The Benefits of Yogurt: For Fighting Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

If you're suffering from postmenopausal osteoporosis, consuming a little cup of yogurt each day can make a BIG difference!!!! This healthy snack is beneficial for postmenopausal women concerned about osteoporosis because it contains the calcium that their bones need to stay strong. In addition, yogurt has several other ingredients that can aid osteoporotic women in the fight against bone density loss.

How does a calcium-rich diet translate to stronger bones?

By the time you've reached postmenopause, your bones have already developed. All of the calcium that you eat at this stage in your life will work towards other bodily functions, rather than being invested into your skeletal makeup. Because of this redistribution of nutrients, when you don't eat enough calcium, your body starts to steal it from your bones, which leads to a spongier, more fragile skeleton

However, consuming enough calcium from the foods you eat is only half the battle. You also have to make sure you're consuming enough of the nutrients that aid in digesting this calcium so that it gets to its proper destination. This is why yogurt is such a nutritious snack for fighting postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Along with calcium, you also need vitamin D, which directs the mineral from your digestive tract to your organs. Another ingredient found in yogurt that aids in the body's intake of calcium is the active cultures. These organisms mingle with the lactose (milk sugar) and create lactic acid, which aids the body in breaking down and absorbing the calcium found in milk.

Which yogurt should I buy?

The benefits of yogurt largely depend on what kind you buy. See below for a quick checklist of which types of yogurt are best for your postmenopausal diet.

* Plain yogurt is better than the fruit-flavored varieties because it usually contains more calcium.
* Low-fat yogurt will help you watch your cholesterol.
* Fresh yogurt is better than frozen yogurt, which does not have as many live cultures.

Recommendation

If you prefer fruit-flavored yogurt, try adding fresh strawberries, blueberries or raspberries to plain, non-fat yogurt for a sweet treat with added vitamin C.

In addition to consuming more calcium, low-impact exercises like swimming or weight lifting can also help build bone strength. Click the following link for more information about postmenopausal osteoporosis treatments.

To learn more about Osteoporosis