• "When you think of broken bones, you might imagine a hard, brittle skeleton.

• "In reality, your bones are living organs. They are alive with cells and flowing body fluids.

• "Bones are constantly renewed and grow stronger with a good diet and physical activity. The amount of calcium that makes up your bones is the measure of how strong they are.

• "But your muscles and nerves must also have calcium and phosphorus to work. If these are in short supply from foods you eat, your body simply takes them from your bones.

• "Each day calcium is deposited and withdrawn from your bones. If you don’t get enough calcium, you could be withdrawing more than you’re depositing.

• "There is some natural bone loss as women and men age. As we grow older, bones can break or weaken if we don’t take steps to keep them strong.

• "The most common breaks in weak bones are in the wrist, spine, and hip. Broken bones in your spine are painful and very slow to heal.

• "People with weak bones in their spine gradually lose height and their posture becomes hunched over. Over time a bent spine can make it hard to walk or even sit up.

• "Broken hips are a very serious problem as we age. They greatly increase the risk of death, especially during the year after they break.

• "People who break a hip might not recover for months or even years.

• "Because they often cannot care for themselves, they are more likely to have to live in a nursing home.

• "Get your bone density checked if you have any kind of a fracture after age 50."

There is a gradual loss of bone in most of us that begins sometime between about the age of 30 to 40. This is a natural process and it is not a disease.

The problem of osteoporosis leading to broken bones occurs when we don't get enough good nutrition in our daily food, and when we don't have enough activity for new bone to be built.

Good nutrition includes calcium, of course, but we also need other minerals such as magnesium, copper, and iron; and the critically important vitamins and enzymes that come from plants, such as vitamin C.

The current research is showing us clearly that new bone can grow at any age - if we provide the right conditions.

Broken bones due to accidental falls and injuries can happen to anyone. Weak, fragile bone is not a normal outcome of well-nourished, active people.

Osteoporosis is created when we don't take care of ourselves - by failing to eat good food and by not having enough activity.

Go to next page

Return to Surgeon General Report Introduction Page

Top of 'Osteoporosis - Broken Bones' Page

Return to Osteoporosis Home Page