Good bone density means that your bones are less brittle and more resistant to breaking. Retaining bone density is particularly important for women, who are more prone to brittle bones, although men also lose bone density as they age too.
There are lots you can do to keep your bones healthy as you age. Strength-building and weight-bearing activities, such as weight training, walking and heavy gardening, help build bone density. Research shows that a bone-healthy diet can also be effective – eating lots of leafy greens (both raw and cooked) and high protein and calcium-enriched foods may be helpful. Vitamin D can also help maintain bone health – while getting it directly from the sun is great, it can also be prescribed for people with Vitamin D deficiency.
Some people have great faith in supplements for building bone health. If you want to take these, it’s advisable to talk to your GP first.
Poor bone density could also be a sign of osteoporosis, a disease that causes bones to become weak and brittle, which increases the risk of fractures. Osteoporosis is diagnosed when bone density measurements show that a person's bone density is significantly below the average for their age and gender. If you are concerned you may be at risk of osteoporosis, speak to your health professional.
Updated: 20 Jul 2023