Get active. Choose weight-bearing exercise, such as strength training, walking, hiking, jogging, climbing stairs, tennis, and dancing. This type of physical activity can help build and strengthen your bones. Don't smoke.
The good news is, it's never too late to start building bone density, even if you've already been diagnosed with osteoporosis.
The older you get, the harder it is to maintain bone strength. “We continue to build bone mass until age 30,” says Tina Dreger, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. “After age 30, we break down more bone than we rebuild.”
Exercise. Specifically weight training and walking are beneficial for increasing bone density in middle-aged and older people [77]. Regular weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercises can reduce the risk of falls and fractures [78, 79, 80, and 81].
A: It varies. If you follow your doctor's instructions and allow for adequate rest and recovery time, your bone should heal within three to six months. More extensive injuries, especially those that involve a joint, may require two years or more for optimal recovery.
While you can never regain the bone density you had in your youth, you can help prevent rapidly thinning bones, even after your diagnosis.
The bone-building phase in young adults -- at its speediest -- takes three to four months, and it may take a lot longer if you have osteoporosis or are older. So you won't be seeing big changes on any bone density tests after your first week of working out.
Good sources of calcium include dairy products, almonds, broccoli, kale, canned salmon with bones, sardines and soy products, such as tofu. If you find it difficult to get enough calcium from your diet, ask your doctor about supplements. Pay attention to vitamin D. Your body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium.
Vitamin K is another fat soluble vitamin that partners with Vitamin D for bone health. Vitamin K comes in two forms, K1 and K2. K2 has the most evidence that taking it as a supplement will improve bone density. I generally recommend supplementing with Vitamin K2 with a dosage of 45 to 180 mcg daily.
Weight-bearing aerobic activities
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.
For postmenopausal women and men age 50 years and older, the T-score is the number that is used for diagnostic classification, as follows: A T-score of -1.0 or above is normal bone density. Examples are 0.9, 0 and -0.9. A T-score between -1.0 and -2.5 means you have low bone mass or osteopenia.
Getting too much vitamin D, especially above 4,000 IU per day, can be dangerous. If you already have osteoporosis, keep in mind that vitamin D and calcium alone are not enough to treat the disease. You'll need to take them along with other medications your doctor prescribes.
So, on that note, which is the best fruit for bones? Oranges, bananas, plantains, prunes, grapefruits, strawberries, papaya, pineapples, and guavas are examples of fruits high in vitamin C. In addition, fruits rich in vitamin K, like figs, blueberries, raspberries, plums, and grapes are healthy for bones.
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.
Osteoporosis is not reversible, but medication, a nutrient-dense diet, and weight bearing exercise can help prevent further bone loss and rebuild bones. Osteoporosis weaken bones so that they are more likely to break.
A bone density test cannot be taken at home.
You will improve over time. For the over 70s, there's also evidence to show standing on each leg for one minute three times a day can help improve hip bone mineral density. Stronger hip bone mineral density means if you do fall you are less likely to fracture.
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.
Foods that are high in potassium can also build bone health. Tomatoes, potatoes, papayas, oranges, and bananas are all excellent sources of this nutrient.
Poor diet, low in vitamins and calcium. Changes in hormones (from smoking or menopause) Age. Medical conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease, overactive parathyroid gland or celiac sprue.