02/10/2025
Bones / Skeletal Health Facts 🦴
1️⃣ Babies are born with more bones than adults. 👶
> Babies have around 270–300 bones, but adults only have 206. As babies grow, many bones gradually fuse together. For example, the skull starts with soft spots called fontanelles, allowing brain growth, and later fuses to form a solid protective skull. Some spinal bones also fuse to form the sacrum and coccyx. Bone growth is fastest during childhood and adolescence, so proper nutrition and activity are very important. 🥛🏃♂️
2️⃣ Bones are living tissues. ❤️🦴
> Your bones are constantly remodeling — old bone is broken down and new bone is formed. This keeps bones strong and helps repair small damages automatically.
3️⃣ Strong bones need calcium and vitamin D. 🥛☀️
> Calcium builds bone strength, while vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium efficiently. Milk, cheese, leafy greens, and sunlight are key sources.
4️⃣ Exercise makes bones stronger. 🏋️♀️
> Weight-bearing activities like walking, running, or resistance training stimulate bone growth and reduce the risk of osteoporosis later in life.
5️⃣ Bones store essential minerals. 💎
> Bones store calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, which are released into the bloodstream when your body needs them for nerve function, muscle contraction, and other vital processes.
6️⃣ Bones can heal themselves. ⛑️
> If a bone breaks, your body forms a callus to bridge the fracture and eventually remodels the bone, sometimes making it even stronger than before.
7️⃣ Collagen is important for bones. 🦴✨
> Bones are not just minerals — they also contain collagen, a protein that gives flexibility and prevents fractures. Without collagen, bones become brittle.
8️⃣ Bone density peaks in your 20s. 📈
> Bone mass reaches its maximum density around age 25–30, so childhood and adolescence are crucial for building strong bones to prevent osteoporosis in later life.
9️⃣ Smoking and alcohol harm bones. 🚭🍷
> Smoking reduces blood flow and vitamin absorption, while excessive alcohol weakens bones and increases fracture risk. Healthy habits support long-term bone strength.
🔟 Daily habits affect bone health. 💪
> Eating a balanced diet, exercising, staying hydrated, and getting enough sunlight all contribute to strong, healthy bones that last a lifetime.
