Sunken eyes may be due to decreased bone density
2024.02.01
Have you ever noticed that as you get older, you start to notice the bags under your eyes?
Some people may be doing their best with skin care and face massage, but the root cause may be something other than the skin.
In fact, a decrease in bone density can cause an “old-looking” appearance.
As bone density decreases, facial bones also become thinner
It is well known that when bone density decreases, you become prone to slouching and more likely to break a bone, but it also has a big impact on your appearance.
This is because bone density doesn’t just decrease in the bones of the hands and feet; the facial bones and skull also become thinner.
In fact, as we get older, the bones around our eyes become thinner, making our eye sockets(the hollows that house our eyes) more likely to widen. This will make the bags under youreyes more noticeable.
Additionally, if the bone mass in the entire skull decreases, the scalp becomes looser, causing wrinkles and sagging.
Why bones become brittle with age
Bones are made up of a balance between “destruction” and “building”.
Once the bone-destroying “osteoclasts” dissolve and absorb old bone, the bone-building “osteoblasts” begin to make new bone.
Through the actions of osteoclasts and osteoblasts, bones undergo repeated metabolism and are constantly reborn into new bones.
It is said that every bone in the body is reborn in 3 to 5 years.
However, this balance tends to collapse with age due to the following reasons.
●Changes in hormonal balance can also change bone balance.
It is well known that women are more susceptible to osteoporosis after menopause.
When the secretion of estrogen (female hormone) decreases during menopause, the balance between osteoclasts and osteoblasts tends to be disrupted.
Estrogen has the effect of suppressing the function of osteoclasts and activating the function of osteoblasts.
Therefore, when estrogen levels decrease, the ability to destroy bones becomes stronger than the ability to build them.
– Calcium absorption rate decreases with age It is also known that as we get older, absorption of calcium in the intestines decreases.
Therefore, even if you take in as much calcium as you did when you were young, your bones tend to become brittle.
● If you go on an unreasonable diet, you won’t be able to protect your bones.
In addition, excessive dieting can lead to nutritional deficiencies, including calcium, which weakens bones.
It is also known that people who go on excessive diets when they are young are not able to increase their bone mass sufficiently when they should, and are more likely to develop osteoporosis from an early age.
●Lifestyle-related diseases, smoking, and drinking are also causes.
In addition, smoking also reduces the secretion of estrogen, excessive drinking interferes with the function of osteoblasts, and lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, COPD, and chronic kidney disease cause oxidative stress, which causes osteoclasts to damage bone.
It is also known to increase their destructive power.
What to eat and avoid to prevent osteoporosis
To prevent osteoporosis, it is important to have calcium and protein, which are components of bones, and vitamin D, which supports calcium absorption.
Vitamin D is found in large amounts in foods such as fish and mushrooms, and is also activated by exposure to sunlight.
Vitamin K, which has the effect of promoting bone formation, is also important, and foods that contain a lot of vitamin K include natto and green vegetables.
On the other hand, it is phosphorus that you need to take care not to consume too much.
Phosphorus is also one of the components that build bones, along with calcium, and is a necessary mineral for the body. However, most foods contain phosphorus, such as meat, vegetables, milk, and dairy products, so there is generally no shortage of phosphorus.
Rather, the problem is taking too much.
This is because too much phosphorus interferes with calcium absorption.
Phosphorus is also found in large amounts in instant foods, processed foods, retort foods (shelf-stable, pouched, easy to prepare), frozen foods, and soft drinks, so it is essential for bone health to avoid eating these foods as much as possible.
Osteoporosis checkup when you turn 40
Especially for women, bone mass begins to decline from the late 40s onwards.
Therefore, even if you don’t have any particular symptoms, you should get regular osteoporosis screenings if you are over 40 years old.
We recommend testing once a year, especially after menopause.