Osteoporosis

   Osteoporosis, is a disease which is actually age related in women, causes the bones to become fragile leading to decreased quality of life.

   Worldwide 1 out of 3 women are affected by this disease, and it causes around 8.9 million fractures annually.

   The bones especially the weight bearing bones in the body start to weaken and become fragile, easily susceptible to fractures. The ribs, the spine, the wrist, and the hip bones are the most commonly fractured bones, others may also be fractured.

   It occurs usually in post menopausal women around an age of 45-50, due to a decreased oestrogen (Female hormone) level in their bodies. This oestrogen keeps a check on the bone absorbing cells(osteoclasts) and after  this check is lost these cells start working vigorously resulting in a bone like shown below.

Certain factors cause and increase the risk of this disease and these are mentioned as follows.

• Low dietary calcium
• Family history (genetic predisposition)
• Caucasian or Asian race
• Thin body frame
• Poor nutrition
• Celiac sprue (Allergy to wheat "Gluten") leading to malabsorption
• Vitamin C, D deficiency
• Smoking 
• Alcoholism

    For prevention and treatment, the strategy basically revolves around the prevention of fracturing of bones, in addition girls of younger age should be educated for a proper exercise routine, including strength training workouts and having a diet rich in calcium from an early period.

A dietary recommendation of foods rich in Calcium and Vitamin D is used for prevention which is as follows:

• Dairy products like milk,cheese, and yogurt
• Green leafy vegetables like spinach and keel
• Sesame seeds
• Figs
• Apricot 
• Eggs 
• Fish

   Certain foods are asked to be avoided like salt, caffeine , and carbonated drinks as these cause an increased excretion of calcium from the human body.