Osteoporosis: Nourishing Your Bones

nutrition for osteoporosis

A Nutritional Approach to Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, characterized by weak and brittle bones, is a condition that affects millions worldwide. While factors like age, genetics, and physical activity play significant roles in bone health, nutrition stands as a cornerstone in the prevention and management of osteoporosis. In this article, we’ll explore the vital role of nutrition in combating osteoporosis, focusing on an anti-inflammatory diet, the importance of calcium intake, and the impact of vitamin D.

The Power of an Anti-Inflammatory Diet

An anti-inflammatory diet not only benefits overall health but also plays a crucial role in bone health. Chronic inflammation can accelerate bone loss and increase the risk of fractures. By incorporating anti-inflammatory foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and fatty fish into your diet, you can help reduce inflammation and promote bone health.

Fruits and Vegetables: Nature’s Bone Protectors

Research suggests that higher fruit and vegetable intake is associated with a lower risk of fractures. These nutrient-rich foods are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants essential for bone health. Aim to incorporate a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables into your meals to provide your body with the nutrients it needs to build and maintain strong bones.

The Calcium Connection

Calcium is a vital mineral that plays a central role in bone health. Adults aged 50 and older should aim for a daily calcium intake of 1200 mg to support bone strength and density. However, simply consuming calcium-rich foods may not be enough. To optimize calcium absorption, it’s important to consume it in small, separate doses throughout the day.

Sources of Calcium

  • Dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt
  • Dark leafy greens like collard greens and spinach
  • Sesame seeds
  • Molasses
  • Tofu
  • White beans

Incorporating these calcium-rich foods into your diet can help ensure you’re meeting your daily calcium needs and supporting your bone health.

The Role of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and bone mineralization. Without adequate vitamin D levels, your body may struggle to absorb calcium effectively, increasing the risk of bone loss and fractures. To optimize bone health, it’s crucial to ensure you’re getting enough vitamin D through sun exposure, dietary sources, or supplements.

Check Your Vitamin D Levels

Since vitamin D plays a crucial role in calcium absorption, it’s essential to monitor your vitamin D levels regularly, especially if you’re at risk of osteoporosis. Speak to your healthcare provider about getting your vitamin D levels checked and discuss supplementation options if necessary.

In conclusion, nutrition plays a vital role in the prevention and management of osteoporosis. By following an anti-inflammatory diet, prioritizing calcium-rich foods, and ensuring adequate vitamin D intake, you can nourish your bones and support long-term bone health. Remember to consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian for personalized nutrition advice tailored to your specific needs and circumstances.

For More Information on Nutrition from RVNAhealth

If you’re interested in learning more or need help with osteoporosis and nutrition, our RVNAhealth Nutritionist, Monica Marcello, RD, regularly holds informational presentations and cooking classes out in the communities we serve. You can also connect with Monica by signing up for her monthly nutrition newsletter or by contacting her with questions at nutrition@rvnahealth.org.

Monica Marcello, RVNAhealth Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Educator. Available for Osteoporosis consultations.

About Monica: Monica Marcello, MS, RD is RVNAhealth’s registered dietitian and nutrition educator who promotes holistic health, longevity, and quality of life. Monica’s areas of expertise include disease prevention and treatment for many chronic and acute conditions.

 

Walking The Talk And Winning Awards in Home Care!

StayingWELL Services caregiver training

In photo: Jessica Spears, StayingWELL Supervisor, provides hands-on caregiver training with “Alex,” RVNAhealth’s training manikin

RVNAhealth StayingWELL Home Care Services Wins 2024 Best of Home Care – Leader in Experience Award

For the second year in a row, RVNAhealth StayingWELL Services has won the distinguished Best of Home Care – Leader in Experience Award from Home Care Pulse (HCP), the leading firm in experience management for home care. As a Leader in Experience, StayingWELL Services is now recognized among the top 15% of over 3,000 home care agencies nationwide participating in the HCP Experience Management Program. For Melissa Woodhouse, Director of RVNAhealth’s StayingWELL Services, excellence in non-medical home care starts with listening to our clients and having the best caregivers!

Home Care Pulse 2024 StayingWELL Awards

Walking The Talk in Client and Caregiver Satisfaction

A firm believer in the adage, “you can’t manage what you don’t measure,” Woodhouse and team sit down monthly to review satisfaction and experience feedback that comes in continuously from our clients and caregivers. “We’ve been using Home Care Pulse for unbiased feedback for over four years. The insight and information we receive have been invaluable to the management and success of our services. We are particularly proud of our improvements over the past year. The 2023 Home Care Pulse data shows that we outperformed 70% of other nationwide home care agencies in both client overall satisfaction with their daily life and client ratings of their caregiver abilities.” Woodhouse attributes these outstanding results to their increased investment in caregiver training programs – all which tie back to client and caregiver feedback.

