It Can Sometimes Be Too Late, But Why Wait.

Like the foundation of a house, our bones don't get our attention until something goes wrong. But new studies show that there's more to bone health than avoiding fractures. Toxic metals like lead can accumulate in our bones over the course of our lives and, if bone loss occurs, the toxins can be released into the bloodstream. Women, especially after menopause, are more vulnerable to bone loss than men. New research suggests that lead in the bloodstream might help explain the onset of high blood pressure in women in their 50's.

The good news is that we're also learning new ways to keep bones healthy. In the past, we've placed too much emphasis on womens vitamins, calcium and not enough on vitamin D3 in particular. Calcium intake is most important in adolescence, when the skeleton is forming. After growth is complete, vitamin D3, "the sunshine vitamin," may be more important to maintain healthy bones.

Here's what you can do:
Avoid exposure to heavy metals like lead,
Get more vitamin D
Add weight bearing exercise to your workouts.
These few simple steps can be the best way to avoid pitfalls in the autumn of life.