Natural Ways To Prevent & Reverse Bone Loss
Bone loss is a vital health issue to both women and men. Among the things that can lead to significant bone loss is smoking, a vegetarian diet, lack of adequate calcium intake, being sedentary or exercising too little, being small boned and petite (applies especially to women), drinking (alcohol abuse or binge drinking), and use of certain medications.
The conventional medical approach to prevention typically involves some combination of oral calcium + vitamin D to enhance absorption, weight-bearing exercise or Chinese Tai Chi in older or otherwise physically compromised folks, and use of drugs as Fosamax®. For postmenopausal women, some doctors use hormone replacement therapy to prevent or reverse bone loss. However, as the long-term use of hormone replacement therapy is considered risky, it is now used sparingly and often for short period of time only.
Natural Medicine to Prevent & Even Reverse Bone Loss (Osteoporosis)
Calcium and vitamin D are essential to build and maintain bone. And according to many studies supplemental calcium taken with vitamin D help postmenopausal women in terms of slowing bone loss and improving bone integrity. However, milk is not a good source of forms of calcium for accomplishing this (at least in women), while supplementation with calcium citrate may improve bone integrity albeit to a modest degree.
One study did show that male senior citizens experienced some bone strengthening after using a calcium and vitamin D-fortified diary product. However, many doctors feel that any small benefits this confers would be countered by the rise in the risk of prostate cancer that goes with higher calcium levels in men.
One Interesting fact to emerge from the various studies involving seniors and supplemental calcium and vitamin D was this: It appears vitamin D may improve their balance and thus reduce the risk of falling and experiencing bone fractures.
Recent scientific studies and assessments have added a new chapter to the calcium story: While more-and-more people are taking calcium supplements these days and consuming calcium-rich foods like milk and yogurt, osteoporosis rates continue on unabated. Why?
Well, in-a-word the calcium is going in – and then being shuttled to soft tissues like artery walls! This “shuttling phenomenon” may be one reason high calcium levels in older men predispose some to develop prostate cancer (Cited above).
The improper transport of calcium from blood to soft tissues and not bone appears linked to vitamin K2 intake, especially the isomers (forms) of K2 know as menaquinone-4 and menaquinone-7.
In population studies carried out in the Netherlands by University of Maaschrict researchers, they found that seniors with the highest levels of K2 had the lowest levels of bone loss and hardening of the arteries.
One very concise, easy-to-read book on Vitamin K2 is “Health Benefits of Vitamin K2” by Larry M. Howard and Anthony G. Payne, Ph.D. You can read more about or even order this book by clicking this link: K2 BOOK
Menaquinone-7 (MK-7) rich supplements are available now. One in particular, BONEGENESIS, provides users with a substantial amount of MK-7 along with Vitamin D3 and several other bone-building natural compounds. BoneGenesis™ is sold exclusively by NutraCAM.
In addition to K2 levels as a player in bone loss prevention, various observational studies suggest that persons with higher-than-normal levels of homocysteine in their blood might increase risk of osteoporosis. Vitamins B12, B6, and folic acid have been shown to help reduce homocysteine levels. As homocysteine also increases one’s risk of heart disease, bringing down elevated levels represents a two-birds-with-one-stone affair: Decrease the chance for developing osteoporosis and heart disease!
One of the very finest time-release homocysteine-lowering products on the market is NUTRACENE
And finally, a word about diet: Many experts have said that consuming too much animal protein increases the risk of osteoporosis. However, the weight of evidence available currently points to the opposite: that a high protein intake strengthens bone. One study, in fact, revealed that individuals who take calcium supplements in conjunction with a relatively high protein diet had less bone loss than those who used calcium but adhered to a lower protein diet.
Dietary issues with respect to bone loss and heart disease are looked at extensively in "Health Benefits of Vitamin K2" by Larry Howard & Dr. Anthony G. Payne
References
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Disclaimer: Statements made, or products sold through this web site, have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease
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