| p>As the female body ages, estrogen levels | | | | choice among children. Vitamin D should be taken |
| decline and so does bone mass. After menopause, | | | | in conjunction with calcium when in menopause. |
| the sheer lack of reproductive hormones can | | | | Calcium is the building block of new bone mass |
| increase the decline in bone mass resulting in | | | | and when proper supplementation is combined |
| osteopenia and osteoporosis. Women who want | | | | with daily exercise the effect can be astounding. |
| to stop bone mass decline have several options. | | | | Drink Milk |
| Hormone Replacement Therapy | | | | Children learn early on in life that milk builds strong |
| Estrogen levels are restored when women in | | | | bones. As we age, lactose intolerance or a sheer |
| menopause choose to take daily hormone | | | | dislike for the taste of milk can reduce our dairy |
| replacement therapy. Therapy options today | | | | intake. Milk and yogurt are great sources of |
| include patches, pills, and creams. Patches have | | | | vitamin D and calcium and even with |
| the lowest dose of estrogen and thus tend to | | | | supplementation, the more calcium and vitamin D |
| have fewer potential side effects. Alternative | | | | the better. |
| treatments and herbal remedies may decrease | | | | Go Outside |
| menopause symptoms, but they will not stop | | | | Direct sunlight causes the body to manufacture |
| bone mass loss. | | | | vitamin D. Glass stops the natural metabolism so |
| Exercise | | | | sitting inside in the sunlight shining through a |
| Weight bearing exercise significantly decreases | | | | window will not have the same effect. People with |
| bone loss and may even increase mass of bones | | | | dark skin need more sunlight exposure than those |
| to counteract bone lost before an exercise | | | | with light skin. Sunscreen also prevents the body |
| program was started. Aging women start losing | | | | from absorbing UV rays needed to metabolize |
| bone mass in their late 20s. After menopause, the | | | | vitamin D. While using sunscreen is essential, sitting |
| decline speeds up. If postmenopausal women are | | | | outside in the early morning when UV levels are |
| active with 30 minutes of weight bearing exercise | | | | lowest can increase natural vitamin D levels |
| like hiking, jogging, and dancing most days of the | | | | tremendously. |
| week - bone mass can be regenerated. | | | | The mass of bone is directly linked to menopause. |
| Vitamin Supplementation | | | | Women in menopause should take a daily calcium |
| Most people living in the United States are grossly | | | | and vitamin D, exercise regularly, drink milk, and |
| deficient in Vitamin D. Major cereal manufacturers | | | | get out in the sun at least 10 to 20 minutes a day |
| are just catching wind of the problem and vitamin | | | | to prevent loss of bone mass. |
| D enriched cereals are now becoming a popular | | | | |