4 Ways to Keep Your Bones Healthy As You Age

If you’re over the age of 50, you probably already know a little about life’s unexpected surprises. But you might not know what your age has to with bone health. 

Did you know that 1 in 3 women over the age of 50 will experience a fall and break a bone because of poor bone health?

It’s not much better for men. About 1 in 5 men over the age of 50 will sustain a fracture linked to poor bone health, according to the International Osteoporosis Foundation.

And it doesn’t have to be that way. If you want to keep your bones healthy as you age, there’s a few things you can do.

1. Eat healthy foods.

Foods high in vitamin D and calcium are both important to support bone health. Try: low-fat dairy products, leafy greens, and fish, or take a look at our Senior-Friendly menu. Ask your doctor about taking vitamin D and/or calcium supplements.

2. Strengthen your bones with exercise

Here’s another great way to keep your bones healthy. Participate in weight-bearing activities that put stress on your bones like weight lifting or body weight exercises (push-ups, squats, lunges, curl-ups, etc.).

3. Don’t smoke, or quit if you do.

Smoking, including second-hand smoke, limits blood flow to your bones, so they don’t get enough nutrients. Smoking also interferes with the body’s ability to absorb calcium.

4. Avoid or limit alcohol

Alcohol interferes with your body’s ability to absorb calcium and vitamin D, which you get from food and from sun exposure.

If you want to keep your bones healthy as you age, the sooner you adopt these healthy lifestyle habits, the better. But even if you haven’t been following these recommendations, now is always a good time to start.

Looking for an easy way to eat healthy as you age? Keep it simple, and pick your favorites from our Senior-Friendly menu.