Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis

Ø OSTEOPOROSIS IS A DEBIITATING DISEASE that can be prevented and treated.

Ø LOSS OF BONE DENSITY CAUSES BONES TO BECOME FRAGILE AND MORE LIKELY TO BREAK. If not prevented, or if left untreated, it can progress into fractures typically of the hip, spine, and wrist. A hip fracture almost always requires hospitalization and major surgery. It can impair a person’s ability to walk unassisted and may cause prolonged or permanent disability, or even death. Spinal or vertebral fractures also have serious consequences, including loss of height, severe back pain, and deformity.

Ø MEN AND WOMEN ALIKE ARE AFFECTED BY OSTEOPOROSIS, although women are four times more likely to develop the disease than men. Most people who have the disease don’t know it, since symptoms rarely appear until bone loss has become significant.

Ø A MAN IS MUCH MORE LIKELY TO SUFFER AN OSTEOPOROTIC FRACTURE than he is to get PROSTATE CANCER in his lifetime.

Ø BY AGE 60, ONE IN FOUR WOMEN HAVE OSTEOPOROSIS severe enough to cause Dowager’s hump, bone pain, loss of height, and spinal deformity, in addition to hip fracture complications mentioned above.

Ø AN ESTROGEN, PROGESTERONE, and ANDROGEN IMBALANCE, and/or HIGH CORTISOL levels (an adrenal stress hormone), along with inadequate nutrition and lack of weight-bearing exercise, can lead to increased bone loss.

Ø RISK FACTORS ARE: Women in general; older adults; Small-boned and thin women (under 127 pounds); early menopause (brought about naturally or because of surgery); current cigarette smoking; drinking too much alcohol; consuming an inadequate amount of calcium; and getting little or no weight-bearing exercise, all increase your chance of developing osteoporosis. Medications to treat disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, endocrine disorders (i.e. under-active thyroid), seizure disorders, and gastrointestinal diseases may have side effects that can damage bone and lead to bone loss. See your physician for a complete list of risk factors.

Ø DON’T WAIT UNTIL SIGNS OF OSTEOPOROSIS APPEAR. You may have bone loss for a long time without realizing it. Change your diet and lifestyle today to protect your bones!!
SUGGESTIONS FOR BONE HEALTH

See http://www.nof.org/ National Osteoporosis Foundation (not a hot link) for one website with information.

A BONE MINERAL DENSITY TEST, or BMD test, is the only sure way to determine bone density and fracture risk for osteoporosis. Your doctor can help you determine whether you should have a BMD test based on risk factors.

CALCIUM (from plant sources) is most beneficial. Green plants have the greatest concentration of calcium of any food, and are also rich in magnesium. However spinach, chard, and beet greens are high in oxalic acid, which tends to counteract their ability to supply calcium. A cup of broccoli has 94 mg. of calcium, 10 dried figs 270 mg, and dry roasted almonds 75 mg per ounce. Many foods have added calcium.

VITAMIN D is essential for efficient calcium utilization. In addition, other cofactors, such as magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamins A and C, also need to be supplied for proper calcium absorption and utilization. Lack of these other cofactors may be the reason Americans who consume large amounts of dairy still have widespread calcium deficiency problems.

GREEN CHLOROPHYLL RICH FOODS such as the “superfood” SPIRULINA, and WHEAT, BARLEY AND KAMUT GRASSES are high in magnesium. They also act as a form of stored sunshine, performing like vitamin D in the body to regulate calcium. Because of their magnesium, chlorophyll, and other calcium cofactors, increasing the consumption of green chlorophyll rich foods often is a simple solution to calcium problems.

CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTATION can also be helpful if the basic diet is poor. Calcium supplementation can help halt the development of severe calcic disorders, such as arthritis, deterioration of bones and teeth, and heart disease. As with food sources of calcium, VITAMIN D is essential for efficient calcium utilization of supplementation. Again, other cofactors, such as magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamins A and C, also need to be supplied for proper calcium absorption and utilization.

