OSTEOPOROSIS
Prevent or Reverse the "Bone Thinning Disease"
Osteoporosis means, literally, "porous bone." It is a bone-thinning
disease that affects an estimated 28 million
Americans. Osteoporosis is
called a "silent" disease because it comes on with few or no symptoms.
Often, a fall resulting in a fracture is the first evidence of
weakened bones. Other symptoms and signs of osteoporosis include a
decrease in height, spontaneous hip or vertebrae fractures, and back
pain.
In elderly women, complications from hip fracture that result in
death are far more common than death from breast cancer, yet few
people realize the potential seriousness of this
condition. Although
osteoporosis is more common in post-menopausal women, it also occurs
in younger women, men, and in all age groups. White and Asian women are at greatest
risk because their bones tend to be less dense to begin with.
What Causes Osteoporosis?
There are a number of factors that can be involved in the
development of osteoporosis. These include:
- Lack of vitamins and minerals. Osteoporosis is caused by a
demineralization of bone. Although calcium is one of the major bone
minerals, there are a number or other minerals found in normal bone.
These include boron,
copper, magnesium, manganese, silicon,
strontium and zinc.
Vitamins B6, K, D, C
and folic acid
are also needed for normal bone mineralization. A deficiency of any
of these can accelerate bone loss.
- Gastric acid or digestive enzyme deficiency. Hydrochloric
acid (gastric acid) and digestive enzymes are necessary for the
assimilation of minerals, yet more than half of the general
population over age 60 is deficient in one or both of these
digestive functions. A
gastric acid self-test is
indicated for anyone with osteoporosis regardless of age.
- Lack of physical activity. Exercise that stresses bone
causes an uptake of minerals. Conversely, immobility leads to a
demineralization of bone. Exercise alone has been shown to increase
bone mineral density.
- Dietary factors. Certain dietary factors can hasten the
loss of minerals from bone. These factors include diet high in sugar
and starch, excess phosphorus in the diet (as found in soda pop,
processed foods, and meat), excess alcohol consumption, and possibly
excess caffeine consumption (more than two cups per day).
- Cigarette smoking.
- Certain drugs, especially adrenal steroids (cortisone
and prednisone).
- Heavy metal toxicity. Certain heavy metals, which may be
introduced into the body through cigarette smoke, drinking water,
and a number of other sources, can trigger demineralization of bone
by displacing the normal bone minerals. A
hair mineral analysis is accurate
for evaluating toxic mineral levels. Because
there is substantial evidence that fluoride found in drinking water
and toothpaste contributes to destruction of bone, use of pure (non
fluoridated) water and alternative toothpaste is highly advisable.
- Stress. Perhaps because perceived stress changes
digestive and assimilative abilities, although the exact mechanism
is unclear. Stress also increases adrenal steroid hormone
output, see
factor # 6 above.
- Sex hormone imbalance. Alterations or
decline in sex hormones, including estrogens, progesterone,
testosterone and DHEA are significant factors in bone
demineralization in both men and women.
A
female hormone profile or
male hormone profile should be
performed to evaluate potential sex hormone deficiencies and
imbalances, especially in those over age 40.
- Food allergies. When a person
is allergic or intolerant to a food, they
are unable to digest it completely.
Incompletely digested food plus possible
antibodies created by food reactions
damage the villi of the duodenum (the
finger-like projections of the intestine that are vital for the
absorption of nutrients). This reduces the
amount of nutrients that are absorbed into the bloodstream.
Which nutrients are most effected? Calcium, iron, iodine, all B
complex vitamins, vitamin C, most
water-soluble vitamins, and most of the
trace minerals such as zinc, boron, manganese and
magnesium--- many of the same vitamins and
minerals necessary for bone health.
- Other factors. These include genetic predisposition
and various disease states.
What About The New Drugs for Osteoporosis?
A new class of drugs, the bisphosphonates, cause
a bone-rebuilding response that is 5% greater than placebo in most
women who use them. For some, this is enough of an effect to help
prevent fracture. For others, the drugs alone are insufficient to
prevent consequences of osteoporosis. Bisphosphonates have
side-effects that can be problematic, including GERD (heartburn),
diarrhea and immune suppression (one side effect that is rarely
mentioned). Their best use appears to be in cases of cancer, to
prevent bone destruction.
Obviously, osteoporosis is not caused by a
bisphosphonate deficiency! There are, however, ways to reverse osteoporosis. This is
because bone is a living, growing tissue, not a
static material as some
people wrongly believe. I recommend consultation
with myself or another
holistic physician for evaluation and recommendations for
preventing or reversing osteoporosis. When the
potential causes (as listed above) are carefully evaluated and
discovered, osteoporosis can be
halted and even reversed through non-drug
methods.
DIET AND LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS
- Eat a nutritious diet. Emphasize soy products, nonfat yogurt and
milk, and green leafy vegetables.
- Avoid soda pop ("pop is slop") and
use alcohol and coffee
in moderation if at all.
-
Exercise regularly, especially
weight-bearing exercise. Walking and running are
some of the best
exercises for increasing bone strength.
PRIMARY SUPPORT
-
Maxi Multi:
3 caps, 3 times per day with meals. Optimal doses (not minimal
doses) of B complex vitamins, C, D, K, calcium, magnesium, vanadium,
zinc, and boron are particularly important for strong bones.
A "once per day" vitamin supplement does not supply anything close
to an optimal daily dose of the necessary bone nutrients.
-
Cal-Mag
Amino: Post-menopausal females take 1 cap, 3 times per day
with meals in addition to the 1,000:500 mg from Maxi
Multi. (Target: 1200-1500 mg/day calcium, 500-800 mg/day magnesium
for post-menopausal women. Men and peri-menopausal females get
sufficient calcium/magnesium/boron from Maxi Multi).
-
Strontium: 1 capsule, 1-2 times per day with or between
meals (take separately from calcium). One capsule per day is
advised for prevention, 2 caps per day for those at high risk of
osteoporosis or in already-established cases of osteoporosis. NOTE:
Maxi Multi does not contain strontium. If you see a "bone formula"
with strontium, don't take it. Strontium should be taken away
from calcium and magnesium for best absorption.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
-
Mega Soy:
1 capsule, once per day with a meal. (Target: 100 mg or more isoflavones
per day).
- Follow the recommendations for
menopause if you are a peri-or
post-menopausal female, or for
male
menopause if you are a male.
- Support any organ system that scored
"high" on the self-health appraisal questionnaire found on pages 6-8
in your
Holistic Health
Handbook.
DR. MYATT’S COMMENT
If you have already been diagnosed with osteoporosis, it is
best to
consult an alternative medicine
physician who can order a
hormone
profile test, evaluate risk factors, and get you on a precise
program for bone-remineralization. Osteoporosis is a reversible
condition when treated correctly. Natural hormone replacement therapy
is safe and effective for aiding bone loss but must be conducted with
a physician’s guidance.
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