Maintaining a healthy diet plays an essential role when it comes to the
health of your bones and muscles. Here are some foods you can add to your
diet that support orthopedic health.
Foods to Add to Your Diet
Calcium and Vitamin D
Calcium and vitamin D are important when it comes to supporting and maintaining the health of
your bones and muscles. These two nutrients work together to maintain
bone density and muscle strength as you age.
If you’ve ever been told to drink your milk as a child, you’ve
probably been told that calcium helps build strong bones. Our bodies are
continually losing calcium through our nails, hair, and skin, and cannot produce calcium on their
own, which is why it is essential to get proper amounts of calcium through
a balanced diet.
Foods rich in calcium include:
- Dairy products such as milk and cheese
- Leafy greens such as Brussels sprouts and kale
- Beans and lentils
- Tofu
- Nuts such as almonds and walnuts
Vitamin D is just as important because it helps your body to
absorb calcium and also
supports the muscles needed to protect your bones. When your body is deficient in vitamin D,
you’re more likely to experience fractures and breaks as you age.
Although your body
naturally produces its own vitamin D as a reaction to sunlight, you may not get enough sunlight
during the winter to create the proper amount. This may be a result of
where you live, the weather, skin pigmentation, and several other factors.
Other sources of vitamin D include:
- Fortified foods like cereal or orange juice
- Fatty fish like salmon and sardines
- Supplements and multivitamins
- Egg yolks
- Mushrooms
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means that it is absorbed best
in your bloodstream when paired with high-fat foods. For this reason,
it's recommended to take vitamin D supplements with a meal to enhance
absorption.
Protein
Protein also plays an essential role in supporting muscle and bone health.
While proteins have many functions throughout every part of the body,
when it comes to orthopedic health, they are responsible for providing
structural support and
allow the body to move.
The following foods are excellent sources of protein:
- Oats
- Quinoa
- Greek yogurt
- Broccoli
- Lentils
- All types of fish
- Peanuts
- Pumpkin seeds
- Lean meats such as beef and lamb
- Poultry such as chicken and turkey
Orthopedic Care in Gillette, Wyoming
If you have concerns when it comes to your orthopedic health,
Powder River Orthopedics & Spine (PROS) is here to help. We can evaluate your options so you can rest assured
that you get the best possible outcome and are back to a happy and active
life in no time.
Call the PROS at 307.686.1413 or visit
www.cchwyo.org/PROS to learn more.