Osteopenia Diet – What Is It And What Foods To Avoid?

One’s bone strength and density tend to decrease with progressing age. This decline usually starts from the age of 30 (especially in females), leading to a condition called osteopenia. However, following an osteopenia diet that includes foods to promote bone strength and density can help one manage or even prevent this condition. The bones of a female are thinner than a male. With progressing age, health conditions, sedentary lifestyle, hormonal changes, and food habits, the risk of developing osteopenia in females is higher compared to males (1). Though this condition does not have any associated pain, osteopenia may increase the risk of osteoporosisⁱ  XA condition more common in old age in which bones become brittle and weak to the extent that they are easily fractured. (2 ).

A balanced diet and regular exercise regime can help minimize the risk of osteopenia. Read on to get a diet plan and exercise routine, and learn about the lifestyle changes you should adopt to combat osteopenia.

Osteopenia Diet

1. How Diet Affects Osteopenia
2. Osteopenia Sample Diet Plan
3. Foods To Eat
4. Foods To Avoid
5. Osteopenia Diet Recipe
6. Role Of Exercise
7. Lifestyle
8. Benefits Of Osteopenia Diet
9. Dos & Don’ts

How Diet Affects Osteopenia

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Osteopenia is the stage just before osteoporosis sets in. It is not a disease. How a person falls prey to osteopenia is largely determined by the food. Consuming a diet rich in calcium and Vitamin D, performing weight-bearing exercises to strengthen the muscles and bones, and avoiding foods that interfere with the absorption of calcium will improve bone density (3), (4).

According to health experts, over the last century, people have switched from vegetables, dairy products, and fruits to more meats, grains, and processed foods. This shift has limited the available calcium and other bone building minerals that are essential for bone health.

Osteopenia Sample Diet Plan

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Why This Works

The foods listed in the diet chart are rich in calcium, vitamin D, Vitamin K, and other micronutrients. Ideally, it would help if you stick to home-cooked foods. A glass of milk before bed will not only prevent osteopenia but also ensure sound sleep.

Foods To Eat

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Our daily intake of food can be categorized into alkaline and acidic.

The following foods may reverse bone loss and help calcium absorption in the bones (5):

• Sardines with bones
• Low-fat yogurt (I didn’t want to get atherosclerosisⁱ  XThe hardening and narrowing of artery walls due to fat and cholesterol buildup, causing obstruction of blood flow. with high-fat!)
• Tofu processed with calcium salts
• Milk (go for soy milk if you are lactose intolerant)
• Ricotta cheese
• Collard greens
• Almonds
• Dried figs
• Pinto beans
• Navy beans
• Orange juice fortified with calcium
• Broccoli
• Turnip greens
• Kale
• Spinach

Even though these foods are rich in calcium, for your body to absorb the same, Vitamin D is essential. You can get sufficient Vitamin D from sunlight and foods rich in the sunshine vitamin (6). Spend at least 10 minutes in the sun with most of your skin exposed, mostly in the early hours of mornings to help your body synthesize Vitamin D. This is where outdoor activities help. During winters, consume Vitamin D-enriched foods to ensure your body doesn’t suffer a deficiency. Including cheese, egg yolks, orange juice, and cereals fortified with Vitamin D in your diet should do.

Foods To Avoid

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When I made my osteopenia diet chart, I made it a point to exclude foods that interfered with the absorption of calcium. Phytatesⁱ  XA substance found in plants, especially in cereal grains that can reduce the absorption of nutrients like iron and zinc by the body. and oxalatesⁱ  XA naturally occurring compound capable of forming insoluble salt with calcium, affecting the absorption of nutrients by the body. have the potential to do this, so I ensured that I did not mix such food items with calcium-rich food. For instance, I usually eat only cheese and never with beans or spinach, as it is an oxalate.

Spinach, sweet potatoes, and beans have oxalates, while whole wheat bran, nuts, and beans are high in phytates (7), (8), (9). I also stopped having coffee and sodas as they contain caffeine that impedes calcium absorption. Drink coffee outside of mealtimes by 1 hr. For example, eat breakfast, wait for an hour and then drink coffee.

