And while most of us think of 87-year old Aunt Ida falling and breaking a hip whenever we think of the disease, osteoporosis can sneak up on younger candidates as well. The body is continuously updating tissue, replacing it with fresher material. But as we age, replacement shipments slow down. Typical bone loss is about 1 percent a year, but may increase more rapidly because of factors ranging from inactivity to certain medications. In order to keep bones healthy all your life, the standard advice has been to increase the intake of calcium and practice strength-training to build bone density.
Exercise is critical to bone health.
Swimming is not weight-bearing since the water supports you. Have a little nibble at night. A new study shows that the rate of bone loss increases between 11 pm and 7 am. Having a calcium-based snack before turning in may reduce what you lose while you snooze. If you've been stuck in bed with the flu for a few days or are recuperating from surgery, you've sapped your bone density.