You don't have to shrink because you are growing older

One of the more curious issues of aging is that some people seem to shrink as they grow older while others appear to remain the same height. Research from a study done in France indicates that adults can begin decreasing in height as early as their thirties and forties.

It was also noted that the average person may lose 1/4 to 1/2 inch per decade. This information does not have to alarm you, as there are three simple steps that can be taken to minimize Bone Loss, and inches being shaved from your height. If you begin the process now, you can save yourself from experiencing issues with how tall you are in later life.

Bone loss and decreasing height are normal

It is a normal process of aging for some people to experience bone loss and a decrease in height as they enter the senior years. The good news is that it does not happen to everyone and may possibly bypass you if you act now.

The French study indicated that on average women lose 2 inches in height and men about an inch and 1/2 by the time they reach their 70's. Some began decreasing in size decades earlier while others did not notice a change until they were 60 or older.

The research also pointed out that there are a lucky few men and women whose height is not affected by aging, and therefore they did not shrink.

The reasons people shrink with age

As we age the discs between the vertebra and the spine decompress and dehydrate.

The spine may also become more curved, and the vertebrae can collapse due to loss of bone density which results in osteoporosis.

Aging bodies can also experience a loss of muscle in the torso and this contributes to the appearance of bad posture where it looks as if you are stooping or bending over. Older adults may also appear shorter because of the gradual effect of the arches in the feet beginning to flatten.

Three steps to prevent bone loss

In order to reduce your chances of shrinking as you grow older the first thing you need to do is make sure you are obtaining proper nutrition. Feed your bones by making sure you are getting enough calcium and Vitamin D each day.

Make it a point to read food labels and keep up with your daily requirements.

The National Health Institue indicates that women need 1200 milligrams of calcium and 600 IU's of vitamin D in order to absorb calcium.This jumps to 800 IU's after age 70. Good sources of calcium are dairy products, soy milk, broccoli, and salmon.

The second thing to do is exercise as an Israeli study found that individuals who exercised lost half as much height as those who did not. A study was done by the National Institue of Health Osteoporosis and related bone disease national research center which found that weight-bearing Exercise makes a big difference as we age.

Strength training, jumping and running made bones stronger and caused new cells to regenerate and prevent shrinkage. The third way to prevent getting shorter as you age is to stop smoking and or drinking as both have a negative effect on our bones.