The human body is a very interesting machine that, with to its power, stamina, and agility, is capable of doing incredible feats. At the moment of our birth, our bodies begin a period of rapid development that lasts for the rest of our lives. Because of this, they grow and change quickly. However, the size of our bones does not change from the time we are born until the time we die. This is the one constant in the human body throughout the years.
The common misconception is that once we reach adulthood, our bones stop growing. The truth, however, is that our skeletons are perpetually expanding and remodeling. Bone remodeling is a continuous process that is critical to bone health and integrity throughout our lives.
It is the job of osteoclasts, specialized cells involved in bone remodeling, to degrade and remove damaged or outdated bone tissue. This process, which is known as bone resorption, results in the formation of minute pores and holes inside the structure of the bone. Filling these gaps are osteoblasts, the cells responsible for creating new bone tissue. Bone creation is a process that keeps bones dense and strong.
According to healthline, the process of bone remodeling is continuous and takes place at a slower rate as we age, but it nonetheless occurs at some point in every human being's life. Because the rate of bone creation is significantly higher than the rate of bone resorption during childhood and adolescence, this results in an overall increase in bone mass during these stages of life. This causes rapid bone growth in children and teenagers, which is a major factor in the dramatic height gains typical of these ages.
However, bone growth slows down significantly once we hit the middle of our 20s. Eventually, it will level off at the same rate as bone resorption. After this time, the total mass of our bones pretty nearly stabilizes, and they no longer continue to grow in size.
In spite of the fact that this may appear to be a negative trait, the truth is that it is a critical adaptation that helps our bones remain strong and flexible as we become older. Even as we become older and our bodies change in other ways, our bones can maintain their strength and density if we can find a method to strike a balance between the processes of generating new bone and breaking down old bone.
Other than the changes that take place during childhood and adolescence, there are other factors that can influence the development and robustness of our skeletons. For instance, lifestyle choices like nutrition and exercise can have a significant effect on how healthy your bones continue to be over time.
Healthline suggests getting plenty of calcium and vitamin D from your diet to keep your bones strong. These nutrients not only aid in the process of bone production but also have the potential to halt the age-related reduction in bone density. Calcium and vitamin D are readily available in a variety of foods, including milk, fish, and vegetables with leafy greens.
Exercise is essential to maintaining healthy bones and is therefore very important. Walking, jogging, and leaping are all examples of weight-bearing workouts that can help bones grow and prevent their density from becoming less dense over time. Weightlifting and other forms of exercise that develop and maintain muscular strength also contribute to the development and maintenance of strong bones.
Although while the size of our bones might not alter much throughout the course of our lives, it is still necessary to make sure that they remain strong and dense. Keeping our bones strong and mobile as we age is possible through regular exercise and a nutrient-rich diet. It's been shown that taking care of one's bones early in life can have a positive impact on health throughout one's entire life.
Content created and supplied by: damilolaolaniran (via Opera News )
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