8 “Harmless” Habits That Could Be Giving You Osteoporosis

You know you need your calcium, but you might not realize other lifestyle factors that could increase your risk for osteoporosis.

Protecting your bones

The bone disease osteoporosis, which occurs as you lose bone mass and bone quality, affects 10 million Americans, 80 percent of whom are women, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Another 18 million people have low bone mass, putting them at risk of the disease. But osteoporosis is not inevitable. There are things you can do now to reduce your risk later on.

older couple sitting on the couch together at home
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You spend too much time on the couch

If you live a sedentary lifestyle you may be inadvertently increasing your chances of osteoporosis. “Bone is a living tissue and responds to load,” says Jonathan Lee, MD, an attending physician of orthopedics at Montefiore Health System in the Bronx, New York. Loading is when you put enough weight on bones with activities like walking, weight-lifting, and playing tennis to stimulate bone-building cells.

“For bone, the more you use it, the more it will adapt and strengthen. Likewise, if it is not subjected to loading, it will waste away,” says Lee. Studies in astronauts proved this: The weightless environment in space actually caused them to lose bone mass. The solution for us here on Earth? Weight-bearing exercise. “Make sure that the exercise you choose actually loads your skeleton—while swimming has many wonderful health benefits, your bones are not loaded,” Dr. Lee says. “An activity such as walking might be better for osteoporosis prevention.” Here are 16 easy ways to work a walk into your daily routine.

freshly cooked steak ready for dinner
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You love your steak

A Paleo diet or other protein-focused eating plans like Atkins could be bad for your bones. Even if you aren’t following that kind of plan, you’re probably consuming too much meat. “Almost all Americans eat much more protein than they need,” Dr. Lee says. How this affects bones reflects the delicate balance of your body’s different systems. “High-protein diets can cause the kidneys to excrete more calcium,” he says. “Since calcium is one of the primary building blocks of bone, this calcium loss can contribute to decreased bone mineral density,” which can lead to osteoporosis. Keep an eye out for these signs of a calcium deficiency.

However, some studies have shown protein causes the body to absorb more calcium, which is why there is extra to excrete. But as with most foods, it’s still best to eat meat in moderation.

bowl of potato chips snack
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You eat salty snacks

Another dietary factor that could be contributing to bone loss is too much salt. “High salt intake increases blood pressure,” Dr. Lee explains. “As the kidneys work to excrete the sodium, calcium is also removed from the bloodstream.” A study from Japan presented at a meeting of The Endocrine Society showed that postmenopausal women who had high sodium intake were four times more likely to have a non-spinal fracture than those with low sodium intake. And although the Japanese consume more salt than people in the U.S.—3,972 mg versus 3,400 mg per day according to the study’s authors—Americans are still way over the recommended 2,300 mg daily.

woman drinking morning cup of coffee in kitchen and looking out window
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You avoid sunlight like a vampire

Although sunscreen is crucial to reduce skin cancer risk, we still need vitamin D to help process calcium. “Vitamin D is required for the body to successfully absorb and use calcium, one of the fundamental building blocks of bone,” Dr. Lee says. “Most Americans, especially in colder climates, do not get enough sun exposure to generate enough natural vitamin D, and thus supplementation is essential.” According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, adults under 50 need 400-800 IU of vitamin D daily, and adults over 50 need 800-1,000 IU daily. Talk to your doctor about your specific needs based on where you live, what time of year it, is and which vitamin D-rich foods you eat. Try these things to slash your risk of osteoporosis.

close up of pouring hot coffee into mug
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You can’t function without java

Coffee seems to be good for you one month, then bad the next. Dr. Lee says that how caffeine affects bones really seems to be more of a potential issue for older women. “The researchers who studied the mechanism for why caffeine might contribute to bone loss seem to conclude that the effects really only occur in the absence of significant amounts of estrogen, so it might be more of a problem in post-menopausal women,” he says. “However, I would not get bent out of shape on this one as I don’t think there is enough conclusive evidence to quit your morning cup of coffee, regardless of your age.” But, if you have other risk factors or you drink multiple cups a day, you might consider cutting down.

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You’re losing a lot of weight

While getting to a healthy weight is good, losing too much weight can be very bad for your bones. “As with exercise, the bones need to be adequately loaded in order to stimulate them enough to respond to the load and generate more biomechanically ‘good’ bone,” Dr. Lee says. “Body mass index less than 19 is considered a risk factor for osteoporosis.” According to a study from the Harvard School of Public Health, just a one-unit increase in BMI (approximately five to eight pounds) decreased the risk of bone loss a whopping 12 percent, a “greater magnitude than most other modifiable risk factors,“ according to the study’s authors. Dr. Lee also points out that “those who are underweight might also be suffering from malnutrition, which could contribute to osteoporosis as well.” Here are some things you can do every day to boost your bone health.

close up of pouring a glass of white wine
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You unwind with wine

“Too much alcohol can make it harder for the GI tract to absorb calcium,” Dr. Lee says. “It also affects the pancreas and liver, influencing both calcium and vitamin D.” Alcohol can also impact different hormones in the body. “Cortisol levels can increase, and this can lead to lower bone mineral density,” Dr. Lee says. “In women in particular, higher alcohol consumption can decrease estrogen levels, and this can also lead to osteoporosis. To top it all off, alcohol is directly toxic to osteoblasts, the cells that become bone cells.” More than one drink a day for women can cause bone loss and fracture.

close up of person filling up cup at soda fountain
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You have a weakness for soda

Some research has shown that sodas (specifically colas) have been linked with bone loss, but the reasons why aren’t clear. Researchers from Tufts University found that women who regularly drank cola sodas (three to four a day) had lower bone density in the hip (the research was published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition). Their theory is that it could be the caffeine or the levels of phosphoric acid, which can leach calcium from bones.

But Dr. Lee thinks there isn’t much evidence to prove the phosphoric acid theory. “Most experts now feel that it’s more likely that soda is replacing healthy calcium intake, rather than causing the problem,” he says. “For example, if someone drank a glass of milk instead of a glass of soda over a period of time, they probably would have a lower risk for osteoporosis.” If you do drink soda, make sure you’re getting enough calcium from other sources. Next, read up on these silent signs that you might have osteoporosis.

Sources
Medically reviewed by Susan E. Spratt, MD, on March 09, 2021

Tina Donvito
Tina Donvito is a writer, editor, and blogger who writes about health and wellness, travel, lifestyle, parenting, and culture. Her work has been published online in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, and Parents, among others. Chosen by Riverhead Books and author Elizabeth Gilbert, her writing appears in the anthology Eat Pray Love Made Me Do It: Life Journeys Inspired by the Bestselling Memoir. Tina was previously editor-in-chief of TWIST magazine, a celebrity news title for teen girls with an emphasis on health, body image, beauty, and fashion.