What do ice cream, tofu and sardines all have in common? They’re high in calcium and could be used to prevent osteoporosis, or aid those who already have it.

May is Osteoporosis Awareness Month, and we thought we would take a moment to talk a little bit about how diet can help in the prevention and treatment of the disease.

Almost everyone knows that calcium is good for the bones, but most people think of milk and cheese when they think of high-calcium foods. In fact, there’s a number of items you could include in your diet that are good for your bones. Below are a few suggestions for your daily meals that are packed with calcium:

Breakfast:

• Yogurt mixed with almonds and oranges, with a cup of soy milk on the side
• Oatmeal mixed with dried figs and a cup of orange juice on the side
• Cheerios (they’re not just heart-healthy—they’re bone healthy as well!)

Lunch:

• Spinach salad with sesame seeds, almonds, slices of oranges and canned salmon
• Collard green and black-eyed pea soup
• A sandwich covered with a black-eyed pea spread instead of mayo

Dinner

• Penne pasta with spinach and white beans
• Sardine pizza—no, really! The sardines are high in calcium, and the cheese on the pizza is excellent for bone health
• Caramelized tofu with Brussel sprouts—the whole recipe can be found here.

At Brevard Medical Equipment, we’re all about helping those who are living with osteoporosis. We carry a number of products in our online catalog that can increase your mobility, as well as a resource center to explain a number of terms related to osteoporosis.