The best choices include plant proteins, such as beans and nuts, as well as fish, skinless poultry and lean cuts of meat. Plant proteins are rich in vitamins, minerals and estrogenlike plant compounds that help preserve bone. Low-fat dairy products, including milk and plain yogurt, are another good source of protein.
Avoiding excess salt, alcohol, and sugar may be beneficial for people with osteoporosis. Those with this condition should also be mindful when eating foods that contain oxalates and phytates. Additionally, people should take care to consume plenty of foods with calcium and vitamin D.
Osteoporosis is more likely to occur in people who have: Low calcium intake. A lifelong lack of calcium plays a role in the development of osteoporosis. Low calcium intake contributes to diminished bone density, early bone loss and an increased risk of fractures.
If calcium levels drop too low in the blood, parathyroid hormone (PTH) will signal the bones to release calcium into the bloodstream. This hormone may also activate vitamin D to improve the absorption of calcium in the intestines.
Beverage options that are better choices include calcium and vitamin D-fortified juices, plain or chocolate milk, or flavored waters. While caffeine is widely believed to have some health benefits, it is also proven to deplete calcium from bones.
Potassium-rich foods such as bananas, tomatoes and orange juice could help fight osteoporosis in post-menopausal women by helping to reduce the level of calcium losses, report researchers from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF).
Examples include walking, dancing, low-impact aerobics, elliptical training machines, stair climbing and gardening. These types of exercise work directly on the bones in your legs, hips and lower spine to slow mineral loss.
A calcium-rich diet is important to maintain optimal bone health and prevent osteoporosis. So, too, is vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium to be deposited into bones. The amount of calcium and vitamin D needed to optimize bone health increases with aging. Circulating estrogen also is nurturing to bones.
Based on these factors, the best milk for osteoporosis is low-fat or skim milk that is fortified with calcium and vitamin D. Other good options include soy milk, almond milk, and other plant-based milks that are fortified with these nutrients.
Weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, jogging, and climbing stairs, can help you build strong bones and slow bone loss. Avoid substance abuse.
Avocados are rich in phosphorous, magnesium and manganese to help maintain bone health and reduce your risk for developing osteoporosis.
Protects bones
Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and maintains optimum bone health. Eggs therefore play an important role in preventing osteoporosis.
The largest study to date published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2008 found that elderly women who ate chocolate more than one time each day had thinner bones (less bone density) than women who ate chocolate less than once per week.
Why It's Important? Drinking sufficient water plays a significant role in the well being of your bones and joints. In fact, lack of proper hydration can lead to several of the orthopedic problems, like osteoporosis and musculoskeletal conditions, which worsens as the person gets older.
Like pumpernickel, rye bread is rich in lignans, plant compounds linked with a wide range of health benefits, including a reduced risk of heart disease, menopausal symptoms, osteoporosis and breast cancer.
Potassium neutralizes acid in your body that can leach calcium out of your bones. One delicious way to get some of both of those nutrients is by eating a baked medium-size sweet potato with no salt, which has 31 milligrams of magnesium and 542 milligrams of potassium.
Caffeine leaches calcium from bones, sapping their strength. "You lose about 6 milligrams of calcium for every 100 milligrams of caffeine ingested," Massey says. That's not as much of a loss as salt, but it's worrisome, nonetheless.
Blueberry has also been shown to increase proliferation of human bone marrow cells that are also known to be osteoblast progenitor cells [62]. Although limited, evidence does suggest a positive effect of berry consumption on bone health by increasing osteoblast differentiation.
Phytates bind calcium.
Phytates found in whole-grains, legumes (dried beans), nuts and soy products bind the calcium of other foods eaten when they are eaten at the same time. When calcium is bound, the body cannot use it.
Tomatoes help maintain strong bones.
They contain beneficial amounts of calcium and Vitamin K, both of which are pivotal in strengthening and performing minor repairs on bones and bone tissue.