Discover the Best Foods for Osteoporosis and How To Get Them Into Your Diet Daily

Dr. Donna Sergi, Licensed Nutrition Response Practitioner • Nov 18, 2022

"The content below is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition."

You know how tricky osteoporosis can be. By the time you start to feel pain, it’s already progressing. 


And while you can’t reverse the damage it causes, you know there must be a way to slow any more damage from happening. 


Could diet changes make a difference? 


Absolutely. 


You can learn how to uncover the best diet for osteoporosis based on your unique needs. This helpful guide will dig into the top superfoods for osteoporosis and show how you can find help for your symptoms. 

Table of Contents

best foods for osteoporosis

What Are the Best Foods To Eat if You Have Osteoporosis?

Foods containing …


  • Vitamin D
  • Calcium
  • Magnesium
  • Potassium; and
  • Vitamin K 


… are the best foods to eat if you have osteoporosis. 


Each of these nutrients aid in slowing the progression of bone loss and in managing osteoporosis



The following are what some may consider “superfoods” to help boost your bone strength and manage your diagnosis. 

best foods for osteoporosis

The 9 Top Superfoods for Osteoporosis

#1: Dairy Products

Calcium is crucial to maintaining bone strength. Studies have shown that consuming dairy can decrease the rate of bone loss


Even in the elderly, dairy helps reduce the risk of bone fractures by continuing to improve bone density


Low-fat dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt are all full of calcium. Boost your calcium intake by adding a few servings of dairy products daily.

Ideas for Getting Dairy Into Your Diet

If you’re a fan of dairy products, including them in your daily diet is simple. Add some cheese on top of your salad. Have a glass of milk at breakfast or before bed. 


But what about if you’re not a fan of dairy products? What’s the simplest way to add them to your diet? 


Consider things like: 


  • Make smoothies with yogurt 
  • Make protein shakes with low-fat milk 
  • Use low-fat milk to make cereal or oatmeal
  • Mix yogurt with your favorite herbs or salsa to create a rich-tasting salad dressing
  • Add cheese to your morning eggs
foods for osteoporosis

#2: Dark Leafy Greens

Not sure you can get enough dairy in daily? 



Adding dark leafy greens into your diet can help amp your calcium and vitamin K intake. 


For example, one cup of cooked turnip greens has roughly 200 mg of calcium (20% of the recommended amount daily) and 138 mcg of vitamin K, which is well above the recommended 90-120 mcg per day.

Ideas for Getting Dark Leafy Greens Into Your Diet

Dark leafy greens like … 


  • Kale
  • Collard greens
  • Spinach
  • Cabbage; and
  • Arugula


… are some of the best superfoods for osteoporosis — and are fairly simple to add to your diet. 


Spinach is extremely versatile. It can be added to turkey burgers, as a sandwich topping, or as your main salad ingredient. 



Arugula, which has a peppery flavor, makes a great addition to flatbreads, mixed with pasta and rice, or served raw with roasted vegetables. 

#3: Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are loaded with magnesium and potassium, two powerhouses for bone strength. Potassium works to balance acidity in your body, reducing calcium loss from your bones. 


Magnesium helps ensure that ingested calcium is being deposited into our bones. 



One cup of sweet potatoes contains around ¼ of the amount of recommended magnesium and potassium per day. 

Ideas for Getting Sweet Potatoes Into Your Diet

Sweet potatoes are an excellent addition to any meal —  as breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even a snack throughout the day. 



And they’re another extremely versatile vegetable. You can make them a savory dish or create a sweet treat. 


Mash them up and serve them as a substitute for mashed potatoes, or add them to a hash for breakfast.

#4: Figs

Figs contain calcium and potassium, making them the perfect snack for those looking to slow the progression of osteoporosis. 


They are sweet with a soft, chewy texture — one that many people either love or despise, but when searching for natural remedies for osteoporosis, they are a superfood you may want to consider. 

Ideas for Getting Figs Into Your Diet

“Bring us some figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer!”


Okay, okay, so figgy pudding isn’t the ideal way to add more figs into your diet. 


If you’re someone who just doesn’t love the texture of figs, consider doing the following to get more figs into your diet:

 

  • Make as a jam to spread on toast
  • Use as a pizza topping
  • Add them chopped in salads — tuna salad or a bed of mixed greens
  • Mix them in with yogurt
  • Caramelize and top with cinnamon
best foods for osteoporosis

#5: Citrus Fruits

Deficiency in ascorbic acid (vitamin C) has been linked to the development of osteoporosis. 