CORAL CALCIUM is a derived from coral reefs, as the name suggests. Marine coral contains nature’s perfect balance of minerals, similar to the composition of the human body. These minerals are vital to the thousands of enzymatic reactions that take place in our bodies every day, so they are very beneficial to our health in many ways. Strict guidelines are in place to protect the environmental safety of living coral and coral reefs.

MAGNESIUM stimulates calcitonin production. Calcitonin is a hormone which increases calcium in the bones and keeps it from being absorbed into the soft tissues, where excess may contribute to some forms of arthritis. Also, magnesium is involved in the manufacture of progesterone, (see below the benefits of progesterone for bone health).

MAGNESIUM RICH FOODS are important in osteoporosis prevention. They are: the dried seaweeds, including wakame, kombu, kelp, hijiki, arame, and others; beans, including soybeans and their products (tofu and tempeh); also mung, aduki, black, and lima beans; whole grains, particularly buckwheat; also millet, wheat berries, corn, barley, rye, and rice; and dark leafy greens. Nuts and seeds, especially almonds, cashews, filberts, and sesame seeds, are good sources of magnesium, as are raisins, dried figs, and blackstrap molasses.

NATURAL, BIO-IDENTICAL PROGESTERONE CREAM has been shown in research to stimulate osteoblast-mediated new bone formation. Natural, bio-identical progesterone supplementation, used when the need is indicated, and in physiologic doses (no greater than what the body normally should be making), has no known side effects. But, if you have liver challenges, topical (transdermal) application is preferred to oral supplementation, as 85 to 95 percent of oral supplementation will be
excreted immediately via the liver. (See Hormone Balance page.)

OMEGA 3-FATTY ACIDS HELP INCREASE LEVELS OF CALCIUM IN THE BODY, deposit calcium in the bones, and improve bone strength, according to clinical studies. In addition, studies suggest that people who are deficient in certain essential fatty acids (particularly EPA, an Omega-3 fatty acid, and GLA, an omega-6 fatty acid) are more likely to suffer from bone loss than those with normal levels of these fatty acids. (See Nutrition page.)

DHEA (a hormone) may be of value in preventing and treating osteoporosis in addition to cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, other memory deficits, immune system disorders, and chronic fatigue. DHEA levels have been shown in tests to increase with natural progesterone supplementation. (See Hormone Balance page.)

THYROID HORMONE BALANCE is important for bone health, as hyperthyroidism leaves you at a higher risk for osteoporosis. The reason for this is excess thyroxin stimulates the bone-dissolving activity of the osteoclasts. Hyperthyroidism is the result of excess thyroid hormone which tends to cause higher energy levels, a feeling of being too warm, and weight loss. (See Thyroid Health page.)

PARATHYROID HORMONE BALANCE is also important for bone health. Parathyroid gland is responsible for calcium absorption or calcium loss. If you’ve been exposed to excessive radiation or had radioactive iodine used on your thyroid, you are at high risk for parathyroid dysfunction.

BONE IS LIVING TISSUE THAT RESPONDS TO EXERCISE by becoming stronger and denser. Weight-bearing and resistance exercises are important. Weight bearing exercises are those in which your bones and muscles work against gravity, such as jogging, walking, stair climbing, dancing, etc., Swimming and bicycling are not considered weight bearing, but are still beneficial. Resistance exercises use muscular strength to improve muscle mass and strengthen bone, as in weight lifting with free weights or machines (see “Basic Anti-Aging Exercise Tips” page).

CHOCOLATE IS BENEFICIAL because it contains large amounts of MAGNESIUM. It is best to eat DARK ORGANIC COCOA instead of eating chocolate products that are usually high in caffeine and contain a lot of sugar and fats, which can over stimulate your adrenal glands and contribute to adrenal fatigue and weight gain.

STRESS MANAGEMENT can help balance cortisol levels, as high cortisol levels can lead to increased bone loss (see “Basic Stress Reduction Tips” and “Adrenal Hormone Health page).

CALCIUM INHIBITORS in the diet are coffee, refined sugar, meat and alcohol. It is best to avoid these if you want to avoid loss of bone density.

Dr. Cindy Bates