The Mediterranean Diet and Osteoporosis

The Mediterranean Diet and Osteoporosis
By now you probably recognize that, when it comes to osteoporosis, there are many benefits to following the Mediterranean diet. But here are a few more fascinating research studies about how this diet can help people with osteoporosis:

• Lowers the risk of developing osteoporosis. The Mediterranean diet may be an effective strategy for lowering the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. Researchers hypothesize that one reason osteoporosis rates may be lower in Mediterranean countries is related to commonly eaten foods in those areas (Perez-Ray, 2019).
• Reduces inflammation. In addition to providing the above nutrients for bone health, it may help by reducing inflammation in the body through its high antioxidants and other anti-inflammatory nutrients. Inflammation may contribute to the development of osteoporosis (Ginaldi, 2005).
• Improves bone mineral density. Following the Mediterranean diet is linked to better BMD in multiple studies (Perez-Ray, 2019, Malmir, 2018).
• Reduces the risk of fractures. It also may help reduce the risk of fractures (Malmir, 2018). A large observational study of more than 90,000 women published in JAMA also found a significant link between those who followed the Mediterranean diet more closely and a lower risk of hip fractures (Haring, 2016). Similar results were seen for men who had a 7 percent reduced risk when they followed the diet (Benetou, 2012).
• May slow bone loss. The Mediterranean diet may help slow bone loss once you've been diagnosed with osteoporosis. A study on older European men and women found that following the Mediterranean diet and taking a vitamin D supplement helped to slow down bone loss in certain areas (Jennings, 2018).