Risk factors for osteoporosis are: 'it runs in your family', bad nutrition, poor lifestyle or endocrine problems. If you think you have osteoporosis, you should see your physician. Although you cannot change your genetic inheritance, there are actions you can take to combat osteoporosis in your life such as:

                   Increase your calcium intake
                   Decrease your alcohol intake
                   Decrease salt intake
                   Decrease carbonated drink intake
                   Quit smoking cigarettes
                   Increase your exercise

All of the above tactics will help you fight osteoporosis. For young people, build up as much bone as you can while your body is making it, that means a lot of exercise and good nutrition during your teen years. Dieting during teenage years can adversely affect your bone formation and can lead to early osteoporosis.

In addition to the above suggestions, older women are especially helped by replacing lost estrogen and/or exercising. Getting older does not necessarily predict the onset of osteoporosis.

Reference: Primer on the Metabolic Bone Disease and Disorders of Mineral Metabolism, Second Edition Raven Press New York, NY   ISBN 0-7817-0083-3
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