To celebrate its 25th anniversary this month, the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) is promoting “25 Ways to Improve Your Bone Health.” The suggestions are simple, easy and familiar, and the primary message to think each day about bone health benefits every woman.
The NOF offers ideas that promote a more fun and active lifestyle while improving bone strength. Go dancing. Take a Tai Chi class with a friend. Try a new sport or activity such as tennis, hiking or skiing. Additional suggestions relate to education about bone health and disease. These include learning about the risk factors for osteoporosis, which tests help diagnose bone problems, and how much vitamin D each woman should get depending on her age.
The 25 steps to healthier bones are grouped into five general categories:
1. Get enough calcium and vitamin D every day
2. Do weight-bearing and muscle strengthening exercises
3. Keep healthy lifestyle behaviors (healthy diet, limit smoking and alcohol)
4. Talk to your doctor about bone health
5. Improve your balance and prevent falls
The NOF was established in 1984 and is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization solely dedicated to osteoporosis and bone health. Part of its mission is “to help improve the lives of those affected by osteoporosis and to find a cure through programs of awareness, advocacy, public and health professional education and research.”
Read more about the National Osteoporosis Foundation and ways to improve your bone health in the following links.
Article Link:
National Osteoporosis Foundation, 2009. “25 Ways to Improve Your Bone Health”:
http://bones.nof.org/site/PageServer?pagename=NOF_25th_Anniversary_Bone_Health
National Osteoporosis Foundation home page: http://www.nof.org/aboutnof/
Related EmpowHer Links:
Kantor, C. “Boosting Bone Health with Calcium,” 2009.
https://www.empowher.com/news/herarticle/2009/05/04/boosting-bone-health-calcium
“For Good Bone Health: Shop the Perimeter of the Store,” 2008.
https://www.empowher.com/community/share/good-bone-health-shop-perimeter-store
Video: “Dr. Siris- Advocating for Bone Health, How Can Women Do This?”
https://www.empowher.com/media/video/video-dr-siris-advocating-bone-health-how-can-women-do
Written by: D. Jenkins, Ph.D.
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