Consuming citrus fruits — grapefruits, lemons, limes, oranges — is a great way to ensure you’re getting enough vitamin C in your diet, potentially slowing its effects on your bones. 

Ideas for Getting Citrus Fruits Into Your Diet

One of the easiest ways to add more citrus fruit into your diet is by drinking fortified orange juice. One glass contains 350 milligrams of calcium, over ⅓ of the recommended amount to consume per day! 


Additional ways to consume citrus fruits include: 



  • Making a citrus and pomegranate fruit salad
  • Adding slices of lime or lemon to your water daily
  • Using lemon juice and zest into your creamy pasta sauces
  • Mixing lemon or lime juice with your favorite herbs to create a delicious salad dressing 

#6: Almonds

Almonds are kind of like a secret weapon against bone degeneration. 


Almonds are full of:



  • Calcium
  • Potassium
  • Magnesium
  • Copper
  • Vitamin K
  • Zinc
  • Manganese 
  • Healthy fats; and 
  • Protein

Ideas for Getting Almonds Into Your Diet

While many resources state that the best way to eat almonds — and reap the benefits — is to soak and peel them before consuming, there are many different ways you can consult his powerhouse food. 


Try one of these five ideas for using almonds:



  1. Add them to salads, yogurt, or granola.
  2. Soak and process almonds into a “juice” or “milk.” 
  3. Add them to smoothies or smoothie bowls.
  4. Toss a few in homemade snack mixes.
  5. Eat them by the handful.

#7: Prunes

One of the not-so-commonly thought of superfoods for osteoporosis are prunes. 



Before you scroll past, because you instantly think of your grandma telling you how beneficial they are as she adds them to her bowl of oatmeal, hear us out. 


Studies have found that consuming prunes, or friend plumbs, may help protect against bone loss. This fruit has a much higher level of vitamin K than most commonly consumed fruits.

Ideas for Getting Prunes Into Your Diet

Dried fruit is one of those things that many have a love-hate relationship with from the time they are little. 


Could it be because of the textures? It’s likely. 


If you aren’t loving the idea of popping a couple of prunes into your mouth daily, you’re not alone. 


Thankfully, you have options like: 



  • Drinking prune juice
  • Mixing whole prunes, or prune juice, into smoothies 
  • Adding prunes into baked goods
  • Chopping and adding to your favorite salads
  • Adding prunes to savory soups or stews
best diet for osteopososis

#8: Vegetarian Proteins

If you’re sticking to a plant-based diet and dealing with an osteoporosis diagnosis, it’s vital that you consume foods that maintain bone health.


Consider these options:



  • Fortified milk alternatives
  • Lentils
  • Tofu
  • Beans
  • Nuts
  • Seeds 

Ideas for Getting Vegetarian Proteins Into Your Diet

Adding vegetarian proteins into your diet doesn’t have to be tedious — many people think that tofu is complicated, but it’s really quite simple to season. 



Consider adding tofu as a pizza topping or beans on your salad for a more “Southwestern” feel. Add lentils to soups or aside main dishes. Mix seeds and nuts into your favorite “party mix” or granola recipe. 

#9: Molasses

Molasses contains … 


  • Iron
  • Calcium
  • Selenium; and 
  • Copper



… which are all nutrients vital to maintaining bone health. Daily consumption of blackstrap molasses may be just what your body needs to fight back at osteoporosis.

Ideas for Getting Molasses Into Your Diet

Enjoying the benefits of molasses is easy. You can simply add it as a sweetener to baked goods, desserts, and sauces. Or you can mix it in your favorite smoothies, coffee, or other beverages. 



One of the quickest and potentially easiest ways to consume molasses is mixing one or two tablespoons into a cup of hot water. 

HealthierU: Nutrition Response Testing Can Help You Discover the Right Superfoods for Osteoporosis and Bone Loss

Struggling with osteoporosis and bone loss and hoping that a change in your diet will help? 


It could — especially if you have a clear idea of what’s going on in your body. 


At HealthierU, we understand and help educate others that everybody is different — one person’s nutritional path may not be best for the next. 



Knowing what agrees with your genetic makeup can feel intimidating, especially if you’ve tried various diet changes and find that nothing is working. 


Cue HealthierU and our Nutrition Response Testing. We can help you determine the most effective superfoods for osteoporosis and your unique genetic makeup.


Don’t wait until it’s too late. Slow the progression of osteoporosis and bone loss with the help of HealthierU. 

best foods for osteoporosis

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