Osteoporosis – anyone can get it – but it is preventable
“Many people believe that osteoporosis is a disease which affects people who are older, and particularly ladies – but this is simply not correct,” according to Michele O’Brien, National Health Promotion Officer with the Irish Osteoporosis Society. “Anybody can develop osteoporosis.” Emphasising that osteoporosis affects people of all age groups, including children, Michele O’Brien challenged the audience in Wexford to think about osteoporosis prevention from childhood.
“Osteoporosis – or brittle bone disease - is a disease which is preventable and treatable in the majority of people,” according to Michele O’Brien. She described how bones need regular “weight bearing” exercises to maintain and build strength - exercises such as dancing, walking or climbing the stairs - although these should be varied where possible in order to challenge and develop bone and muscles.
Doing Less Means More Risks
“Unfortunately as our lives get busier and then as we start to get older, there can be a tendency to physically do less – which in turn can put us at higher risk,” says Michele O’Brien. She explains that lower levels of activity can in fact put more people at higher risk of developing weaker bones and muscles, and therefore at higher risk also of falling and fracturing a bone.
“Falls where bones are broken are the main reason why people lose independence. Where a person is not sure what exercises are appropriate, or if they have a physical limitation, a chartered physiotherapist can assess and advise an individual about what exercises or classes are safe and appropriate, especially if they have osteoporosis,” says Michele O’Brien. “We all need to think of exercise more as an opportunity for enjoyment, for revitalization and as a regular part of our health and wellbeing.”
“Consuming dairy as part of a regular, balanced diet, is also an essential part of preventing and treating osteoporosis,” says Michele O’Brien. “Dairy in particular plays an important role in leading a “bone healthy” lifestyle because it provides us with calcium in a format that our bodies can easily absorb. Fortified products have vitamin D which is essential for the absorption of calcium.”
Paula Mee - Lively Presentation on Nutrient Richness of Dairy
In a lively presentation entitled “Celebrating the Nutrient Richness of Dairy”, RTE TV personality and one of the country’s leading independent nutritionists Paula Mee told the audience that there’s more to dairy than healthy bones and teeth. She looked at more recent medical and research findings to explore in detail the full package of nutrients in milk and some of the health benefits of dairy as part of a balanced diet.
Evidence of Calcium Deficiencies
42% of Irish teenage girls and 23% of Irish teenage boys do not have enough calcium as part of their regular diets. In adulthood, research shows that 23% of Irish women do not have enough calcium as part their regular diets, compared with 11% of Irish men.
“Such dietary trends could be placing those people at increased risk of serious long term health problems in the future, such as osteoporosis – also known as brittle bone disease,” says Paula Mee.
Your Bones are Your Scaffolding
Describing our bones as the “scaffolding for our body”, Paula Mee makes the point that the risks associated with osteoporosis can be related to calcium deficiency and can also be affected by lifestyle factors including intakes of caffeine and alcohol, excessive intakes of salt or vitamin A, low weight and low activity levels or lack of exercise.
“Many of these factors are modifiable – which means we have the capacity to control them,” says Paula Mee. “Every meal and snack is an opportunity to boost the nutrient quality of our diet. Balance, variety and moderation are the key.”
“Milk and dairy products have a natural nutritional package which includes protein, B vitamins (riboflavin, vitamin B12), carbohydrate and phosphorous – as well as calcium,” says Paula Mee.
Emerging Evidence supports New Benefits
Paula Mee described how emerging research is pointing to the potential beneficial role of milk’s calcium and milk peptides in the management of blood pressure.
Skimmed Milk may also have a powerful role to play for athletes in tackling dehydration caused by exercise, training and competition, with research from the UK showing that skimmed milk may be more effective for retaining fluid than plain water or a commercially available sports drink.
Sam McCauleys Makeover
The Health and Wellbeing evening concluded with a makeover demonstration by Abbey Taylor, Senior Beauty Therapist & Advisor with Sam McCauleys.
Proceeds For Wexford Hospice Home Care
The Health and Wellbeing evening was organised jointly by Wexford Creamery and the National Dairy Council, so that all proceeds from the evening were donated to Wexford Branch of Hospice Home Care.
Fact Sheets
The National Dairy Council nutritional team has produced fact sheets a Guide to Healthy Eating and a Guide to Weight Loss. These are available free of charge (tel 01-6169726) or visit www.ndc.ie.
A booklet about Osteoporosis is also available free of charge. For information about where to download the guide, visit www.3aday.ie or www.ndc.ie; or for a printed copy, call the Osteoporosis Society at 1890 252 751 or the NDC on 01-6169726.
