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OSTEOPOROSIS:
WHAT IS IT
AND
HOW CAN IT BE PREVENTED?
Article by herbalist
Dave
Hawkins, MH, CNC
Osteoporosis is
a disorder of the bone in which excessive
bone loss results in a decreased bone mineral density
and an increased susceptibility to fracture.
Because of the physiological, nutritional, and hormonal
differences between male and females, it
primarily affects women. Of the
25 million estimated Americans with osteoporosis,
80% are women.
It accounts for
approximately 1.5 million fractures per
year at a cost of over $3.8 billion dollars a
year.
Roughly 70% of
these fractures occur in people over the age of 45.
It causes more
deaths per year than cervical and breast cancer.
These are staggering
statistics for such a silent disorder.
Ironically,
bone loss causes no symptoms while it is occurring.
It is very common for women to be completely
unaware of having bone loss until an accident happens.
If it goes undetected or untreated, it can
lead to many other serious cervical and spine problems.
Some people
think that it is caused solely from a calcium
deficiency and that by taking calcium
supplements alone, it will remedy the problem.
It is a much more complex issue, and
this is why the diet and nutritional requirements need
assessments.
We will discuss
further in this article the many other co-factors
when dealing with bone health. There are
currently tests that can indicate if osteoporosis is
occurring, and it is wise to consult your
health care practitioner for this type of testing.
There are two
types of osteoporosis:
Type I
is believed to be caused by
hormonal changes, mainly loss of estrogen, which can
cause an acceleration of bone loss. This is seen in
women with hysterectomies and during menopause.
Type II
is linked to dietary deficiency, particularly
lack of calcium, Vitamin D and the other co-factors.
Rick factors for
osteoporosis include:
·
Being female
·
Advanced age
·
Being underweight and having a small frame
·
Being Caucasian or Asian, even though African
Americans,
and
Hispanics are also at risk
·
Early menopause
·
Low calcium and Vitamin D intake
·
Lack of exercise
·
History of smoking
·
Excessive alcohol and or caffeine intake
·
Heredity factors
Other causes of bone
loss are:
·
Medications such as corticosteroids, aspirin,
beta-blockers, antacids, calcium channel blockers and
antibiotics.
·
Hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, kidney disease,
and certain cancers.
·
Malabsorption
from the digestive tract (mainly due to low
hydrochloric acid production)
Dietary factors
that seem to influence this disease progression are
a high consumption of animal protein, salt, refined
sugars and carbonated beverages. These
foods are very acid forming when
metabolized, and they alter the acid vs. alkaline pH of
the body and cause the body to excrete more calcium as
a mean to bring about balance. We are
constantly told to drink milk and other
dairy products. There is a link that suggests
that this also can contribute to bone loss
because of the protein to fat ratio and the relative
indigestibility of it.
Milk is also
acid forming and the calcium is bound due
to its processing. Due to the other potential problem
with milk (heart disease, high cholesterol, and
allergies), diary may not
be the best source of calcium.
There are many
other good sources of calcium such as,
broccoli, dandelion green, dark green leafy vegetables,
flounder, kelp, sesame seeds, soybeans, tofu, and wheat
germ, garlic, onions, and eggs which contain sulfur and
aid in bone health.
Let's look at
the role of calcium and its co-factors and
how they work in the body. Calcium is a major
bone mineral, it is involved in blood
coagulation, the sending of messages along the nerves,
maintaining muscle tone, preserving tissue membrane
integrity, aiding certain glandular functions, and
cardiac functions. Most of the calcium is
stored in bone and depleted blood calcium
is restored more often than not from the bones instead
of the diet.
Some other bone
nutrients are:
·
Phosphorus --
Approximately 85% is present in the bone as a substance
called hydroxyapatite. It
is closely linked with calcium and protein. It promotes
cell growth, contraction of the heart, and kidney
functions.
·
Vitamin D -- This
assists absorption of calcium from the intestines. It
protects us from muscle weakness and in regulation of
the heartbeat and is necessary for the thyroid.
·
Magnesium -- Works
closely with calcium with nerve health, an enzyme
activator, used for energy production, aids heart
function, relaxes muscles and kidney functions.
·
Boron -- Needed for metabolism of
calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. Enhances brain
function and promotes alertness. Found in apples,
carrots, grapes, leafy vegetables and whole grains.
·
Silicon -- Needed for the
formation of collagen for bone and connective tissue;
maintains flexible arteries; stimulates the immune
system; and makes for healthy skin, hair and nails.
Food sources are alfalfa, beets, soybeans, leafy
greens, and whole grains.
·
Vitamin K -- This
is needed for the synthesis of
osteocalcin that is a protein found in bone and
is needed for repair.
·
Manganese, Copper and Zinc -- Are
needed to maintain good connective tissue integrity
·
Vitamin B6, B12, Folic Acid --
Regulates homocysteine
levels that appear to be high in post- menopausal
women.
There are many
products that contain all or some of these nutrients.
It is important to
research these products before taking them and make
sure they are from reputable sources.
Some other interesting
facts about bone loss are:
·
Vegetarians tend to experience less bone
loss than meat eaters.
·
Senior citizens that used
tranquilizers suffered 70% more fractures
than others their own age.
·
Caffeine has been linked
to bone loss.
·
Carbonated soft drinks contain
high levels of phosphates and citric acid
that cause calcium leaching.
With any article dealing
with osteoporosis, the issue of hormones is important.
Research shows that low levels of estrogen do
affect bone loss.
The big
question is how do you correct that problem?
Estrogen replacement therapy is the choice therapy by
conventional standards but is it the best choice when
you consider the risk factors? That will be the topic
of an upcoming article where we can delve into the
intricacies of that particular therapy.
Osteoporosis is a
serious disorder and needs to be addressed. There are
many good books that deal with this issue. Healthy
Bones: What You Should Know About Osteoporosis by
Nancy Appleton, PhD, and Osteoporosis by Dr.
Alan Gaby.
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