The loss of bone density does not have to be a part of aging.

Bone density loss is preventable through healthy living and early monitoring. The keys to preventing osteoporosis and increasing the health of your lifestyle are consistent exercise, building good posture, nutrition, hormone levels and other medications.

Exercising may seem an obvious regiment, but a carefully planned, physician-approved exercise routine can often be the greatest asset to increase your health. Weight-bearing and strength exercise activities are the most beneficial in the treatment/prevention of osteoporosis. Strength (resistance) training also improves strength and balance, which helps prevent falls that lead to fracture. Again, no matter what exercise you’re doing, consistency is the most important factor.

Daily diet with a heavy intake of calcium can greatly increase your chances of prevention. While it is preferable to obtain calcium from food, supplements are a viable way to satisfy average daily calcium requirements. The average pre-menopausal woman should be “consuming 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day; add an additional 500 mg for post-menopausal women,” according to the National Institutes of Health.

The hormone estrogen affects the growth and loss of bone mass in women. When the amount of estrogen in the body declines (after menopause or removal of the ovaries), the body begins to lose more bone tissue than it creates. While the highest risk category is post-menopausal women, 80 percent of women will be affected by bone mass loss.

Bone density loss is preventable, for additional monitoring of your bone density, get a bone density test. These tests are painless and can detect osteoporosis before a fracture occurs and predict your chances in the future of such loss/risk.