11 Foods to Help Improve Osteoporosis Symptoms and Treatments
When your bones break down faster than the rate at which they form again, then it causes your bones to weaken over time. This leads to osteoporosis, which doctors may prescribe Evenity medication, a bone strengthening treatment (ask your insurance provider about Evenity copay cards to help cover the cost) to help reduce joint pain and improve bone density. Your bones can be affected by the food you consume, and so certain foods can help soothe osteoporosis. Here are some of the best foods.
1. Tofu
Tofu is one of the vegetarian proteins that you don’t want to miss out on. Just a half-cup of tofu contains a whopping 860 mg of calcium. Isoflavones can be found in tofu, which can help women after menopause to prevent bone disease.
2. Figs
Figs don’t get their due, but they are excellent for people who have osteoporosis. You can consume either fresh figs or dried figs as they are both nutritious and great for your bone health. Figs contain magnesium, calcium, and potassium, which are beneficial for your bones.
3. Sweet potato
You can bake a sweet potato minus the salt and consume it as it contains a good amount of potassium and magnesium. A single medium-sized sweet potato contains 542 mg of potassium and 31 mg of magnesium. These nutrients help you maintain your bone health.
4. Plant milk
Rather than the usual dairy milk, you can look for milk from plants. For example, you can opt for coconut, soybean, or almond milk instead. These contain vitamin D and calcium that are helpful for your bones. Some can even contain a high amount of useful nutrients.
5. Molasses
Molasses contain calcium, and you can get 41 mg of calcium in a single tablespoon of molasses. Instead of using it for baking things, you can also use it for preparing your breakfast. For example, the next time you make a smoothie, add molasses instead of the regular sugar.
6. Orange juice
You can find orange juice that has been fortified with calcium. This is one of the easiest ways to consume something good for your overall bone health. Some varieties of fortified orange juice contain as much calcium as dairy milk.
7. Almond butter
If you are having trouble eating sufficient calcium-rich foods, consider almond butter. Just two tablespoons of almond butter have 111 mg calcium and 240 mg of potassium. Almond butter also contains various other nutrients, such as protein, which helps maintain bone health.
8. Grapefruit
Grapefruit contains vitamin C, which is known for preventing bone loss. When you consume an entire grapefruit, whether red or pink, you get 88 mg of vitamin C, sufficient for that whole day. If you cannot have grapefruit, consider rating navel orange, which contains 83 mg of vitamin C.
9. Fatty fish
Fatty fish is one of the best sources of nutrients that can help soothe osteoporosis and improve bone health. They contain omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D. You can consume fishes, such as salmon. Experts also recommend canned salmon as it has a high amount of calcium.
10. Green leafy vegetables
Green leafy vegetables such as kale, bok choy, turnip greens, and Chinese cabbage are great calcium sources that can help strengthen your bones. Green leafy vegetables such as collard greens also contain vitamin K, which can prevent you from getting osteoporosis.
11. Prunes
Prunes are dried plums, and they can be a boon to people who have osteoporosis. But instead of only having them, consuming them along with foods that are rich in vitamin D and calcium is recommended by experts. Prunes make for great snacks and can help reduce bone breakdown.