6 Signs and Symptoms of Bone Health

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Hi there, I’m Dr. Susan Brown, certified nutritionist and bone health expert for Women to Women’s Personal Program. How do you know if your bones are healthy?

This is a good question, especially since we don’t typically have bone density testing until after menopause. Well, as most things in the natural world, mother nature always gives us hints about the health and wellness of our bodies.

I don’t know about you, but I plan to stay strong and active well into old age. So I like to check in on how healthy my bones are from time to time. You can do this with pH testing kits or by simply assessing the signs and symptoms in your body.

Though these signs and symptoms are not always definitive, they are good clues to pay attention to. Here are six indicators that you may be losing bone.

The first one is receding gums. Gums can recede if your jaw bone is losing density, and this may indicate areas of bone loss in other parts of your body as well. Ask your dentist to take a good look at your jaw bone next time and perhaps even to have some X-rays.

Decreased grip strength. In a recent study in bone health amongst post-menopausal women, hand grip strength was an important indicator of bone mineral density as was overall muscle strength. If your grip strength feels weak, it may be time to start undertaking a serious exercise routine. Yoga is a great option for strengthening and improving flexibility and balance, as well as, Tai Chi and traditional strength training.

Weak and brittle finger nails are another sign. Nail and bone health often go hand in hand. Many women who begin the Better Bones Program suddenly and happily find that their nails are much stronger than before. Keep in mind, working with water, harsh chemicals or even digging in the garden can be tough on your nails.

Cramps, muscle aches, and bone pain. When Vitamin D is low, it can cause muscle aches and bone pain. Vitamin D is one of the most important bone builders you can find, and a simple supplement can often make a big difference when it comes to pain and overall bone strength. Muscles cramps may be a sign that you don’t have enough calcium, magnesium or potassium available in your blood. This may also indicate that your bones are missing out on these important minerals as well.

The next sign is height loss. It is common to lose height as we age for two main reasons – poor posture and spinal fractures, and these two things often go together as well. Typically, when our posture is poor, our back muscles are weak; which means the bone connected to those muscles may have lost strength. Muscle and bone work together, so strong muscles in the spine equals strong bones.

And the last point is overall fitness. Aerobic endurance, muscle strength and balance, all contribute to our overall fitness. A low overall fitness is linked to osteoporosis. It is a very simple concept. Our bodies will respond to the work we give them to do, so more exercise often means stronger bones.

It’s never too early or too late to support your bones. And when you support your bones, you support your entire body. For great products and more information, check out our Personal program for better bones at www.womentowomen.com.

This is Susan Brown wishing you best wishes for lifelong excellent health. For more information on bone health, see my articles at www.womentowomen.com, and sign up for my Better Bones blog at www.betterbones.com.