Investing In Our Caregivers and Delivering the Best in Client Home Care

All new caregivers hired by RVNAhealth StayingWELL Services go through an orientation program with training by experienced supervisory staff. This past year, StayingWELL Services acquired usage of and incorporated a full-sized healthcare training manikin (nicknamed, Alex) to elevate hands-on training. All caregivers now receive group and individual hands-on training in techniques such as bathing, dressing, transfers, and more. “This additional ‘hands-on’ training now provided in the office, before a caregiver goes out to a client, has been a significant game-changer,” says Woodhouse. “Caregivers learn more and feel more confident, and our supervisors obtain better assessments of caregiver capabilities and can customize ongoing learning needs. This ultimately has led to better pairings of caregivers to client needs — which has had a great impact on our client and caregiver satisfaction scores.”

Melissa Woodhouse, RVNAhealth Director of StayingWELL Services

In addition to its caregiver training, StayingWELL also prides itself on a continued robust supervisory and support team. “I am pleased to hear positive feedback from both clients and caregivers about the support we provide to our caregivers. In addition to orientation and training, our three full time home care supervisors go out with caregivers for every new assignment and for any client status changes. This is another differentiator for us,” says Woodhouse.

“Having won this prestigious home care award last year, and then seeing the continued efforts of our team to push for and achieve even higher satisfaction – I am just extremely proud.  Our team of 200+ caregivers and support staff come to work and make the quality of our clients’ lives their number one priority each day. It is very exciting to be able to share this year’s award and results with our team and celebrate all that they do!”

About RVNAhealth StayingWELL Services

RVNAhealth StayingWELL Services provide non-medical at-home personal and household daily living assistance to help you retain independence and live safely, comfortably, and joyfully at home or wherever you reside. Available 365 days annually, for short- or long-term durations, our caregivers serve over 35 communities in Connecticut. To learn more, please visit our StayingWELL Services website or call 203-438-5555.

Going Somewhere? RVNAhealth Travel Health Will Have You Ready!

Travel Vaccines at RVNAhealth

Honeymoon?
Babymoon?
Student term abroad?
Retirement travel?
Volunteer mission trip?
International business?
Anniversary celebration?
Bucket list travel?

Whatever drives your need to explore the world, travel can make you feel wonderfully alive! But…it can also expose you to serious health and safety threats!

According to the CDC, “As many as 43%–79% of travelers to low- and middle-income countries become ill with a travel-associated health problem. Although most of these illnesses are mild, some travelers become sick enough to seek care from a health care provider.”

Before you go, get in the know by visiting the RVNAhealth travel health clinic. Here, you will learn about the most up-to-date information about your destination and receive recommendations and vaccinations to keep you safe and healthy.

Our trained nurses provide:

  • Itinerary-specific health advice;
  • Discussion of and administration of required and recommended immunizations;
  • Preventative medication for Malaria, Altitude Sickness, Traveler’s Diarrhea
  • Education on safe food/water practices;
  • Insect precautions;
  • Environmental considerations.

Travel health and vaccine consultations are available in person OR virtually by phone/Zoom.

Vaccine administration requires a visit to our clinic. For virtual consultations, our nurse will schedule a consultation with you over the phone to review your trip. If it is determined that vaccines are needed, then a follow-up office appointment will be scheduled to administer vaccines. Consultation and Convenience Fees apply – Effective 1/10/24.

To schedule an appointment, call RVNAhealth at 203.438.5555 or email BeWell@rvnahealth.org.  In person appointments are held at our offices at 27 Governor Street in Ridgefield. Appointments should be scheduled 4 to 6 weeks prior to travel, especially if preventative vaccines or medications are required/recommended, but we will do our best to help you with last-minute appointments.

RVNAhealth Travel Health Nurses can administer the following commonly needed travel vaccinations/medications*:

  • Hepatitis A & B
  • Yellow Fever {we are a U.S. Government Certified Yellow Fever Center}
  • Typhoid
  • Rabies
  • Japanese Encephalitis
  • Polio
  • Meningitis
  • Measles {MMR}
  • Preventative medication for: Malaria, Altitude Sickness, Traveler’s Diarrhea

We can also provide advice on ways to avoid the mosquitos that carry diseases such as:

  • Zika virus
  • Yellow fever
  • Malaria
  • Dengue fever
  • Chikungunya

To learn more or schedule an appointment, call 203.438.5555 or email BeWELL@rvnahealth.org.

*RVNAhealth is not able to bill to insurance for the consultation or vaccines. Payment is accepted via check or credit card. You will be given an itemized receipt with insurance diagnosis codes, which you can use to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement, if you choose to do so.

