Osteoporosis is a bone disease that can be common in older adults. It affects millions every year, especially women, who are twice as likely as men to develop the disease because of the drop in estrogen levels at menopause and because they usually have a longer life span than men.
Risk factors for osteoporosis:
- Old age
- Smoking
- Ethnicity (whites and Asians have a higher risk than blacks or Hispanics)
- Family history
- Being very thin
- Early menstruation and/or late menopause
- Eating disorders
- Alcoholism
- Excess caffeine
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Low calcium intake
According to Dairy Council of California, adequate calcium and vitamin D intake throughout life, as part of a well-balanced diet, may reduce the risk of osteoporosis. The earlier you start, the better. It has been shown that Calcium intake in early life may contribute to a 50 % difference in the hip fracture rate later in life.*
What you can do:
- Keep calcium levels high
- Make physical activity a habit
- Avoid risk factors (such as smoking or drinking)
* Dairy Council of California
