are part of our musculoskeletal system. It serves not only to keep our body upright. A large part of the minerals that we take in through food are stored in the bones. They are involved in shaping the bone substance, its density and strength. In order for our musculoskeletal system to function effectively, it needs sufficient mineral density to be he althy.
is one of the indicators of their strength. Bone density represents the amount of minerals calcium and phosphorus per volume of bone substance or bone tissue. Bone density is one of the main indicators of the condition and strength of bones in the body. Measuring density can help predict certain he alth conditions that are characterized by reduced bone density - osteoporosis, osteopenia, breast cancer and other diseases.
The factors that contribute to a decrease in bone density can be many and varied. Among them are age, medication intake, smoking, alcohol consumption, metabolic diseases in which minerals are not absorbed and stored, eating disorders.
Sudden weight loss is also a powerful factor in bone loss. With rapid weight loss, bones lose some of the stored minerals in their composition, and this affects their density.
Overweight and obesity are harmful to bones because they put extra weight on the musculoskeletal system. But losing weight, especially sudden weight loss, can be no less dangerous for bones.
Sudden weight loss and weight reduction of many kilograms in a short period of time causes increased calcium loss. This happens mostly during fasting, diet regimes with too limited calorie intake (below 1000 or 800). This causes permanent damage to bone density, especially in premenopausal or menopausal women, where the risk of osteoporosis is even higher compared to people of other ages.
How to simultaneously lose weight and prevent bone loss?
According to Leslie Bonsey, director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as quoted by he althdigest.com, cutting calories will result in weight loss, but also bone density. The loss of valuable minerals and nutrients needed to maintain he althy bones affects the state of bone mass throughout the body, including teeth. That is why he recommends a diet and increased physical activity that do not require a drastic drop in calorie intake and important macro and micronutrients.
Unhe althy diets are one of the biggest enemies of bones as well as overall he alth. Intermittent fasting, drastically reduced calorie intake for a long period of time, fasting, diets excluding entire food groups are particularly dangerous.
Studies show that calorie-restricted diets inhibit calcium absorption and storage. Thus, they contribute to bone deterioration.
Maintaining a he althy and balanced diet combined with daily physical activity are the most important prerequisites for weight control, for slow and he althy weight loss and prevention of bone diseases.
