Osteoporosis: would doing any of these things be counterproductive?

My wife's grandmother and mother have been diagnosed with ostepporosis and pre-osteoporosis. I encourage my wife to do adopt habits that I think would strengthen her bones and fortify her bone mass. But I don't even really know what actually takes place during osteoporosis. I was just guessing. Does anyone know what osteoporosis is? And will the following behaviors help?

-Supplementing her calcium by eating: dark greens that contain calcium, calcium carbonate (Tums or Rolaids), calcium citrate, orange juice with calcium.
-Drinking lots of water to stay hydrated.
-Supplementing her iron by eating: meat and red apples, bone marrow and soft bones.
-Improving her blood circulation by: exercising regularly to sweat, taking warm baths to sleep, consuming caffeine to compliment drugs when sick.
-Possibly taking martial arts training that builds bone mass by striking and breaking boards.

Is all of this helpful? Is any of this harmful?

Osteoporosis is a breakdown in bone density. Basically it makes the bones go from being being fairly solid to like a sponge. Some of the worts areas of the body for getting osteoporosis are the vertebrae, the head of the femur (thighbone), and the thin bones of the forearm and shin (radius and ulna in the arm, fibula in the shin).

Most of what you listed would be helpful, but I wouldn't be so encouraging of martial arts specifically. Any form of exercise that is "weight bearing" will help. Things like bike riding and swimming are NOT weight bearing, so don't help a whole lot. Walking is, as always, the best thing.

If your wife hasn't already had it done she should get a bone density scan pronto. Even without the family history the scan should be done for the first time at 35, just like a first mammogram.

Did you look up "Osteoporosis"?

Also, your wife is a big girl. She can do this herself. She should talk to her doctor about prevention since she has family members with it.

Osteoporosis is the thinning of the bones. It can happen with post menopausal women and people taking steroids on a continuing basis. It leads to disabling fractures.

Iron can be counterproductive if taken at the same time as calcium supplements- tends to neutralize the calcium. Use Calcium + vitamin D for more effective delivery of calcium, weight bearing exercise is best. Striking and breaking boards can lead to fractures and that is the most serious problem with osteoporosis.

You should check out the website of the National Osteoporosis Foundation, www.nof.org.