important factors for building healthy, strong bones in children are:
- Calcium,
- Vitamin D from exposure to sunlight, and supplementation
- Weight bearing exercise
Poor nutrition, lack of outdoor activities and lack of exercise have health experts very concerned as cases of Rickets in are rising fast in American children. Rickets is a childhood bone disease that is typically seen only in third world developing countries. It causes the bones to ache and to become deformed starting at a young age.
According to Dr. James Beaty, President of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, “There’s some early data showing that even a 10 percent deficit in your bone mass when you finish your adolescent years can increase your potential risk of having osteoporosis and fractures as much as 50 percent”.
When it comes to Americans, the experts believe that poor nutrition combined with too much TV, internet and computer game time is an issue that we need to address immediately. “This potentially is a time-bomb,” says Dr. Laura Tosi, bone health chief at Children’s National Medical Centre in Washington D.C.
What’s the solution? Good nutrition through healthy diet plans, sunshine, supplementation and exercise!
Athletic greens is also a great source of vitamins including vitamin D that could be added to your diet plans. It shouldn’t substitute for proper nutrition but it can be a quick and easy way to get your greens and it tastes fantastic. Throw a tablespoon in your to go cup with water and head outside for a 10 min walk before going to work would cover all the bases… Good nutrition, sunshine and exercise!
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Have a healthy, happy day!
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