The plague of women and modern society seems to be Osteoporosis. The common scenario - a woman walks into the doctors office for a routine checkup and possibly a bone density check added in. The doctor comes back in and says she has Osteoporosis. And then panic sets in, because she believes that if she so much as sneezes, she will fracture a bone.
Approximately 15-20 million people in the US afflicted with Ostoeporosis - most are postmenopausal women, however men are not exempt but because they normally have greater bone density, it's not as common.
The main cause of Osteoporosis is high proein diets followed by zinc/calcium imbalances, poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, alcohol, coffee, soda (phosphates leach calcium from the bones), some prescription drugs and oral contraceptives, lack of sunlight (the body's natural Vit D, sedentary lifestyles, long term use of antacids.
Our bones are constantly changing. Vertical bone growth ends at 18, but bone continues to increase in mass for 10-15 more years until about age 35 when peak bone mass is reached. After that age related bone loss starts to occur slowly at first, but faster after menopause - an average of 1% bone loss occcurs from age 35 resulting in about 20% bone loss by age 55. The larger the bone, the less risk of developing Osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis can also be a doctor induced disease resulting from certain drugs such as corticosteroids, thyroid hormone supplements, antibiotics - especially tetracycline and deriviatives, mind altering drugs, tranquilizers and ainti-depressants. Estrogen is often prescribed for menopausal women, but there are problems with this. Synthetic estrogen can cause breast cancer, endometriosis, blood clotting disease and increased risk of heart disease. Bone building qualities of estrogen are minimal and short lived. After 15 months on the drug, bone density may actually decrease.
So....since I want to keep my bones strong, I need to amp up on my calcium supplements, right? Well, research has proven that supplementing calcium beyond what the body needs does nothing to promote bone growth. Calcium carbonate (as found in Tums for example) actually depresses bone grown, and new studies reveal that it can also clog arteries with plaque. Dairy products are high in protein, salt, fat and phosphates and may actually interfere with the body storing calcium and can actually cause more calcium to be lost than saved when used in the amounts suggested by the American Dairy Association. Remember I mentioned high protein diets cause osteoporosis? Baby cows were meant to have all that added protein and fat to grow big and strong very fast. High levels of protein create an acid condition in the blood, tax the organs and trigger the loss of calcium from the bones.
Harmful eating habits in our Western society certainly contributes to Osteoporosis: refined foods, meat, dairy, sugan, alcohol, coffee - does not supply our vitamin and mineral needs. A high protein diet makes it almost impossible to create a positive calcium balance regardless of the calcium taken in. Osteoporosis is in a great degree a dietary problem, not merely a calcium problem. A plant based diet in many cases will help to reverse bone loss.
Foods such as dark greens like Kale and mustard, as well as broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, celery, carrots, peas, oatmeal, cashews, almonds, lentils, lima beans, soy products all have the kinds of calcium (and other vitamins) that the body readily assimilates. Remember, most of the over the counter calcium supplements cant be used by the body and either congregate in your arteries or just pass out of your body (unless they are whole food based). One glass of fresh squeezed carrot juice gives you a daily requirement of calcium. A 1/2 lemon squeezed in water not only gives you vitamin C, and cleanses your digestive tract and liver, but also adds excellent calcium.
Exercise is crutial from the cradle to the grave to build bone density. Weight bearing exercise is best such as walking, biking, hiking, aerobics. Stretching is good for muscles and bones and helps prevent humpback. Rebounding is an excellent way to build bone mass as well. With the blessings of internet and TV, we have become a sedentary statistic...dont let it happen to you..and move your body. Think about all the joints and hinges you have - they arent put there for nothing!
