Your 7-Day Osteoporosis Diet Plan
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When you have osteoporosis, there are several key nutrients you need to supply your body with to make your bones as strong as possible.
Before we get to building out your seven-day diet plan, you first need to know about the kinds of nutrients your body really needs and which foods to avoid.
Nutrients to focus on
Calcium
This mineral is an important component of bone tissue.
Vitamin D
This is your body’s companion vitamin to calcium. Without enough vitamin D, your body can’t absorb calcium properly.
Protein
You need protein to maintain healthy tissues, including muscle tissue. Low protein intake is associated with increased risk for hip fracture. ResearchersTrusted Source recommend eating between 0.8 and 2.0 milligrams (mg) of protein per kilogram of body weight.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C enhances the absorption of calcium. When taken together, they can maximize bone strength and may play a role in preventing osteoporosis. Get plenty of vitamin C from fresh fruits and vegetables.
Magnesium
This mineral plays a role in building strong bones. However, your body’s ability to absorb magnesium diminishes with age. Eating a variety of healthy foods can help you get enough magnesium on a daily basis.
Vitamin K
Researchers have identified a relationship between vitamin K1 and osteoporosis: Women with lower vitamin K intakes were at greater risk for hip fracture. Those who got more than 254 mg per day had a significantly reduced risk for hip fractures.
Zinc
Your body uses zinc to help the bones stay strong. Low intakes of zinc are associated with poor bone health.
Foods to limit or avoid
High-salt foods
Excess salt consumption can cause your body to release calcium, which is harmful to your bones. Avoid foods that contain more than 20 percent of the daily recommended value for sodium. Limit your intake to no more than 2,300 mg per day whenever possible.
Alcohol
While a moderate amount of alcohol is considered safe for those with osteoporosis, excess alcohol can lead to bone loss. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, drinks should be limited to about two per day.
Beans/legumes
While beans have some healthy attributes for women with osteoporosis, they’re also high in phytates. These compounds affect your body’s ability to absorb calcium.
However, you can reduce the amount of phytates in beans: First soak them in water for two to three hours before cooking, and then drain the beans and add fresh water for cooking.
Wheat bran
Not only does wheat bran contain high levels of phytates, which can hinder calcium absorption, but 100 percent wheat bran is the only food that seems to reduce the absorption of calcium in other foods eaten at the same time.
Therefore, if you take calcium supplements, don’t take them within two to three hours of eating 100 percent wheat bran.
Excess vitamin A
Too much of this nutrient is associated with having adverse effects on bone health. This isn’t likely to happen through diet alone.
However, those who take both a multivitamin and fish liver oil supplement — also high in vitamin A — daily may have increased risk for adverse health effects from excess vitamin A consumption.
Caffeine
Caffeine can decrease calcium absorption and contribute to bone loss. Drinks such as coffee, tea, sodas, and energy drinks all contain varying amounts of caffeine, so choose these beverages in moderation.
Now that you know what nutrients are important when you have osteoporosis, here’s a recommended seven-day plan. Always talk with your doctor before beginning a new meal plan to ensure it doesn’t interfere with any medications or health conditions you may have.
Day 1
Breakfast
- 8 oz. orange juice fortified with calcium and vitamin D
- 1 cup whole-grain cereal fortified with vitamin D
- 4 oz. skim milk
Lunch
- 2.5 oz. extra-lean ground beef on a whole-grain bun (may add 1 slice nonfat American cheese, 1 lettuce leaf, and 2 red tomato slices)
- green salad with 1 hard-boiled egg and 2 tbsp. low-calorie dressing
- 8 oz. skim milk
Snack
- 1 orange
Dinner
- 2.5 oz. chicken breast
- 1/2 cup broccoli
- 3/4 cup rice
- 2 slices French bread with 1 tsp. margarine
- 1 cup strawberries with 2 tbsp. lite whipped topping
Day 2
Breakfast
- 1 slice whole-grain toast with peanut butter, avocado, or fruit jam
- 8 oz. calcium-fortified orange juice or 4 oz. skim milk
Lunch
- vegetarian chili
- green salad with 1 hard-boiled egg and 2 tbsp. low-calorie dressing
- small serving sorbet with raspberries
Snack
- low- or nonfat yogurt with sliced fruit or berries
Dinner
- pasta primavera with whole-grain pasta, grilled chicken, yellow squash, zucchini, carrots, and cherry tomatoes, dressed in olive oil
- cucumber, avocado, and tomato salad
- small serving lemon sorbet garnished with berry sauce
Day 3
Breakfast
- slow-cooked oatmeal prepared with apples and/or raisins
- 8 oz. calcium-fortified orange juice
Lunch
- falafel pita sandwich (may add cucumber, lettuce, and tomato)
- 1 slice watermelon
Snack
- 1 apple, banana, or orange, or 1 serving strawberries
Dinner
- fajita burrito with chicken or lean steak, bell peppers, onions, and quinoa on a whole-grain tortilla
- mashed sweet potato
- corn
Day 4
Breakfast
- scrambled tofu with vegetables, such as bell peppers, sugar snap peas, and spinach
- oven-roasted breakfast potatoes (may sprinkle with skim-milk American shredded cheese)
Lunch
- whole-wheat wrap with red pepper hummus, grated carrots, and tomato (may also try black or white bean spreads)
- 1 apple or banana
Snack
- fruit smoothie blended with low-fat yogurt or skim milk
Dinner
- grilled chicken sautéed with zucchini, asparagus, and mushrooms
- corn on the cob
Day 5
Breakfast
- whole-grain cereal with sliced strawberries
- 4 oz. soy milk
- 1 small banana
Lunch
- Thai soup with noodles, spinach, mushrooms, and corn
- carrot and bean dip, with celery and/or carrots for dipping
- green salad with tomatoes and basil
Snack
- chickpea or white bean dip
- 1 toasted whole-grain pita, sliced into fours for dipping
Dinner
- whole-grain spaghetti with vegetables, such as chopped onions, grated carrots, and diced broccoli
- small serving sorbet with berry sauce or fruits
Day 6
Breakfast
- whole-grain pancakes topped with applesauce or fruit spread
- 1 small veggie sausage link
- 4 oz. milk or calcium-fortified orange juice
Lunch
- vegetable and/or bean-based soup
- black bean and corn salad with red peppers
- 1 apple, banana, or orange
Snack
- 4 cubes of low-fat cheese
- whole-grain crackers or crisps
Dinner
- whole-wheat spinach lasagna with low-fat cheese
- green salad, with vegetables of your choice
Day 7
Breakfast
- omelet or quiche with tomato, spinach, and other desired vegetables
- 8 oz. calcium-fortified juice or skim milk
Lunch
- 4- to 6-oz. salmon burger on a whole-grain bun
- mashed potatoes
Snack
- rice pudding or milk pudding prepared with low-fat milk
- 1 handful of unsalted almonds
Dinner
- nachos topped with kidney beans, avocado, and low-fat cheese
- Greek salad with feta cheese
This meal plan was adopted from recommendations by the American Dietetic Association, the book “Building Bone Vitality: A Revolutionary Diet Plan to Prevent Bone Loss and Reverse Osteoporosis,” and the International Osteoporosis Foundation, which offers many bone-friendly recipes.