Can I get enough calcium from my diet to treat osteopenia?

[Blurry62]

Advice and input please. I have issues with supplements so, I've been drinking four glasses of almond milk each day. Prednisone has been hard on my bones.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Osteopenia is a normal state after the age of about 45 - it doesn't require "treatment" until it is osteoporosis

How do you know pred has been hard on your bones? Have you had dexascans that show a change in bone density since starting pred?

[Blurry62 in reply to PMRpro]

Had one done after the first four months of 60,50,55 mgs prednisone. It was -2.2 but i didn't tolerate Fosomax.

Was told by rheumatologist and have read on reputable sites that long term prednisone weakened bones. I'm in my second year now.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Blurry62]

There are other medications besides Fosamax and maybe you should ask about them - although you are only heading for osteoporosis, you aren't there yet.

Pred doesn't always have that effect - I know 2 ladies who had GCA so high dose pred too and didn't take any medication, not even calcium and vit D - their bone density didn't change over 5 years.

[Blurry62 in reply to PMRpro]

Wow.... Another, so called, certainty (per rheumy) bites the dust. Thank you .... There's so much hope in this community. Thank you thank you thank you..........

[Rugger]

Why almond milk? I'll have to check when I next go shopping, but I seem to recall that 1 litre of almond milk contains less than an ounce of almonds. I imagine the calcium in almond milk is there mainly as an additive / "supplementary"........ Check the carton.

You could go onto the National Osteoporosis Society's website where I'm sure you'll find a list of foods and their calcium content, which may be things you already eat or could easily incorporate into your diet, rather than 4 glasses of almond milk / day.

[piglette in reply to Rugger]

Just out of interest almond milk was very popular in the Middle Ages, the upper classes did not drink cows’ milk. They went nuts for almond milk though. Cows’ milk was mainly used for things like cheese.

[Blurry62 in reply to piglette]

That's awesome! I've never heard that before. Thank you.

[piglette in reply to Blurry62]

My sister has decided she is now a food historian so I am becoming quite knowledgable on food history as that is all she seems to talk about, it is actually quite interesting. Also rich people ate veg from above ground while poor people had veg from below ground. I think the rich people thought below ground was no good like the cows’ milk.

[Blurry62 in reply to Rugger]

Ok thank you. I'm allergic to dairy. Ill check this site out.

[Janstr]

I was told by my GP that I need a minimum of 1200mg of calcium per day & I changed my diet to get this. I was already vegetarian, so that helped. The following are amongst those high in calcium: tofu, sesame seeds, quinoa, black strap molasses, chick peas, dairy products, almonds, brocolli.

4 glasses of almond milk may also have enough ( the amt of calcium should be on the box. )

I'm not sure of the calorific value of almond milk, or if weight is an issue for you, but you could consider replacing some of the almond milk with other calcium rich foods as meals

[Blurry62 in reply to Janstr]

Good info. Thanks a bunch. Weight is an issue, yes. Almond milk is only 30 calories a cup. I do love tofu. Ill kick that up a bit. Thanks