Why Are Women More Susceptible to Osteoporosis than Men?

Osteoporosis is a health problem that causes the bones to become brittle and weak. So feeble that even a slight movement like bending over can cause a fracture. Furthermore, most of these osteoporosis-related fractures occur in the wrist, hip, or spine.

 

Both men and women can become susceptible to osteoporosis. However, it mostly affects women, especially those who are already in their golden years, or in their menopause stage.

Why Are Women More Susceptible to Osteoporosis than Men?

The US has an estimate of 10 million Americans who have osteoporosis. Out of this quantity, 80% are women. Moreover, about one in two women over 50 of age will break a bone due to osteoporosis.

 

The above-mentioned facts are because of the following reasons:

 

• Women most likely have thinner and smaller bones compared to men;
• Estrogen is a hormone in women responsible for protecting the bones. This hormone decreases when women experience menopause. When it does decrease, it can cause bone loss. This is also why women tend to experience osteoporosis when women reach menopause.

As a Woman, What Is Your Risk?

Osteoporosis and other bone health issues vary for women of different ethnic backgrounds and ages. Caucasians and older women are the ones who are most at risk of developing osteoporosis. However, low bone density and osteoporosis are also common among other groups. 

 

Caucasian Women

There are about 20% of Caucasian women at the age of 50 and older who developed osteoporosis. Also, more than half of all Caucasian women at the age of 50 and older are predicted to have low bone mass. This means their bones are becoming weaker, but they don’t have osteoporosis.

 

Most Caucasian women lose about one-third of the bone mineral density in their hip. Moreover, about 15% of Caucasians are unfortunately lactose intolerant. That’s why it is difficult for them to get enough calcium their bodies need.

 

African-American Women

There is an estimated 5% of African-American women (aged more than 50) with osteoporosis. Another 35% are believed to have low bone mass. Furthermore, according to research, most African American women who show risk factors for osteoporosis are most likely not screened for the disease.

 

African-American women might not get enough calcium because about 70% of them are lactose intolerant. Moreover, vitamin D is responsible for helping the body to absorb calcium. However, most African-American women don’t have enough vitamin D to help their bodies out.

 

Asian-American Women

About 20% of Asian-American women (aged 50 and older) have osteoporosis. Besides that, more than half of the Asian-American women (aged 50 and older) are expected to have low bone density. Furthermore, a whopping 90% estimate of Asian-Americans is lactose intolerant, making it difficult to supply the body with enough calcium.

 

Latin Women

There are about 10% of Latinas who have osteoporosis. Half of all Latinas (aged more than 50) show signs of low bone mass. Moreover, most Latinas are lactose intolerant. This can make it more difficult to consume enough calcium.

Food You Can Eat to Prevent Osteoporosis

As they say, prevention is better than cure. Thus, it would be best to include osteoporosis fighting foods in your diet. Here is a list of some of these healthy foods:

 

Dark Leafy Greens

In order to prevent developing osteoporosis, you need calcium for the bones. Calcium is not only found in dairy but also vegetables. You can choose between dark leafy greens like kale, bok choy, turnip greens, Chinese cabbage, and collard greens. Besides that, dark leafy greens are also rich in vitamin K, which also reduces any risk you have for osteoporosis.

 

Grapefruit

Adding grapefruit to your breakfast is a great way to wake up your taste buds. Not only that, grapefruits are a great source of vitamin C. This benefits your body by helping prevent bone loss. 

 

Sweet Potato

Although not popularly known, magnesium and potassium can also help in giving you healthy bones. Both of these nutrients can be received by eating sweet potatoes. If your potassium is low, it will also affect your vitamin D supply, which is responsible for keeping your bones healthy. On the other hand, potassium helps neutralize the acid in your body that can filter calcium out of your bones.

 

Figs

Figs are a bone-strengthening fruit. Five medium-sized figs contain around 90 milligrams of calcium. Not only that, but they are also made up of other nutrients like magnesium and potassium.

 

Salmon

Salmon and other fatty fish can offer you bone-boosting nutrients as they are rich in vitamin D, which is responsible for helping your body absorb calcium. Moreover, they are also packed with omega 3 fatty acids, which can also help aid bones.

Takeaway

There are still medications that can be taken when prevention seems unlikely. Luckily, you don’t have to break the bank just to get your hands on them. Using a prescription coupon would certainly save you some money while securing your health. 

 

A woman’s risk of breaking a hip due to osteoporosis is equal to her combined risk of uterine, breast, and ovarian cancer. Since women are more prone to developing osteoporosis than men, it would be best to do things that can prevent this as early as possible. Moreover, you can start now by eating foods that are packed with bone-boosting nutrients.