There are a few things that we need to understand about bones and bone health so that we can build the best bones we can.
Bones are made up of a thick outer shell and a strong inner mesh that looks like a honeycomb and consists of protein, calcium and other minerals.
The honeycomb structure, the bone matrix, is made up of struts of bone and osteoporosis means that these struts become thin and break, in turn making bones more porous and fragile.
When bones become more fragile, they can break more easily even after a simple type of fall, for example, falling from standing height. This is known as a low trauma fracture and often it is this type of fracture that is the warning sign that someone may have osteoporosis.
Around three million people in the UK are estimated to have osteoporosis, with several million more likely to have osteopenia. Obviously, if you have osteopenia, it is desirable for you to take steps to avoid it developing into osteoporosis.
There is a normal turnover of bone in the body, a process known as ‘remodelling’.
This process basically involves cells called osteoclasts that break down and remove old bone and then cells called osteoblasts which form new bone and fill the cavity created by the removal of old bone.
This bone remodelling process continues throughout life but slows down as we get older.
In childhood and adolescence, the bone building cells (osteoblasts) work faster than the bone removing cells (osteoclasts) causing bones to increase in density and strength.
Bones continue to grow in strength until our mid-late 20s when maximum strength known as peak bone mass is reached. Bone density is then maintained up until our 30s and then starts to decrease as part of the natural ageing process. In women there is increasing bone loss at the time of the menopause.
Replacing this lost bone matrix is key to increasing density as well as tensile strength and flexibility.
It is the Bone Matrix which gives bones their tensile strength and flexibility to resist stress or impact, as well as increasing bone density.
When bone is broken down, as in the case of osteopenia and osteoporosis, this vital bone matrix is also lost. This makes the bones weaker with the risk of fracture doubling for every 10% of bone loss.
Bone Matrix comprises:
- 95% collagen, which gives bones tensile strength and flexibility and adds to density
- 5% calcium, phosphate and other salts which contribute to bone density
bonebalance™ helps to build bone matrix.
- bonebalance™’s high-quality specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides® are designed to be optimally absorbed into bone tissue and to optimise bone cells to increase bone matrix
- Specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides® optimised for the improvement and maintenance of bone health, show a higher effectiveness for bone matrix synthesis in comparison with other collagen peptides
- Collagen is best absorbed by the body in the form of collagen peptides
- IMPORTANT! There are several types of collagen peptides that have different roles to play in the body. Different collagens have different molecular weights. Think of them as being different shaped keys – the specific collagen keys unlock benefits in particular areas of the body.
- Collagen for skin hair and nails will improve your skin hair and nails but won’t help your bone health
- Collagen for your muscles will help your muscles but won’t improve your bone health
- Collagen for your joints will help your joints but won’t improve your bone health
The Bioactive Collagen Peptides® in bonebalance™ are specifically designed to be absorbed into bone tissue and stimulate bone cells, improving your bone health.
