“Youth is wasted on the young.” Have you heard that
saying? Palmer Chiropractic Center supposes that there’s
a bit of truth in that for all of us - and particularly
our Lynchburg spines - as we age. When we are young, our
bodies require our attention more than we realize. Our young
bones and spines and bodies need proper nutrition so
that our older bones and spine and bodies are in good shape
when we desire living our lives less painfully and more
fully. Palmer Chiropractic Center shares what Lynchburg
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 study wrote
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 influenced
BMD in the lumbar spine at young adulthood. Other leading
factors were body weight at adolescence and young adulthood which positively affected
BMD. (1) Palmer Chiropractic Center cannot emphasize enough just
how vital nutrition is for their future well-being.
BENEFITS OF IMPROVED NUTRITION BEYOND BETTER BONE MINERAL
DENSITY
Osteoporosis is a disease of older people that stems
from youthful (in)attention. Low serum levels of vitamin D in osteoporotic
women tend to have an heightened 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 daily.
Even more concerning is that teen girls’ daily consumption
of calcium is way below what it should be. Enhancing
bone mass by only 5% drops the risk of fracture
by 40%. (3) Getting healthy bones is subject
to more than just calcium and vitamin D however.
Deficiencies of vitamins B, C, E, and K as well as retinol disrupt
bone’s health. (4) Palmer Chiropractic Center shares
these findings to encourage us all to boost
intake of nutrients to build bone mass early and support it
later to keep it healthy.
IMPROVE ABSORPTION OF NUTRIENTS
Palmer Chiropractic Center understands that kids and their
families want to be sure that their nutritional efforts will pay
off. TIP: Dietary fiber may raise 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 did not associate
with bone loss in either men or women. Higher dietary fiber may reduce
bone loss in men. (5) Who would have thought that fiber would
have anything to do with bone mineral density? Palmer Chiropractic Center thinks
that many of our Lynchburg chiropractic patients wouldn’t
have!
FIBER’S DEFENSE OF MEN’S BMD
Fortunately, some very alert doctors and
researchers did notice that fiber intake was a protective factor of
lumbar spine BMD in men 18-45 years of old but not in women. In men over 65 years, nutrient
intake indicated no effect on BMD. In women between 18 and 45,
fiber didn’t show 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
benefit of nutrition - and now fiber intake in men - on the health
of the body, its bones and its spine.
CONTACT Palmer Chiropractic Center
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 Lynchburg chiropractic
appointment with Palmer Chiropractic Center where your spine, body and its bones are well understood
in their current age whether they were treated well in their youth or not!