Osteoporosis is a disease that affects the bones, weakening them, so they lose strength and density. Anyone can develop osteoporosis, but it is most common in older women. People with osteoporosis are more prone to bone fractures. Symptoms of osteoporosis are weakened grip, weakened nails, back and neck pain.
Causes can be traced to the use of certain medications (i.e., prednisone), certain medical conditions (i.e., lupus), menopause (due to lack of estrogen), lack of nutrition, smoking, and family history. While doctors may prescribe medications and therapies to support bone health, there are certain foods that trigger osteoporosis and should also be avoided:
1. Wheat bran
Wheat bran carries very high levels of phytates, and this can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb calcium. This is the only food known to totally interfere with the absorption of calcium when it’s eaten with other foods.
2. High-salt foods
Salty foods can cause the body to lose calcium and this can lead to bone loss. A lot of the foods we consume such as, canned foods, and processed foods are packed with salt. Most people consume twice as much salt than is recommended. It is best to not take in more than 2,300 mg of salt per day.
3. Nightshade vegetables
Vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, eggplant and mushrooms are examples of nightshade vegetables. These vegetables are not good for people with osteoporosis to consume because eating these vegetables can cause inflammation of the bones.
4. Alcohol
Heavy drinking is definitely dangerous for bone health. This weakens the bones causing them to break down. It’s hard for the pancreas to absorb calcium and vitamin D. Heavy drinking also affects the liver, which makes it hard to absorb calcium. Alcohol consumption should be limited to 2-3 drinks per day.
5. Beans and legumes
Beans and legumes are packed with many nutrients, but they also contain high levels of phytates. Phytates inhibit the body’s ability to absorb calcium. The lack of calcium in the body can cause the bones to become dry and brittle leading to osteoporosis. The phytate level in beans can be reduced by soaking the beans in water before cooking them.
6. Excess vitamin A foods
Excess vitamin A is very bad for the bones. Consuming too much of this important nutrient is usually the result of people taking a multivitamin and a fish liver oil supplement.
7. Caffeine
Caffeine can be found in drinks like coffee, soda, tea, and energy drinks. These drinks can decrease calcium absorption and cause bone loss. These drinks should only be consumed in moderation. Coffee and tea should be limited to no more than 3 cups per day. Cola based soda is thought to be worse than other sodas when it comes to bone loss.
There are treatments available that can be taken orally or injected such as, bone density supplements and Evenity injections which are common treatments. The injections are expensive so getting an osteoporosis Evinity medicine coupon is a good idea.