10 Foods To Strengthen Bones And Joints (Bone And Joint Health)
“It is not a diet, It is not a phase, It is a permanent lifestyle change.”
Have you ever felt wonder by thinking about the incredible framework that holds our body together and allows you to move? Yes, it is Bones and joints, which gives a proper structure to our body, protects our internal organs from external damage and also gives firm support to our muscles in movements. This vital role player can be affected by a lot of physical and genetic factors. Today we explore the simple way to improve our bone and joint strength through food. Let us know more about the top 10 foods that keep our bones and joints healthy.
Why Should We Take Care Of Our Bone And Joint Health?
Bones are the support system for our body and it protects us from injury which affects our internal organs (brain, heart). Similarly joints are the connecting bridges between two or more bones. It helps in locomotion (running, walking, jumping, playing). To maintain a healthy and active lifestyle, it is important to maintain your bone and joint health.
According to the studies in India, 19.71% of elderly people had bone and joint disease, which was higher among women (22.79%) than men (16.25%). Hence it is important to take care of our bones and join especially for elderly people and Women.
Bones And Joints Problems
Some of the commonly affecting bone and joint disease are listed below:
- Osteoporosis
- Paget’s disease
- Osteomyelitis
- Osteopenia
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Gout.
10 Best Foods To Strengthen Bones And Joints
There are a lot of ways to improve bone and joint health. Having healthy foods which are beneficial for the health of bones and joints is the simpler way to maintain and improve bone and joint health. The 10 best foods which help to strengthen bones and joints are listed below:
Cheese: Calcium is the most important and abundant mineral in the formation and maintenance of the bone. Cheese contains high calcium content which helps to maintain bone health. Generally hard cheeses tend to have more calcium levels than other cheeses.
Milk: Milk is the commonly known source of calcium which is important for developing the bone. Breast milk is the important source for the infant to build their bone mass.
Collard green: If you are allergic to dairy products or have lactose intolerance, leafy vegetables are a good choice for calcium source especially collard green (broccoli) contain rich source of calcium compared to others.
Cereals: Cereals like oats, quinoa, brown rice, and barley are rich in calcium and dietary fibre which is useful in improving bone and joint strength.
Chia seeds: Chia seeds contain boron which is also important for the metabolism of calcium in the body. It helps to promote our bones and muscle health and it also contains phosphorus and magnesium.
Salmon and Sardines: Salmon and sardines are a rich source of calcium, omega 3 fatty acids, and vitamin D, which helps in building our bone mass.
Beans: Individuals who want to build their bone mass and maintain a healthy joint in a vegan way can go for beans. It contains high calcium levels and is also rich in iron, zinc, and magnesium which is also essential for bone health.
Curcumin: Other than calcium rich foods curcumin helps to reduce inflammation which was caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Always have this in your foods, as it contains antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
Andrographis Paniculata (kalamegha/Bhunimba) extract: It has anti-inflammatory properties which helps to reduce inflammation in joints during rheumatoid arthritis condition and it helps strengthen the tender joints in individuals.
Dry fruits: Dry fruits like almond and dried figs are excellent sources of calcium and vitamin D. It helps improve bone density by slowing the breakdown of bone in your body.
Myths And Facts About Foods Which Strengthen Bones And Joints
Myth: Only calcium can make your bones strong.
Fact: Not only calcium but also vitamins and minerals are also important to maintain bone health. Vitamin D ensures the proper absorption of calcium in the body.
Myth: Coffee inhibits bone growth.
Fact: No, There is no clinical evidence for the consumption of coffee which inhibits bone growth.
Myth: Drinking milk alone is enough to prevent bone disorder.
Fact: Drinking milk is good for health but, it does not prevent you from bone disorder like osteoporosis.
Myth: Osteoporosis is a calcium deficiency disorder.
Fact: Calcium deficiency alone is not a cause of osteoporosis. Even though it is associated with calcium deficiency, ageing factors especially in post-menopausal women and vitamin D deficiency is also a reason for this condition.
Healthy Ways To Improve Bone And Joint Health
A healthy outside starts from the inside. Keep this in mind and don’t forget to include those foods which are mentioned in this blog in your daily diet to maintain healthy bones and joints. Additionally, you can improve your bones and joints health by daily sun exposure (10-15 min) and doing regular exercises. A health bone is the base of the healthy person. Make sure to give proper care to your bones and prevent yourself from the disorder which affects your bones and joints. Let's break the stigma of the bone and joint disorder which breaks our bones.
