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World Osteoporosis Day (WOD) takes place in October, each year. And the campaign call this year is for people, of all ages, to “Love Your Bones: Protect Your Future”. Osteoporosis is a growing problem, globally, and sufferers can be affected by an array of life-limiting symptoms. But it’s not all doom and gloom. There are lots of simple steps that can be taken to help protect our bones.

Beautiful bones!

Most of us pay very little attention to our bones. And yet they provide us with strength, protect our bodies and help us carry out everyday tasks. Did you know that bones are a living tissue, continually growing and changing? They become most dense in our early twenties but then the density starts to reduce making it important to be mindful about bone health, throughout our lives.

Signs of osteoporosis

A first fracture - most commonly affecting the hips, spine or wrists – can often be one of the first signs of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis affects one in three women and one in five men aged 50 years and over. The condition causes bones to weaken and thus break more easily and can lead to serious pain and even long-term disability. Following a hip fracture, for example, only 40% of survivors return to their pre-fracture walking ability and because walking is an important weight-bearing exercise – crucial for bone health – this can exacerbate the condition. In severe cases, even sudden movements – like sneezing – can start to cause problems.

Hints and tips

The WOD’s official website offers the following five tips for healthy bones and a fracture-free future:

1. Get regular exercise: Strengthening and weight-bearing exercises – like good old walking – are excellent options.
2. Eat well: Ensure your diet includes plenty of bone-healthy nutrients like calcium and vitamin D. Snacking on nuts or dried fruit can help. And did you know that prunes contain vitamin K and manganese that - among other functions - have direct benefits for bone health?
3. Cut out unhealthy habits: If you’re still overeating, smoking or drinking excessively, get the help you need and stop.
4. Assess your osteoporosis risk: If it’s high, you might need prescription medication to protect you.
5. And if you suspect that you’re high risk? Ask your doctor to run some tests so that you can get the treatment you need.

The role of prunes

Prunes provide a number of nutrients that contribute – in different ways - to bone health:

• Vitamin K supports the maintenance of normal bones and helps with blood clotting.
• Manganese also supports the maintenance of normal bones and helps form normal connective tissue (a structural part of bones).
• Vitamin B6 helps make healthy blood cells and maintain normal hormone levels.
• Copper helps support normal iron transport in the body and also helps maintain normal connective tissues.

If you’d like to know more, why not check out our Serve Up Bone Strength fact sheet?

Please Note: Prunes are good for digestion and help keep you regular, when 100g are eaten as part of a varied and balanced diet and an active lifestyle. Always consult a GP if you have any health concerns.