Hi Everybody,
OSTEOPOROSIS MEDS- Bone is not quite as solid and unchanging as you may think. Bone is actually living tissue that is constantly being broken down and replaced with new cells. Special cells called Osteoclasts break old bone down, and other cells called Osteoblasts build new bone up.
The problem with the medications being used for Osteoporosis, like Fosamax etc., is that all they do is prevent old bone from being broken down. As a result, the bone density tests do say your bones are more solid, but they are now made of old, brittle cells that are not being replaced with new, young and healthy cells like they should be.
This is why we are seeing so many spontaneous fractures in people who have been on these medications for a while. Their bones look more dense on scans, but they are actually quite old and brittle. In addition, many in the medical field are observing a rise in vascular disease in women who have been told to take more calcium. The supplemental calcium is being laid down in the blood vessels, the muscles of the heart and the heart valves, which calcifies them.
EXERCISE- Weight bearing exercise is one of the best things you can do for your bones – simply getting up and moving around, and doing light exercise. Lifting weights adds a little more stress to the bones, forcing the body to strengthen them even more.
In addition, recent research is indicating that our diets are Vitamin C deficient, and that Vitamin C encourages new bone growth. In studies performed on the elderly, it has been shown time and time again that those with the most bone fractures have the lowest levels of Vitamin C in their bloodstream. It has even been theorized that Osteoporosis and Osteopenia may actually be chronic, low level scurvy, that has gone on for years and years.
Other very important food-based nutrients that are imperative for bone health include Vitamin D, Magnesium, Born, Silica and Vitamin K2.
WHAT TO DO- FIrst of all, move. Exercise. It doesn’t need to be anything crazy or excessive – simply get up and do something. Lifting light weights (especially while walking or doing something like Tai Chi or Yoga) is great.
Secondly, either look up foods containing Vitamin C, Vitamin K2, Vitamin D, Magnesium, Boron and Silica and make sure to include those foods in your diet. If you do not want to eat these foods, you need to at least be taking supplemental Vitamin C, K2 and D. Magnesium, Boron and Silica are a good idea as well. You may also want to include foods high in Calcium on this list, but do not take Calcium supplements – especially artificial Calcium supplements. Food based supplements are most likely okay, but don’t overdo it. There are also herbal formulas that contain or enhance many of these Vitamins and Minerals in your body and can help with bone health.
This may seem like a lot, but in the end you reap what you sow. You either exercise and eat well, or you must supplement like crazy.
Hope this helps,
Dr Matt and Dr Robin
mattandrobin@yahoo.com (email)
This week’s bit of Useless Information: All the pandas in the world are owned by China. If you see a panda outside of China, it is leased.
This email is courtesy of Matthew Barnes, D.C. and Robin Barnes, D.C. Neither this nor any of our emails are intended to be medical advice and should not be taken as such. They are opinion and are for informational purposes only. None of the nutrients discussed here are meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease.