PREVENTION
How Can Osteopenia be Prevented?
Whether you will tend to develop osteopenia is, in part, already determined. Things like whether you have any family members who have had osteoporosis or osteopenia, whether you have chronic asthma that requires you to take steroids and how much calcium and Vitamin D you got while you were growing up are beyond your control now. However, if you are a young adult or if you are raising children, there are things you can do to help develop strong bones and help slow down osteopenia and prevent osteoporosis.
Your bones don't reach their greatest density until you are about 30 years old, so for children and people younger than 30, anything that helps increase bone density will have long-term benefits. To maximize bone density, make sure you get plenty of calcium and Vitamin D through your diet and by spending a little time in the sun, do weight-bearing exercise on a regular basis, don't smoke and avoid excessive alcohol or cola drinks.
If you have children, teach them to make a nutritious diet and make exercise part of their normal routine, make sure they play a little in the sunshine to help their bodies make more Vitamin D and help them avoid smoking and alcohol as they get older.
If you're older than 30, it’s still not too late to make these lifestyle changes. A balanced diet and regular exercise will help slow the loss of bone density, delay osteopenia and delay or prevent osteoporosis.