Foods that promote bone health in obese adults

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Eating more vegetables than just short-term health benefits, according to a new study.

Eating an extra 270g of vegetables per day for eight weeks was linked to improved bone health and reduced biomarkers of poor bone health. The exact mechanism is unknown, although the researchers have suggested several possible reasons.

The study participants were overweight and obese adults who ate vegetables less than once a day.

Blood biomarkers for healthy bones were improved in the vegetable-eating group. The researchers found an increase in bone resorption, the breakdown of bone tissue that releases stored calcium into the blood. Participants also reported improved urinary tract health, reducing the amount of acid in their urine.

“There are several potential reasons for this health benefit. One proposed mechanism is improved nutrition through vegetables, which contain vitamins and minerals that may improve bone health,” says first author JJ Cao.

Carotenoids, a group of antioxidants found in plants, have been identified in previous research to improve bone health. Researchers found higher levels of carotenoids in the blood plasma of people who ate vegetables.

There are many vitamins and minerals that have a positive effect on bone health. Vitamin D improves the absorption of calcium in the intestinal tract, increasing the amount available to the body.

A lack of calcium can cause the body to strip it from the bones to maintain the levels needed for nerve and muscle function.