Female Teenage Athletes at Risk for Bone Loss

A combination of low fat dieting, not eating enough in general, and high levels of exercise may seriously weaken the bones of teenage female athletes¹ – potentially handicapping their bone density for the rest of their lives.

The key sign this may be happening is the loss of a regular menstrual cycle – meaning that it either stops for months at a time or does not happen every month.  This loss of natural hormone support for bones during a key developmental phase of bone health is a serious health issue.

No athlete should be on a low fat diet to the point their menstrual cycle stops.  Increasing the percentage of fat, along with not snacking between meals, will not result in improper weight gain and will help menstrual cycles run more smoothly.

Female Plus is the best supplement (2-3 per day) for any athlete that is having trouble with this issue (along with needed diet modifications).  Do not let an erratic or stopped menstrual cycle occur for months on end – it causes bone stress of magnitude!  Exercise does not have to be a problem for young women, just be sure to be adequately nourished.