Importance of Vitamin and Mineral Intake to Bone Health Covered by Stressfracturefoot.org

July 26, 2012 - PRLog -- The prevention of common foot problems such as stress fractures can be as straightforward as choosing appropriate footwear and increasing the intensity of athletic training or exercise gradually and making sure the body is given sufficient time to recover from activity. In the majority of cases, overuse injuries such as stress fractures can be avoided simply by taking these simple steps.

According to stressfracturefoot.org there is another important preventative step which should not be overlooked and that is the diet.  “Ensuring proper nutrition is a no brainer as far as bone health is concerned” says website founder Jennifer Lee. “Calcium and magnesium deficiencies especially can cause a deterioration in bone health, and vitamin D levels are vital for calcium absorption”.

Bodily calcium and magnesium is highest in bone and are vital structural elements providing bone with its rigidity. Both of these elements are also vital for a myriad of biological processes in the body and should deficiencies arise, the body must breakdown bone in order to provide what is needed. Calcium for example is vital for nerve function, cellular communication and muscle contraction and were it not for the breakdown of bone, any dietary deficiency would rapidly lead to death. A lack of dietary calcium, magnesium and other vital minerals stored in the bone can cause bone weakening which can increase the likelihood of suffering stress fractures.

“If you want to ensure your bones remain strong and healthy, you need to make sure you get a balanced diet which provides all of the minerals and vitamins that the body needs” says Lee. “Calcium and magnesium are vital, but boron, copper and phosphorus are also important for bone health and sufficient levels of these minerals must come from the diet. Any deficiency which speeds up bone breakdown will increase foot stress fracture risk”.

The roles of many minerals on bone health are not fully understood. Many notable studies have been conducted in recent years on bone health with elements that are known to be vital for bodily health, even though the extent and mechanism of action is yet to be determined. The role of these elements in bone health has been researched from existing studies and have been summarized at stressfracturefoot.org in a number of new articles.

Information has been collated from studies on the roles of both mineral and vitamins in bone health from some of the most recent research projects. Although the exact mechanisms by which many minerals aid bone formation or restrict bone breakdown is not yet fully understood, the latest articles are aimed at increasing awareness of the importance of nutrition in the prevention of bone problems such as osteoporosis and reducing foot stress fracture risks.

Ensuring the body has sufficient levels of minerals and vitamins will not prevent stress fractures in the feet if other measures are not also taken, but good nutrition is vital for forming and maintaining healthy bones. “If calcium, magnesium, potassium or phosphorus is lacking from the diet, the bones will suffer and stress fractures become all the more likely to occur” says Lee.

Further information on the importance of foot stress fractures and bone health from vitamin and mineral intake is now available on http://stressfracturefoot.org