3 Main Symptoms of Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis generally develops without any apparent symptoms and therefore is referred to as ‘silent disease’. A few of the symptoms that do arise generally emerge only in the advanced stages. People normally do not become aware of the disease being cropping up, unless their bones turn out to be so weak that a light bump or a fall leads to a fracture or collapse of a vertebra. Some people may also develop stooped posture, loss height or severe have back pain when the disease is in its advanced stage.
Fractures
These are generally the first symptom of osteoporosis. The bones become too weak to support the body so they break even by a light bump or a moderate strain. Although this disease affects all bones of the body, the most susceptible ones include spine, followed by hips, which is followed by wrist.
A spinal crush fracture, which involves crumbling or collapse of a vertebra is extremely painful and can result in deformed posture.
Stooped Posture and Loss of Height
Although most people believe that stooped posture and loss of height occur because of aging, they are actually avertable symptoms of osteoporosis. The loss of height most often occurs because of “compression fractures” in the spine, which in turn, arise when weak bone tissues of the vertebrae give way.
These weak vertebrae can collapse even by coughing or sneezing, resulting in a sudden, unbearable pain. Over a certain period, these fractures lead to stooped posture, humpy back or loss of as much as 6 inches of height.
Acute or Chronic Back Pain
Your upper body is connected to your pelvis and legs by the lower spine. Your lower spine is one, which confers you the capability to turn, bend, lift or twist. It also supports most of the weight of your body while you stand. Hence, this is the region, which is always under maximum stress and also most susceptible to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis of this region causes sharp and unbearable pain.
Thus, the consequences of osteoporosis are often intolerable and debilitating. The good news is that osteoporosis is a preventable and treatable condition. The need is to educate yourself about how to make better your bone health and keep away from the risks of osteoporosis.
Essential Nutrients Missing From Your Diet
There are several essential nutrients missing from the diets most people eat. Replacing them with vitamin supplements doesn’t make up for the synergistic effects of nutrients found in food.
Fiber
Fiber is the indigestible part of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Whole grains and cereal fiber can lower your heart disease risk by 30%. To increase the fiber in your diet to the recommended 14g for every 1,000 calories eaten, have a 1/2 cup serving of Fiber One cereal and add more beans to your diet with lentil soup. Use whole grain bread and add some fruit and vegetables to your meals.
Magnesium and Potassium
Magnesium and potassium are linked to blood pressure control, protection from osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes and stroke. To add magnesium, have a half-cup of bran and cooked spinach daily. For potassium, eat sweet potatoes, white potatoes, white beans and bananas.
Calcium
Calcium provides the raw material for building your teeth and bones. It prevents bone-thinning osteoporosis, contributes to healthy blood pressure, and can reduce the risk of colon cancer. To have the right amount in your diet, drink three glasses of low-fat or fat-free milk every day, or have eight ounces of fat-free yoghurt and 2-3 ounces of low-fat cheese each day. Read more
Benefits Of Artichoke Juice For One And All
Artichoke originated in the Mediterranean countries and was a popular delicacy at Roman feasts. It is now grown in many hot areas and is an important crop in parts of California. A good artichoke will have a nice color, well closed centre leaves and be without bruises or blemishes.
The base should be without any tendency to woodiness. Artichoke is often eaten raw as well as cooked, but cooking artichokes in an aluminum pot causes discoloration and blackening. Like other plants in the thistle family, to which it belong, the artichoke contains some therapeutically valuable oils which have a strong stabilizing effect on the human metabolism.
It is used to aid liver complaints and is also a very important diuretic for those suffering from the retention of water. In some parts artichoke forms the basis for several drinks which are fortified with alcohol. You can try one yourself with by juicing 20z (50g) of the artichoke leaves and adding both artichoke juice and the residual pulp to a bottle of white wine. Read more
