Dr. Simon Roberts

Dr. Simon Roberts Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Dr. Simon Roberts, Doctor, 767, 5th Avenue, The Apple Store Cube, New York, NY.

5 Lifestyle Factors That Increases the Risk of Poor Bone HealthBones make up the structural support for the body, allowi...
09/17/2025

5 Lifestyle Factors That Increases the Risk of Poor Bone Health
Bones make up the structural support for the body, allowing one to move freely, protecting the vital organs from injuries, and storing minerals like calcium. Maintaining good bone health is crucial particularly as you age, as it minimizes the risk of osteoporosis - a condition that weakens bones and makes them more prone to breaking from minor falls or injuries. However, these 5 lifestyle factors deteriorate bone health and increase the risk of osteoporosis.
Alcohol
Excessive alcohol consumption can negatively impact bone health by interfering with the bone remodelling process, leading to decreased bone density and an increased risk of fractures; this happens primarily by inhibiting the activity of osteoblasts, the cells responsible for building new bone, while also disrupting the balance between bone formation and resorption, resulting in bone loss over time.
Soda
Soda, particularly cola, can negatively impact bone health by potentially decreasing bone mineral density and increasing the risk of fractures due to the high phosphoric acid content which interferes with calcium absorption in the body, leading to a calcium imbalance and potential bone loss.
Excessive salt consumption
Consuming too much salt raises the risk of osteoporosis and weakens bones. This is because it can result in a negative calcium balance by increasing the quantity of calcium excreted in urine. Essentially, consuming too much salt can "wash" calcium out of the bones through the kidneys.
Smoking
Smoking slows the healing process by lowering blood flow to the bones, muscles, and joints. The creation of osteoblasts, the cells that make bones, is slowed down by ni****ne in ci******es. Smoking impairs the body's absorption of calcium, which is essential for healthy bones. Smoking can alter the hormone balance, particularly that of estrogen, which is crucial for bone growth and maintenance.
Poor diet habits
A poor diet lowers calcium and vitamin D levels which can impair bone health and increase the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. Furthermore, excess sugar raises cortisol levels, which have been connected to osteoporosis. A diet weak in protein will increase the risk of bone loss. Consuming excessive amounts of saturated fat can impair your body's capacity to absorb calcium

We learned that bones are living, growing tissue, mostly made up of collagen. Bones are also made up of proteoglycans (w...
09/17/2025

We learned that bones are living, growing tissue, mostly made up of collagen. Bones are also made up of proteoglycans (which provide compressive strength), various types of calcium, and proteins to promote mineralization and bone formation.
Your body is constantly cycling through bone being broken down (turnover) and bones forming, in order to control your levels of calcium and phosphate so that your other organs can function properly.
Bone metabolism is regulated by various hormones and steroids found in the body.
While there are factors we cannot control, like aging, there are many factors we can control to boost bone strength, including diet, exercise, body weight, smoking, alcohol intake, and medications.
Calcium and vitamin D are vital to building strong bones. Bones are reactive, the and the more weight they feel, the more pressure they feel, the more they work to strengthen themselves. We want our bones to feel the pressure of exercise, so they can react and get stronger!

Beans (legumes): While beans contain calcium, magnesium, fiber and other nutrients, they are also high in substances cal...
09/17/2025

Beans (legumes): While beans contain calcium, magnesium, fiber and other nutrients, they are also high in substances called phytates. Phytates interfere with your body’s ability to absorb the calcium that is contained in beans. You can reduce the phytate level by soaking beans in water for several hours and then cooking them in fresh water.
Meat and other high protein foods: It’s important to get enough, but not too much protein for bone health and overall health. Many older adults do not get enough protein in their diets and this may be harmful to muscles and bones. However, special high protein diets that contain multiple servings of meat and protein with each meal can also cause the body to lose calcium. You can make up for this loss by getting enough calcium for your body’s needs. For example dairy products, although high in protein, also contain calcium that is important for healthy bones.
Salty foods: Eating foods that have a lot of salt (sodium) causes your body to lose calcium and can lead to bone loss. Try to limit the amount of processed foods and salt added to the foods you eat each day. To learn if a food is high in sodium, look at the Nutrition Facts label. If it lists 20% or more for the % Daily Value, it is high in sodium. Aim to get 2,400 mg or less of sodium per day.
Spinach and other foods with oxalates: Your body doesn’t absorb calcium well from foods that are high in oxalates (oxalic acid) such as spinach. Other foods with oxalates are rhubarb, beet greens and certain beans. These foods contain other healthy nutrients, but they just shouldn’t be counted as sources of calcium.
Wheat bran: Like beans, wheat bran contains high levels of phytates which can prevent your body from absorbing calcium. However, unlike beans, 100% wheat bran is the only food that appears to reduce the absorption of calcium in other foods eaten at the same time. For example, when you have milk and 100% wheat bran cereal together, your body can absorb some, but not all, of the calcium from the milk. The wheat bran in other foods like breads is much less concentrated and not likely to have a noticeable impact on calcium absorption. If you take calcium supplements, you may want to take them two or more hours before or after eating 100% wheat bran.
Alcohol: Drinking heavily can lead to bone loss. Limit alcohol to no more than 2—3 drinks per day.
Caffeine: Coffee, tea and soft drinks (sodas) contain caffeine, which may decrease calcium absorption and contribute to bone loss. Choose these drinks in moderation.
Coffee/ tea: Drinking more than three cups of coffee every day may interfere with calcium absorption and cause bone loss.
Soft drinks: Some studies suggest that colas, but not other soft drinks, are associated with bone loss. While more research will help us to better understand the link between soft drinks and bone health, here is what we know—the carbonation in soft drinks does not cause any harm to bone. The caffeine and phosphorous commonly found in colas may contribute to bone loss. Like calcium, phosphorous is a part of the bones. It is listed as an ingredient in colas, some other soft drinks and processed foods as “phosphate” or “phosphoric acid.” Some experts say that Americans get too much phosphorous, while others believe that it is not a problem as long as people get enough calcium. The harm to bone may actually be caused when people choose soft drinks over milk and calcium-fortified beverages. Luckily you can help make up for any calcium lost from these beverages by getting enough calcium to meet your body’s needs.

The role of bones in our body is significant, as they protect our organs, provide structural integrity, and store calciu...
09/17/2025

The role of bones in our body is significant, as they protect our organs, provide structural integrity, and store calcium. However, as we get older, our bone health starts to decline. For instance, you may recall that when you were a child and suffered an injury or fracture, you recovered more quickly, but as you grew older, even a minor bone injury took longer to heal. Compared to men, women are particularly more prone to bone problems. This could be because women's bones have lower bone density, and various stages of life specific to women, like pregnancy, menopause, and breastfeeding, can all impact bone health. Natural menopause and surgical menopause, such as removing the uterus and ovaries due to medical concerns, have the greatest impact when it comes to loss of bone density in women. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are associated with increased calcium demands in the body, which, if not supplemented, is taken out of bones, making them weak.

Address

767, 5th Avenue, The Apple Store Cube
New York, NY
10153

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Dr. Simon Roberts posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Featured

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category