To prevent the bone loss that comes with menopause and to lower your risk of fractures, there are a number of steps you can take:
- For women over 50, ensure your daily calcium intake is 1500 milligrams
- Minimize intake of salt and salty foods
- Increase vitamin-D intake (adults over 50 should receive 800 IUs [international units) per day)
- Exercise
- Don't smoke
- Limit alcohol and caffeine intake
Prevention is still the best medicine, and now there is a natural health supplement that has been shown to slow down the progression of bone loss in younger as well as menopausal women.
"For years, hormone replacement therapy has been the treatment of choice in preventing bone loss and bone fractures after menopause," says Dr. Nancy Durand, a gynecologist at Sunnybrook & Women's College Health Sciences Center in Toronto, Canada. "However, many women are not willing to take HRT, so other alternatives are necessary to ensure they maintain their bone health. There are two excellent natural health products that I recommend in my practice -- Promensil and Rimostil -- both are safe, can be taken once a day, and have been extensively studied. Promensil significantly slows down the rate of bone loss with the added benefit of alleviating menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes. Rimostil, on the other hand, has been shown to improve bone density and has a beneficial effect on lipid profile. It's an optimal choice for postmenopausal women seeking a natural treatment option," adds Durand.
To find out more about natural health supplements that can help to prevent and treat osteoporosis, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
Note: Certain information included in this article has been adapted from the Osteoporosis Society of Canada's Web site at www.osteoporosis.ca.
Source: News Canada. Powered by Yellowbrix.
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