Geoffrey Reneau

StayingWELL Caregiver Above & Beyond Awards - Geoffrey

Geoffrey

Hometown: Danbury, CT

“We feel blessed to have Jeffrey here every Tuesday and Thursday. He is so calm, a great listener, keeps Roy clean and well fed, does his laundry (when I didn’t even ask), gently coaxes him to take meds. They take walks together, weather permitting, And I feel so secure taking time for myself when he is here with Roy. Roy is always pleased to see Jeffrey at the door. I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.” – Family member, S.W., Ridgefield

 

 

 

 

Bea MaJubana

StayingWELL Caregiver Above & Beyond Awards - Bea

Bea

Hometown: Bridgeport, CT

“Bea is a super-positive and fun-loving aide! The minute she enters the door, we are greeted with a smile and great enthusiasm. I believe she is just a happy person who truly cares about others. She is also very conscientious and really wants to do her job successfully. Bea is also such a quick learner! Honestly, I’ve only gone over things once and she just gets it. Mom has really taken a liking to her and I can only expect their special bond to grow. So, I am proudly nominating Bea for the wonderful human being she is!! Thank you all” – Family member, Paula Dayton, Newtown

 

 

 

 

Leila Teelucksingh

StayingWELL Caregiver Above & Beyond Awards - Leila

Leila

Hometown: Brewster, NY

“I nominate Leila for being a stellar employee to the agency and wonderful caregiver to her clients. She has a natural ability to put her clients at ease wherever she goes.” – RVNAhealth Supervisor, Jessica Spears

 

 

 

 

Tiffani Russo

StayingWELL Caregiver Above & Beyond Awards - Tiffani

Tiffani

Hometown: Danbury CT

“The support and care Tiffani provides our mother has been invaluable. Among the many ways Tiffani impacts our mother’s life is how she motivates her to keep up with her physical exercises, helping her memory by working with puzzles and workbooks, she gives her confidence to leave the house and accompany her with shopping and errands. She’s a genuinely kind and caring person with whom my parents are very comfortable and someone we trust implicitly. Always offering to help with laundry or daily tasks, assisting my mother at the doctor’s office. We have seen amazing improvements in my mother since Tiffani has been assisting her, we are eternally grateful to RVNAhealth for providing such an aid who is consistently going above and beyond.” – Family member, Michelle M. Ridgefield

 

 

 

 

Agnes Uvanga

Agnes U - StayingWELL Above & Beyond Caregivers

Agnes

Hometown: New Milford, CT

“The office staff and I would like to nominate Agnes for her help with a particular client in the Kent area. Agnes allowed us to rearrange her schedule, made sacrifices with her school schedule and committed to daily visits based on the Client’s needs despite the complexities of the case. She went above and beyond by being there for the Client even though it was not necessarily ideal for her schedule because the Client became very attached to her and had a true need.” – RVNAhealth Supervisor, Mel Wutke

 

 

 

 

Noxolo Legabi

Noxolo

“”I nominate Noxolo for her flexibility and willingness to see a client through hospice while also providing assistance to her husband. She provided excellent care to both despite the clients’ very different needs.”” – RVNAhealth Supervisor, Danielle

 

 

 

 

Embrace Gut Health with Fermented Foods!

If you’re looking for a simple yet impactful way to boost your health this month, we’ve got just the suggestion for you—eat sauerkraut and yogurt, just not together 😊. Fermented foods like yogurt and sauerkraut, among others we will explore shortly, have remarkable benefits for your well-being.

Fermented Foods for Gut Health

Fermented foods are foods and beverages that are produced through controlled microbial growth and have been shown to have a profound impact on our health. The magic behind these fermented wonders lies in the process of fermentation, where bacteria and yeast break down sugars into lactic acid. This lactic acid bacteria, often referred to as probiotics or “good bacteria,” do wonders for your gut health, and in turn, your overall health and wellness. These foods not only improve digestion and help maintain a healthy body weight but also play a vital role in reducing inflammation and supporting the body’s natural detoxification pathways.

To highlight this, a recent study from Stanford Medical School discovered that consuming fermented foods can assist in weight loss and reduce the risk of diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. So, adding these probiotic-rich foods to your diet is a win-win for your taste buds and your health! Here are some examples of fermented foods that can help nurture your gut microbiome:

  • Yogurt
  • Kefir
  • Tempeh
  • Natto
  • Kombucha
  • Miso
  • Kimchi
  • Sauerkraut
  • Fermented pickles (made with salt instead of vinegar)
  • Olives

In the study highlighted above, the participants consumed up to 6 servings a day of fermented foods! Don’t worry, you do not need to go that far to experience the benefits. Aim for one serving of a fermented food per day. To help you get started, here’s a great recipe for Kimchi Egg Muffins – enjoy!

For More Information on Gut Health from RVNAhealth

If you’re interested in learning more or need help with gut health issues, our RVNAhealth Nutritionist, Monica Marcello, RD, regularly holds informational presentations and cooking classes out in the communities we serve. You can also connect with Monica by signing up for her monthly nutrition newsletter or by contacting her with questions at nutrition@rvnahealth.org.

Monica Marcello, RVNAhealth Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Educator

About Monica: Monica Marcello, MS, RD is RVNAhealth’s registered dietitian and nutrition educator who promotes holistic health, longevity, and quality of life. Monica’s areas of expertise include disease prevention and treatment for many chronic and acute conditions.