What to eat for osteoporosis

Written by Xie Yi Song
Orthopedics
Updated on September 11, 2024
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Osteoporosis is commonly seen in elderly people and mainly refers to a reduction in bone tissue per unit volume, which affects the structure and function of bones. To prevent and treat osteoporosis, it is important to supplement various nutritional elements in daily life, such as calcium, phosphorus, protein, fats, and vitamin D. So, what is good to eat for osteoporosis? Foods rich in calcium are recommended, including milk, milk powder, oysters, eggs, soybeans and soy products, pork bone soup, fish, shrimp, and dried scallops, and should be consumed more frequently. Additionally, foods like carrots, Chinese cabbage, celery, rapeseed, garlic sprouts, leeks, jujube, persimmons, and olives also contain a good amount of calcium and should be included in the diet. Supplementing vitamin D: Vitamin D, after being exposed to ultraviolet sunlight, is an essential substance that promotes the calcification of bones. Taking vitamin D can increase the intestinal absorption of calcium and help in its deposition in the bones, making them stronger. Therefore, patients with osteoporosis should regularly take vitamin D and frequently sunbathe.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Does osteoporosis cause pain?

Osteoporosis can be painful, and the clinical manifestations of osteoporosis are threefold: first, pain; second, vertebral deformation; third, fragile fractures. Pain is the earliest symptom of osteoporosis, which can be localized pain, generalized pain, aching pain, or dull pain. Therefore, for older individuals or women around the time of menopause, if there is unexplained pain, and no primary or secondary lesions can be found, osteoporosis should be considered. In fact, the examination for osteoporosis is quite simple. Currently, the most commonly used clinical examinations are radiological and biochemical tests. In radiological tests, DXA, which stands for Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry, is the gold standard for clinical diagnosis. In addition, some bone markers can be tested, making diagnosis fairly straightforward. Therefore, osteoporosis can be painful, and if there is unexplained generalized pain in conjunction with age and gender, osteoporosis should be considered.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Menopausal osteoporosis manifestations

Women experience osteoporosis during menopause, generally occurring in the later stages of menopause, which is between 9-13 years after menopause. During this period, women may develop osteoporosis. In the early stages, women can experience pain in the lower back, limbs, and joints, which is actually a manifestation of rapid bone loss. Later on, some women may develop a hunched back. Due to the increased brittleness of their bones, they are prone to various fractures, with vertebral fractures being the most common. This is followed by fractures of the distal radius and the neck of the femur.

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Written by Xie Yi Song
Orthopedics
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Can people with osteoporosis eat vinegar?

Although vinegar is acidic, the human body has a strong fluid buffering system, so as long as it is not consumed in excess, there is no need to worry that vinegar will disrupt the body's acid-base balance. There is also no evidence to suggest that osteoporosis patients cannot consume vinegar. Osteoporosis patients can consume vinegar normally as long as they do not have contraindications like gastrointestinal ulcers. Similarly, the external use of vinegar will not affect the body's acid-base balance, nor will it lead to osteoporosis. Vinegar, as a food or medicine, not only does not cause osteoporosis, but moderate amounts can also promote the absorption and utilization of calcium. This is because vinegar reacts chemically with calcium in food, forming calcium acetate, which is soluble in water and easily absorbed by the human body.

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Written by Xie Yi Song
Orthopedics
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What to do if osteoporosis causes leg pain?

To alleviate leg pain caused by osteoporosis, it is important to pay attention to a reasonable diet and regular exercise. Maintaining a balanced diet to ensure sufficient intake of calcium and vitamin D is crucial, with options such as high-calcium, low-fat fresh milk, cheese, cow milk, and dark green vegetables being the best choices. Based on the imbalance of yin and yang in the body, regularly taking kidney-nourishing products can to a certain extent stabilize and enhance the level of human sex hormones, indirectly inhibiting the bone-resorbing activity of osteoclasts. Smoking should be avoided, excessive drinking should be prevented, and timely prevention of systemic metabolic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and gout is essential. Elderly individuals with leg pain should persist with gradual and progressive exercise, such as swimming, practicing health exercises, Tai Chi, and walking. These activities not only can alleviate the loss of bone mass but also significantly increase the content of bone salts and promote the activity of bone cells. However, engaging in intense physical activities, especially those that cause excessive muscle soreness, should be avoided. If continual leg pain is experienced, it is advisable to visit a hospital for examination to determine if it is caused by osteoporosis.

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Written by Tang Zhuo
Endocrinology
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What are the symptoms of osteoporosis?

What are the symptoms of osteoporosis? Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease characterized by decreased bone mass, destruction of bone tissue microstructure, increased bone fragility, and susceptibility to fractures. Osteoporosis can be divided into primary and secondary types. Pain is the most common symptom of primary osteoporosis, commonly seen as back pain, with the pain spreading along the spine to both sides. The pain decreases when lying on the back or sitting, and increases when standing upright, bending backwards, or after long periods of sitting or standing. Additionally, osteoporosis can lead to a decrease in height, hunchback, and fractures are the most common and serious complications of osteoporosis.