Regular physical activity helps bones regenerate. Weight-bearing exercises, i.e., those that require your bones to support your weight, like walking, dancing, skating, and ball sports, are best for strengthening your bones.
It’s also a good idea to do activities that strengthen muscles and improve balance, as this reduces your risk of falling and suffering a fracture. Tai chi and yoga are two such activities anyone can do.
Calcium is an essential element for bone health. You should aim to eat calcium-rich foods on a daily basis. These include:
Up to the age of 50, you should be getting an average of 1,000 mg of calcium a day through your diet. Those over the age of 50, especially women, should aim for 1,200 mg a day.
Vitamin D is essential to help your body absorb as much calcium as possible from the foods you eat. According to Health Canada, adults should have a daily intake of about 600 IU of vitamin D (800 IU after the age of 70).
Most of your vitamin D comes from exposure to the sun. If you don’t go outside on a regular basis because of your health or use sunscreen diligently every time you go outside, you should make sure your diet is rich in vitamin D.
In Canada, milk and margarine are required to be fortified with vitamin D. Some other foods are fortified on a voluntary basis, for example plant-based beverages and calcium-fortified juice. Fatty fish and egg yolks are the only natural sources of vitamin D.
A registered dietitian can help you determine whether your diet is sufficiently high in calcium and vitamin D.
Alcohol consumption contributes to bone loss. Follow Canada’s recommended guidelines for the consumption of alcoholic beverages:
If your diet does not satisfy all your vitamin D and calcium requirements, your pharmacist can recommend a supplement that meets your needs.
If you want to quit smoking, talk to your pharmacist. They can recommend smoking cessation aids to help you butt out for good!
The pharmacy services presented in this section are offered by pharmacist owners who are affiliated with PROXIM. The pharmacists are solely responsible for the professional activities carried out during the practice of pharmacy.
The information contained herein is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide complete information on the subject matter or to replace the advice of a health professional. This information does not constitute medical consultation, diagnosis or opinion and should not be interpreted as such. Please consult your health care provider if you have any questions about your health, medications or treatment.