Is There A Natural Treatment For Osteoporosis?
“Every 8 minutes, someone is admitted to an Australian hospital with an osteoporotic fracture….”
There is good reason to to try and find if there is a natural treatment for osteoporosis with statistics like this one!
Recent statistics show that in Australia, 1 in 2 women and 1 in 3 men over 60 years of age will have an osteoporotic fracture in their lifetime. In fact, every 8 minutes, someone is admitted to an Australian hospital with an osteoporotic fracture. This is expected to rise to one every 3 – 4 minutes by the year 2021, as our population ages.
Definition
Osteoarthritis: This is the most common type of joint problem where the cartilage within the joint degenerates resulting in a decrease of the joint space and it can even result in one bone touching the other bone. https://www.healthline.com/health/osteoarthritis
Osteoporosis: This is a completely condition where the density of the bone is reduces and there are more ’empty’ spaces within the bone. This results in a weakening of the bone and an increased risk of a fracture.
https://www.healthline.com/health/osteoporosisteoporosis?
Just How Much At Risk Are You?
Quiz: Let’s see where you stand.
Do you do any of the following things?
If so, you are more likely to develop osteoporosis
or make it worse if you already have it.
• Smoke
• Drink excessive amounts of alcohol
• Not get enough sunlight exposure
• Lead a sedentary lifestyle
• Eat a diet low in calcium
Yes to any of the following, increases osteoporosis risk
History of osteoporosis and fractures within your family?
Cortico-steroid use (commonly used for Asthma)
Do you have:
Rheumatoid arthritis
Over-active thyroid or parathyroid glands
Coeliac disease
Other chronic gut conditions
Chronic liver/ kidney disease
Males: Impotence, Lack of libido
• Other symptoms of low testosterone levels
Women: menses stopped 6-12 consecutive months
(excluding pregnancy, menopause or hysterectomy)
• or have you experience early menopause?
Is Calcium A Natural Treatment For Osteoporosis?
If you need to take a calcium supplement, keep in mind that not all calcium supplements are created equal. Microcrystalline hydroxyapatite is a form of calcium shown to be superior to other forms of calcium. This form of calcium has been shown to be very well absorbed and highly effective in the management of osteoporosis. As well as calcium, microcrystalline hydroxyapatite also contains all the natural elements of healthy bone, including silica, boron, type 1 collagen, zinc, manganese, copper, and the all-important GAGs (glycosaminoglycans). GAGs are proteins upon which bone tissue is built, and are not present in other types of calcium supplements. What is also critical is to have the correct concentrations of each of these ingredients as this determines the effectiveness of supplementation.
Calcium is vital for bones
Calcium is a vital mineral required for the formation of strong bones, as it helps increase the density and strength of bones. Calcium can be found in many food. However, many people do not get their recommended dietary intake (RDI) of calcium from their diet. Fortunately, if you are not getting enough calcium from your diet, calcium can be taken in the form of a natural supplement. We have excellent supplements available for you at the Centre so come and see us so we can prescribe the right calcium supplement for you.
“90% of individuals over the age of 40 have degenerative changes of their joints”
More Calcium-Rich Foods
- Calcium-fortified soy milk and juice
- calcium-set tofu
- soybeans and soynuts
- bok choy, collards
- Chinese cabbage
- kale
- mustard greens
- okra
NOTE: Grains, beans (other than soybeans), fruits, and vegetables (other than those listed) can contribute to calcium intake but cannot replace these key foods.
Dairy Foods
The dairy corporations and various government bodies heavily promote dairy foods as the main or primary source of calcium. However there are most definitely other sources of calcium available and this means that if you are not have dairy foods in your diet, then it is possible to be having enough calcium.
Tofu – Worth A Special Mention.
Tofu is a great source of calcium, especially for vegetarians. Just how much calcium is in it depends on how it is made and which coagulating agent is used. Calcium sulfate and nigari (magnesium chloride) are two common agents and these will be listed on the ingredients. Try to buy the one with calcium sulfate – it will contain more calcium than tofu made with nigari. Also calcium levels change between bands, so look at the % of daily calcium.
Of course it is best if you are able to gain most if not all of your calcium form a high quality diet. Here are some more calcium-rich foods:
Rump Steak (lean) , Apples 1 medium (Pic: Gundula Vogel, Pixabay), Lamb Chop (lean) Bread – mixed grain Bread – wholemeal Chicken – roasted no skin Broccoli Strawberries 1 cup Eggs – boiled 1 large Baked Beans Oranges 1 medium Apricots – dried Spinach Tahini Soy beans (boiled) Custard Almonds Ice Cream Tofu (calcium set) Salmon – tinned, red Sardines – canned Cheese – mild Cheddar (reduced fat) Cheddar Cheese Yogurt – Low fat Yogurt – Plain Milk – Regular Milk – Reduced Fat (1%) Milk – Skim Milk – Calcium Fortified
Now if you are able to incorporate high calcium foods while maintaining acid:base balance in your body, then the health-benefits will be even greater. Remember that it’s ok to have acid foods in the diet, but the key is to balance that out with the alkaline foods. Check out my article on Low Acidic Foods.
While not all studies find a reduced risk of fracturing bones to be associated with higher calcium intakes, research does suggest that adequate calcium and vitamin D can reduce the risk of fractures and osteoporosis as people age. (https://www.vrg.org/nutrition/calcium.php)
Tips For Bone Health
As well as supplements to reduce the risk of you developing osteoporosis there are some simple diet and lifestyle changes that you can make, including the following:
1: Eat a diet rich in high calcium foods, including dairy (unless it is better for your health to avoid) , almonds, buckwheat, egg yolk, green leafy vegetables and sardines.
2: Increase the amount of weight bearing exercise you do each week (e.g. walking).
3: Quit smoking.
4: Decrease your alcohol intake.
5: Make sure you get some mild sun exposure (i.e. just 10-15 minutes most days) to increase your natural vitamin D production.
6: Dark green leafy vegetables, tofu made with calcium sulfate, calcium-fortified soy milk and orange juice,
References:
Image sore lower back: Gundula Vogel, Pixabay
https://pixabay.com/users/guvo59-9285194/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=3605073
http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/calcium.htm
http://www.osteoporosis.org.au/about/about-osteoporosis/preventing-osteoporosis-calcium/
http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/calcium.htm
http://youtu.be/CyAtCX3d0Mw