May is Osteoporosis Prevention & Awareness Month

May 15, 2013

Follow these tips for healthy bones!

  • Smoking Harms Bones. By Quitting smoking you can improve the quality of your bones and your overall health.
  • The formula for Stronger Bones: Get the Recommended C (Calcium) + D (Vitamin D) + E (Exercise)
  • Know Your Osteoporosis Risk Factors

o Older Age

o Female gender (but men get it too!)

o Menopause

o Smoking

o Too little calcium or vitamin D

o Not enough physical activity

o Certain diseases and/or medications

  • Height loss of more then 1 ½ inch indicates that you may have osteoporosis! Speak to your healthcare provider for more information.
  • Take safety precautions to prevent falls and prevent broken bones!
  • Exercise safely and stay physically active for stronger boness
  • Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables for stronger bones.
  • You are never too young or too old to take actions to promote stronger bones!
  • Building strong bones during childhood and adolescence can help to prevent osteoporosis later in life.

Take these steps to promote strong bones for life!

o Eat a variety of healthy (nutrient-rich) foods every day with plenty of fruits and vegetables

o Get the calcium and vitamin D you need every day

o Be physically active.

o Don’t smoke

o Limit Alcohol

-Jeri Wanzor Nieves, PhD

Associate Professor of Clinical Epidemiology and Nutrition

Director, New York State Osteoporosis Prevention and Education Program

Clinical Research Center