Things Women With Osteoporosis Should Avoid - Page 2

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Approximately 200 million women around the world suffer from osteoporosis, and the condition causes nearly 9 million fractures a year. In women 45 and up, osteoporosis-related injuries account for more days spent in the hospital than most other conditions and diseases. Studies have found that a lot of women are hesitant to discuss osteoporosis with their doctor, or get tested for it, which makes the condition even more prevalent. If you’re a woman, denying that osteoporosis could affect you is not an option. If you have already been diagnosed with the condition, it’s important to stay away from certain foods and activities that can make osteoporosis worse.

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Salt

Salt depletes the body of calcium, which women with osteoporosis desperately need. Women with osteoporosis shouldn’t have more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day.

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Smoking

People who smoke are at a heightened risk of bone fractures. Women with osteoporosis cannot afford to fracture a bone since the healing process can take much longer than it does for those with healthy bones.

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Bike riding

While bike riding can burn calories, it’s not good for people with osteoporosis. Bike riding puts weight on only certain parts of the body and is not considered a weight-bearing activity—so it can put an imbalanced amount of pressure on already weak bones.

Inactivity

Women with osteoporosis fear that physical activity puts too mush pressure on their weak bones, but in fact, it can help strengthen them. Any activity that forces you to carry your whole body, like dancing or running, helps build new bone tissue.

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Wheat bran

Wheat bran might seem like a shoe-in for women with osteoporosis because you typically eat it with calcium-dense milk. But the grain actually prevents your body from properly absorbing calcium.

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Too much caffeine

The phosphorous in caffeine has been shown to cause bone loss. If you need more energy, consider doing some of those weight-bearing exercises we discussed instead of drinking more Joe.

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Soft drinks

Soft drinks also contain the phosphorous that can lead to bone loss, in case you needed one more reason to skip this unhealthy beverage.

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Heartburn medication

Some heartburn medication has been shown to diminish bone health. While those who don’t have osteoporosis can take bone-strengthening medication with their heartburn medication to prevent bone problems, those who already have the condition should talk to their doctor before going on heartburn medication.

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Antidepressants

Antidepressants are another medication that’s been linked to negative effects on bone health.

Rock climbing

If you have osteoporosis, you should avoid any activity that can cause a fall. Broken bones in a person with osteoporosis take much longer to heal than in other individuals.

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Sugar

Sugar, like salt, prevents your body from properly absorbing calcium. It can also cause blood sugar lows that make you not want to exercise, and we already know exercise is important for healthy bones.

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Dark chocolate

Dark chocolate combines two off-limits items for osteoporosis sufferers: caffeine and sugar. Consider healthier ways to satisfy your sweet tooth, like dry fruit—its high fiber content minimizes the effects of sugar in your body.

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Unsoaked beans

Beans are good for those with osteoporosis overall once they’ve been soaked. Many beans are high in phytates, which can interfere with your ability to absorb calcium. But if you soak them for several hours before cooking them, you can remove some of that substance.

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Swiss chard and raw spinach

Raw spinach and swiss chard contain a lot of calcium, but ironically they contain oxalates which can make it hard for the body to absorb calcium. Combine these foods with another snack that has readily available calcium, like cheese.