Osteopenia Diet Recipe

Grilled Sardines With Veggies

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What You Need

• 2 sardines, washed, scaled, and gutted
• 1/2 red onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• 2 lemon wedges
• 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
• 1 sprig of rosemary
• 4 tomato wedges
• 4 asparagus tips
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper

How To Cook

1. Slice the red onions and asparagus tips.
2. Add salt, pepper, and a little olive oil to the sardines and let them marinate for 10 minutes.
3. Fire the grill and grill the fish for about a minute on each side.
4. Add about half tablespoon olive oil to the veggies and rosemary sprig, season well and grill for about 1-2 minutes (except the garlic cloves).
5. Chop the garlic cloves finely and fry.
6. Plate the veggies first, then add the sardines and lastly place the rosemary sprig on top.
7. Sprinkle chili flakes, fried garlic, and squeeze the juice on one lemon wedge on top. Keep the other lemon wedge on the side.
8. Serve hot.

Role Of Exercise

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Osteopenia leads to decreased bone mass, which may cause osteoporosis if a proper diet and exercise routine is not followed. If you are diagnosed with osteopenia, consult a fitness expert to know how to train your bones to build bone mass without getting injured. The best exercises to increase bone mass and strengthen your bones are running, walking, running up the stairs, weight-bearing exercises, biking, squats with weight, push-ups, and yoga.

Lifestyle

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Stay Active

Staying active is the key to keeping ill health at bay. Working out regularly can up your metabolism rateⁱ  XThe amount of energy required and expended by an organism at a given period that is crucial for its body functioning. , which in turn keeps a check on your overall health. This way, you can avoid heart disease, weak muscles, and bones, eye problems, skin disorders, digestion problems, etc.

Eat Healthy

You make your body happy when you eat healthily and provide it with an adequate amount of vitamins, minerals, carbs, proteins, and fats. The body responds likewise and makes you feel more energetic. Concentration improves, you will lose extra fat and also develop good immunity. Eat green leafy vegetables and protein and limit your intake of processed foods.

Avoid Stress

Stress leads to the formation of harmful oxygen radicalsⁱ  XAn unstable molecule that contains oxygen and reacts easily with the other molecules in a cell causing cell damage. . Oxygen radicals cause damage to proteins, fats, and the DNA. Therefore stress may trigger a host of health problems that will make you weak. Avoid stressful situations. Listen to your favorite song, join a hobby class and get some me time — these small changes can go a long way in helping you de-stress.

Get Good Sleep

After all the workouts for your bone strength, your body deserves some rest. Get at least 7 hours of sleep to keep your body going.

Benefits Of Osteopenia Diet

• Helps to build bone mass and strengthen bones.
• Improves immunity.

Dos & Don’ts

Infographic: Who Are At A Higher Risk Of Osteopenia?

While there are no symptoms of osteopenia, and it may be hard to diagnose early, there are few groups who seem to be more susceptible to low bone density. Check out the infographic below to understand who could be more at risk and what precautions can help you prevent this condition from worsening.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much calcium and vitamin D should someone with osteopenia aim to consume each day?

Osteopenia patients should consume 800 to 1000 IU (international units) of vitamin D and 1200 mg of calcium per day (3).

Are there any dietary supplements that can help manage or prevent osteopenia?

Yes, calcium supplements like calcium carbonate and calcium citrate can help manage or prevent osteopenia along with the intake of calcium-rich foods like milk and cheese (3).

Sources

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Kristen ArnoldMS, RDN, CSSD

   

Kristen is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and a board-certified specialist in Sports Dietetics with 9 years of experience. She also has a Master’s in Human Nutrition from The Ohio State University. She owns a private practice nutrition counseling business focusing on performance nutrition for athletes. Kristen is also a coach for bicycle racers with Source Endurance where she coaches entry-level...more

Charushila BiswasHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Charushila is an ISSA certified Fitness Nutritionist and a Physical Exercise Therapist. Over a span of 6 years, she has authored more than 400 articles on diet, lifestyle, exercises, healthy food, and fitness equipment. She strives to inform, educate, and motivate her readers via authentic, straightforward, and fact-checked information. After completing her master's in biotechnology from Vellore Institute of Technology,...more