Osteoporosis-
A modern Condition?
by Charlie Skeen

Statistics reveal that osteoporosis affects about 20 million Americans. About one-third of postmenopausal women in the United States have osteoporosis. And, in a country that consumes more than its fair share of dairy products, the United States also has the highest rate of osteoporotic fractures in the world.

It's interesting to note that research reveals that osteoporosis has not always been the result of aging and in fact may be more related our current diet and lifestyle. For example, during a restoration process on a church in London human skeletons were discovered in an old crypt. The bones were of white women ranging in age from 15 to 89 years old, which today is a group at very high risk of osteoporosis. The skeletal remains dated back to the 18th and 19th centuries and were of Huguenot ancestry. An examination of these bones revealed that there was no significant premenopausal loss of bone density. Also, postmenopausal bone loss was less than occurs in women today of the same age group.

When we consider the implications of these findings we are left with a perplexing question;

If we are more advanced in human nutrition and science than our ancestors of 100 or 200 years ago, then why is osteoporosis so prevalent and on the increase in the 21st century?

Realizing this seriousness of this situation which is affecting real people everyday, information is being provided that will assist you in putting together your own program for maintaining a healthy bone structure. The information will be based on sound scientific research and years of experience. Please visit the web site regularly as the information will be posted on a continuing basis until it is completed.

I know there are many things that people want to know right away but I want to present a program that will cover many areas and will need time to construct.

Since I know many people do not want to wait until the end of the article as to what would be suggested for a supplementation program, I have elected to post that particular information now and explain it in greater detail as the article progresses.

Before I do that I would like people to appreciate that bone tissue is made of more than just calcium. To swallow large dosages of calcium and expect healthy bones is just not going to work. In fact, consuming excessive amounts of calcium, especially calcium carbonate found in many supplements as well as in antacids such as Rolaids and Tums, will contribute to other problems in the body which will be discussed later. If this simplistic approach to bone loss really worked then the United States, Norway, Sweden, and Finland who consume the largest amount of dairy and calcium in the world should have very healthy bone structures and be virtually free of osteoporosis. Sad to say they do not. In reality, these four countries have the highest rates of arthritis (osteo and rheumatoid), osteoporosis, and diabetes.

An examination of bone tissue reveals that its anatomy is very complex, consisting of not only calcium, but also magnesium, zinc, manganese, phosphorous and many other trace minerals. In fact, over 50% of bone tissue is made up of minerals. Other components consist of collagen, glycoprotein, and various proteoglycans such as chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate.

In order to provide proper care of the bone tissue and maintain its homeostasis, or healthy state, a multifaceted approach must be implemented covering all aspects of a person's lifestyle which include proper diet and fluid intake, exercise, and supplementation.

An excellent supplementation program would consist of the following:

Contributing Factors to Bone Loss
In this section of the article we will examine various negative factors that contribute to the loss of bone.

Antibiotics:
Antibiotics destroy normal intestinal flora, or bacteria, which supplies vitamin K used in building bone tissue.

Glucocorticoid Medications:
Such medications like Prednisone will make calcium absorption more difficult and prevent osteblast cells from forming new bone tissue.

Fluroide:
The type of fluoride we are talking about here is sodium fluroide, a by-product of aluminum when manufactured. It is found in city drinking water and toothpaste and used by dentists. This type of flouride is actually quite toxic to the body, including bone cells. While sodium flouride produces an apparent increase in bone mass it is abnormal and very weak. Studies have shown that even small amounts in the drinking water increases the risk of hip fractures.
"Water Flouridation and Hip Fracture" Cooper, C. Journal of the American Medical Association July 1991, pgs-513-514

The type of flouride required by the body for strong healthy bones is the natural source, calcium flouride, also called flourine.
Natural sources of this vital nutrient are; seafood, mackerel, salmon, avocado, garlic, cabbage, spinach, beets, oats, rice, oats, watercress, alfalfa, spirulina, Kelp, black walnut, and nearly all plants.

Please check our web site periodically for updates. Thank You!

The information in this article is not intended to provide medical advice, which should be obtained from a medical professional, and has not been approved by the U.S. FDA.

Copyright© 2002 by Live Well Naturally. The use of information found in Live Well Naturally Newsletter for commercial purposes is prohibited without the written permission of the author.