Undertaken early enough, a diet that is rich in calcium and Vitamin D, and a lifestyle that includes regular weight-bearing exercise such as walking, jogging and playing tennis, will prevent the onset of bone thinning and bone loss. After the onset of the disease, the same measures may reverse the effects. Infants and children will be getting plenty of calcium in their diets if they are able to consume dairy products. The good news is that a daily dose of sunshine should supply all the Vitamin D necessary to do the job. Read the labels in your grocery store, especially the cereal, juice and bread items, and you can find many products that have been enriched with Vitamin D and Calcium.
Estrogen deficiency is one of the main causes of osteoporosis.
Postmenopausal women, and women who have had hysterectomies or suffer menstrual problems, need to consider Hormone Replacement Therapy. Taking HRT is a complicated issue for women, who have to balance all the beneficial aspects against the possibly serious side effects, and should not be entered into without prior research and consultation with a medical expert on women s health. Smoking and heavy drinking, along with genetics, are the primary factors in onset of osteoporosis in men. Recent articles and studies seem to hold some health benefits for moderate intake of alcohol, but no case can be made for excessive drinking and certainly not for smoking. Avoiding both decreases the chances of osteoporosis in both men and women.