Table of Contents

Healthy Bones

Exercise! You probably know that exercising can help build up your muscles. But, did you know that it also improves the strength of your bones? It does! Activities such as dancing, playing tennis, gymnastics, and even walking keep your bones strong. It is important to get involved in a variety of activities so all parts of your skeleton get a workout. Bet you never realized that making your bones strong could be so much fun! So get moving!

Drink Your Milk! It has been proven that eating and drinking foods rich in calcium, a substance found in dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt, is an excellent way to keep your bones and teeth strong and healthy. See, bone matter is made up, in part, by calcium. So, calcium-rich foods help your body improve the bone you have and encourages bone growth. That means that CHOCOLATE milk is actually good for your bones; just brush your teeth after to get rid of any sugar build-up! Research has shown that having healthy bones as kids plays a big role in preventing people from having bone diseases, like osteoporosis, as adults. Drink your milk or talk to your doctor about other sources of calcium--the health of your bones and teeth depend on it!

Eat Healthy Food! Okay, we now know that dairy products are good for us, but what about other foods? There are other sources of calcium-rich foods, including broccoli, various types of fish, and calcium-fortified foods like pasta, rice, and orange juice. Eating healthy, especially when you're still growing is super important. Starving your body of important nutrients not only can cause your bones to stop growing, but it also makes you feel not so good! So, eat up and eat healthy--your body will thank you for it!

Brush Your Teeth! Not only do unbrushed teeth look nasty, they also have a nasty effect on your gums and even your digestive system. When teeth are not properly taken care of, plaque and tarter build up on the teeth and eventually cause cavities. Those cavities, if not filled, can eat away at your teeth, gums, and even the bone in your jaw! So, visiting your dentist every six months for a check-up and cleaning is a great idea! The dentist can make sure everything is sparkling clean and healthy and give you some ideas on how to keep things that way! Hey, you may even get a new toothbrush out of your visit!

Be Careful! One of the easiest ways to keep your bones healthy is to take proper precautions. Accidents happen--so why not be ready for them?! When you're biking, boarding, and skating, remember to wear your helmet along with knee and elbow pads. They will provide the extra padding and protection that will keep your bones safe from injuries. Remember that when you're playing contact sports, such as football, rugby, lacrosse, and soccer, or sports where you may come into contact with high-flying, speeding balls, a mouth guard will help prevent your teeth from danger. Wear the proper gear for the sports you play...silly injuries are likely to occur if you don't. Just think first! Your body can do some amazing things--do all that you can to keep it that way! By the way...have fun!