Turns out, milk isn’t the only drink good for your bones.

An upcoming webinar hosted by Brock University will focus on bone health and how the unique components in tea may support a strong, healthy skeleton.

Held Tuesday, May 17 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., “Steep a cuppa and let’s talk about bone health” welcomes the public for a conversation that will explore findings from research studies at Brock as well as from broader scientific literature. The event will also offer practical insight into overall diet and bone health.

Part of the Lifespan Development Research Institute’s ongoing community speaker series, the webinar will be led by Brock Kinesiology Professor and nationally recognized bone health expert Wendy Ward, a former Canada Research Chair in Bone and Muscle Development.

“While diet can influence bone health throughout life, awareness about bone health and the risk of fractures due to osteoporosis is highest as we age,” says Ward. “With Niagara’s aging population, it is important that individuals understand how diet can help support a strong skeleton.”

Ward and her research team investigate ways of developing dietary strategies that help protect against osteoporosis — a disease characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue, which can lead to increased risk of fracture — and methods to understand how diet can be used to promote periodontal health.

According to Osteoporosis Canada, at least one in three women and one in five men will break a bone due to osteoporosis in their lifetime. Fragility fractures represent 80 per cent of all fractures in menopausal women over the age of 50.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to engage with the community, sharing the science about tea and bone health, and addressing both what is known and what remains to be discovered,” Ward says.

The webinar is free and open to the public, but advanced registration is required to gain access to the event via Lifesize. Register online through the Lifespan Development Research Institute website.

The community event is supported by Brock’s Faculty of Applied Health Sciences and Office of Research Services.

For more information, contact Brock University Knowledge Mobilization Officer Jayne Morrish at jmorrish@brocku.ca