OSTEOPOROSIS

FACTS ABOUT OSTEOPROSIS

Osteoporosis defined means "porous bones". This disease occurs as the body slowly dissolves the bones and does not repair them. The bones then become weak and brittle and easily susceptible to breakage. 1.3 million people over 45 have fractures in the vertebrae of the spine, wrists or hips because of osteoporosis.

12-20% of the people with hip fractures which occurred because of osteoporosis die within a year. You may not be worried about osteoporosis because you have heard it is a disease women get when they are older and they don't have enough calcium in their diets. Part of this is true, but there are more facts of which you should be aware. By learning the facts early, you can take steps to prevent this disease.

FACT ONE: Osteoporosis is not a deficiency in calcium only. When people have only a calcium shortage, they have a disease called osteomalacia. With osteoporosis there is a lack of calcium, but there is also a loss of other minerals as well as a decrease in other bone components such as collagen. To prevent or treat osteoporosis supplementation should include calcium in combination with other minerals and vitamins.

FACT TWO: Older women are the most likely to suffer with osteoporosis, but men and younger people of both sexes can also have osteoporosis. Part of the reason older women has a higher risk for this disease is because of how bones are built. Two types of cells are in charge of bone growth and repair, osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Osteoclasts dissolve old damaged bones. Then the osterblasts make new bone to repair what the osteoclasts have dissolved. In females, estrogen suppresses the dissolving action of osteoclasts and progesterone stimulates the osteoblasts to make new bone. In males testosterone activates these processes. As women age, their levels of progesterone begins to drop, therefore the osteoblasts aren't as actively stimulated to make new bone.

Once a woman enters menopause, progesterone levels drop farther and estrogen levels drop also, causing osteoclasts to become more active in dissolving bone. During menopause most women lose an average of 5-10% of their bone mass. Testosterone levels also drop as men age, but men have the advantage of starting out with a greater bone mass than women.

Things to do to prevent osteoporosis or help repair bone density are:

1. Take a mineral supplement. Colloidal form is the best. It is a liquid and the mineral particles are microscopic and are easily absorbed into your system.

2. Calcium /Magnesium & Vit. D supplement. The magnesium and Vit. D utilize calcium and protect against osteoporosis.

3. A diet containing good amounts of fish, leafy greens, broccoli, carrots, beans, bananas, apricots, yogurt, kefir, tofu and molasses are just a few food that are helpful to bone health. Reduce red meat consumption and animal protein. These are high in phosphates that leach calcium. Contrary to belief, pasteurized milk is not a good source of calcium and can actually interfere with mineral absorption. Soy milk or soy products are high in calcium. High salt intake accelerates bone loss and decreases bone density.

4. Regular exercise has clearly been shown to minimize bone loss. Weight bearing exercises, such as walking and tennis help to strengthen the bones.

5. Take a natural progesterone such as Pro-G-Yam. This is a cream which contains 5mg. Of progesterone in an herbal base of wild yam, yucca, chamomile, ginko baloba and horsetail herb.

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