Osteoporosis and Diet

In the treatment of osteoporosis, healthcare providers will frequently talk about the “Triangle of Management.”

This triangle is made up of three points:

• Diet
• Exercise
• Medication

Your physician will help you with the “Medication” portion of managing your Osteoporosis, as well as provide tips or a referral to a dietitian or nutritionist to help with Diet. As physical therapists, we focus on Exercise as a way to treat Osteoporosis. There are various ways a physical therapist can use exercise to influence your bone health and to address the effects of osteoporosis on your body. At Onondaga Physical Therapy, we began offering a new specialty, The Meeks Method, to address and treat postural changes as a result of Osteoporosis. This method also focuses on a comprehensive approach to treating osteoporosis, including diet!

If you are worried about your bone health, the two nutrients you’ll want to focus on are Calcium and Vitamin D. This is because Calcium and Vitamin D work together in your body to build and maintain bone. Building and maintaining bone is important for everyone – not just those who suffer from osteoporosis.

Check out the chart below for ideas on how to get more Calcium, Vitamin D and other important nutrients for bone health into your diet. While these are great guidelines provided by the National Osteoporosis Foundation, they are very general in nature. If you have specifics concerns regarding your diet, we recommended contacting your physician or a dietitian or nutritionist to best guide you with the “Diet” portion of managing your osteoporosis. 

Created using nutritional recommendations from the National Osteoporosis Foundation of “Good-For-Your-Bones” Foods. For more nutrition info check out their Interactive Guide to a Bone Healthy Diet.