Bone Health

Your body has 206 bones and each is considered a separate organ. The majority of bone matrix is made of hard hydroxyapatite crystals which are full of calcium and phosphorus. About one-third of your bone matrix is composed of collagen—a strong protein fiber that gives bones remarkable tensile strength. Your skeletal system is constantly remodeling itself and about every 7 years you have an entirely new skeleton. Bones play many important roles in your body including physical movement and the protection of organs such as your heart, lungs, and brain. Bone marrow produces almost all the components of your blood, creating more than 2,000,000 new red blood cells every second. Bones also store minerals such as calcium, which gets released into the bloodstream when blood levels of calcium become too low. Building healthy bones is very important. Bone mass peaks at age 30, so it’s important to be proactive in keeping your bones strong. To protect your bones from becoming porous and brittle, you need adequate calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K. In addition, weight-bearing exercise, like walking, jogging, and going up steps can maintain healthy bone density.