from HEALTH MATTERS© . . .  

Osteoporosis - Facts for Men and Women 

          Osteoporosis is a dis-order of calcium metabolism.  It is generally associated with women who have reached menopause.  Men are effected too, as they encounter half of the hip fractures, but more rib fractures than women.  Women have more fractures of the spine.

           In today’s medical system the treatments relied upon are hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and drugs which are fluoride based.

          Existing information and new research encourages us to look at this major concern from a new perspective.

          To understand how calcium functions in the body is complex.  A simple overview of this function may help you to better understand the process.  The parathyroid glands, situated behind the thyroid gland in your neck, secrete a hormone called parathormone or PTH.  This hormone circulates to all body tissues.  The tubules in your kidneys, your bones and intestines, are specifically effected by PTH.  This mechanism helps balance calcium and phosphates in the body.

          If you have low calcium levels in the blood, you can develop muscle twitching, spasm, and in severe cases, tetany, a convulsive disorder.  If you have high calcium levels in the blood you can develop bone deformities resulting from soft bones.  You may also develop kidney stones and bone spurs or calcifications.  Dehydration will accompany this dis-order due to excessive water loss through urination.

          Things that are necessary to calcium absorption are sunlight and vitamin D.  Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin which requires that you have some fat intake in your diet.  Calcium from dairy products requires at least 2 per cent fat for absorption to occur.  A healthy intestine is important as this is where calcium from food is absorbed.  Proper absorption of calcium and phosphorus support healthy bones, teeth and gums,  for all ages.  Calcium can help prevent lead from being absorbed by bones and teeth. Calcium supports your heart beat, nerve function, lowers cholesterol, helps prevent heart disease.  It is important in muscle health.  It is involved in blood clotting, and helps prevent cancer.  Calcium provides energy, and is a part of protein building of RNA and DNA.  It is required in activating enzymes for fat utilization.  Healthy cell membranes and skin depend on calcium.  Calcium helps prevent pre-eclampsia in pregnancy, a major cause of maternal death.

          If you have a calcium deficiency you may be prone to develop hyperactivity, mental disorders, cognitive impairment, aching joints, numbness in arms or legs, rickets, rheumatoid arthritis, insomnia, muscle cramps, high blood pressure, brittle, nails, elevated cholesterol, or other health concerns.

          Of major concern to this writer is the recommendation of the use of TUMS for calcium supplementation.  If you take in too much calcium in the form of antacids, you will experience digestive disorders, resulting from faulty acid-base balance, or pH, in the stomach and intestines.  This can impair protein and calcium metabolism, create malabsorption of nutrients, and malnourishment.  TUMS are usually calcium carbonate which is considered the poorest form of calcium for supplementation.

          Good  food sources of calcium are dark green leafy vegetables, sardines, salmon with bones, almonds, asparagus, black strap molasses, broccoli, cabbage, figs, dulse, oats, prunes, sesame seed (unhulled), tofu, yogurt, goat and cow milk.

          Herb sources for calcium are alfalfa, cayenne, chicory, dandelion, flax seed, horsetail, nettle, oatstraw, red raspberry leaf, red clove, rose hips, shepard’s purse, or yarrow.

          Moderate exercise is good for promoting calcium absorption.  Heavy Exercise interferes with it.

          Taking calcium with iron will interfere with absorption.  Too much calcium will interfere with zinc.  Amino acids, especially lysine, are important to calcium absorption.  

Osteoporosis is not a disease of aging 

          In the United States obsession with protein, especially from red meat , is a major cause of osteoporosis.  Excess protein in the diet causes calcium to be leached from bones and excreted in urine.  Many diets, the ZONE for example, encourage up to 100 grams of protein daily.  Most people take in about 50 to 60 grams of protein daily.  The body really need only about 20 to 40 grams of protein daily.

          Other contributing factors to the high rate of osteoporosis, in men and women, in this country are: coffee, caffeine, carbonated beverages, excessive use of  refined sugar, refined salt, high fat intake, processed foods, use of tobacco and alcohol.  Stress, impaired endocrine systems, and lack of exercise contribute to the problem.  Taking  prescription drugs, such as Synthroid, Prednisone and other corticosteroids, anti-seizure medication like Dilantin or Tegretol, and anti-coagulants such as Coumadin, can lead to bone density loss.

          A study at the University of Western Australia showed that refined salt is directly related to decreased bone mass.  One and one-quarter teaspoons of salt in the  daily diet, or 3000 mg., required an intake of 1700 mg. of calcium.  By reducing salt to 2300mg, the calcium support was decreased to 1200 mg. daily, which is equivalent to four cups of milk.

          While lowering estrogen levels may play a role in calcium depletion, low progesterone levels are far more hazardous.  This fact has been borne out by the research of John Lee, MD.  Strong and healthy endocrine systems are critical.  (Note: fluoride blocks the absorption of iodine by the thyroid gland, as does chlorine.)

          In research completed by Susan Brown, a medical anthropologist at Syracuse University, there is little or no reported osteoporosis in most countries around the world.  Brown found that in Japan there are fifty percent fewer spinal fractures and two and one-half times fewer hip fractures than in the US.  The calcium intake in these countries ranges from 200 mg. to 500 mg. daily.  Dietary differences more thoroughly support healthy bones. 

          Eighteen nutrients are important to bone health.  They are vitamin C for the building block of bone - collagen, vitamin A for bone building cells called osteoblasts, vitamin B6 - B12 - folic acid, vitamin K, vitamin D (not synthetic), essential fatty acids, magnesium, boron, copper, manganese, zinc, naturally occurring fluorine from food, silica (found in horsetail herb), calcium and phosphorus, and protein from alkaline promoting foods. 

Osteoporosis is preventable and reversible.  Look at what you can do for your self. 

Resources:

          An age old remedy of organic apple cider vinegar and raw, unpasteurized honey in hot water is a wonder pH balancing tea  for bones and  health.  In Vermont it is called “honeygar.” 

          Calc Tea and Changease are good herbal formulas for bone spurs and providing phytosterols. 

          Exercise and nutrition are your best defense against osteoporosis.

Walking, even fifteen minutes in the sun, gives you a natural source of vitamin D.  It is also an excellent, moderate weight bearing exercise for building bone density.                     

                   Evaluate your diet.  Refer to Intuitive Eating by Humbart Santillo. MH.  

          Calcium tablets protect against bone loss, but do  not reverse it. 

Advocate for your health.  If your health care provider wants you to consider HRT or drugs for osteoporosis, ask questions and expect answers, because your health matters.  

HEALTH MATTERS . . .

is written by Gayle Eversole, MH, PhD.  Gayle has been studying and using herbs and natural healing for fourty years.  She is a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild, and has over twenty-five years experience as a nursing practitioner. 

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