Similar to all other tissues present in our body, bones are also living tissues. They constantly undergo breakdown and are replaced by new material that replaces the old parts. Osteoporosis is a serious condition that increases the pace at which bones break down when compared to the pace at which bones rebuild themselves. When this happens, bones can easily become less dense, more brittle, and eventually also more porous. With these characteristics, the bones would be bound to break and be fractured more often.

While there is no complete cure for osteoporosis, there are various approaches available to make the condition better and help the individual lead a normal life. Some of the most useful lifestyle approaches to treat and manage osteoporosis are as follows:

Consuming a healthy, balanced diet
A good nutritional diet is a must not only for patients who suffer from osteoporosis but also for every single individual. One of the major causes of osteoporosis could be a lack of calcium and vitamin D in the diet. Along with being the cause of this condition, this lack can also contribute to the progression of this condition. Hence including them in the diet is of absolute importance.

Regular exercise
Building bone mass is of great importance when it comes to the treatment and management of osteoporosis. Achieving peak bone mass can be greatly helped if the individual inculcates physical exercise in their schedule regularly and is consistent at it. Exercising regularly to achieve peak bone mass is greatly possible in the childhood and teenage years when compared to other age groups. Nevertheless, at any age, exercise helps in building bone mass while also slowing down any drop in bone density that occurs with age.

Avoid smoking
It has been shown through various reports that smoking has a direct effect on bone density. Smoking is capable of reducing bone density which is not a good sign for the condition of osteoporosis. Therefore, it is important for individuals suffering from osteoporosis to quit smoking to avoid any further complications that could be caused by the condition.

Caffeine and alcohol use
Alcohol has a lot of effects on the body apart from just lowering the inhibitions. It controls a lot of factors that are associated with osteoporosis. For example, alcohol can control how vitamin D is used in the body. It can also further lower the absorption of calcium in the body. It gets rid of the magnesium reserves in the body. Therefore, people who consume alcohol in higher quantities would also be receiving lesser nutrition irrespective of the balanced diet they consume when compared to people with the same intake and no alcohol consumption. This reduction in nutritional intake also reduces the calcium and vitamin D intake and absorption which are of importance for the treatment of osteoporosis.

While there is no clear indication and correlation between the effects of caffeine on osteoporosis, there have been some studies that dictate the effects of caffeine on bones. These studies provide mixed results. However, the general guideline to go by would be to not exceed over two cups of coffee in a single day.