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Reversing Osteopenia: The Definitive Guide to Recognizing and Treating Early Bone Loss in Women of All Ages.

In Reversing Osteopenia, Dr. Harris H. McIlwain and his two daughters, also rheumatologists, fill the knowledge gap about this easily diagnosable disease, help younger women recognize the risk factors for bone loss, and provide a five-step program for controlling and even preventing bone loss. Their age-specific recommendations for women in their twenties, thirties, forties, and fifties include


- exercises that strengthen rather than threaten your bones

- new information about foods that build bone density

- ways to avoid medicines that rob bones of their strength

- recommendations of natural dietary supplements


 Read This Book

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Osteodenx Bio-repleneishment Bone Maintenance

Call me directly for more information about Osteodenx. I love this product for helping with bone disease prevention.  208-818-3641

Leave your drugs in the chemist's pot if you can heal the patient with food. - Hippocrates

Faces of Osteoporosis - Ruthie

Ruthie

Like many people visiting Hawaii I didn’t have a clue about the dangers of body surfing, but one day in my forties I was hit by two large waves, which tossed me in the air with amazing force. Landing on the sand with crashing force, my back was injured, and this changed my life... read more...

Can you maintain healthy bones?  Watch "Treasure Your Bones" video.

On Breast Health - I love This Choice

Thermography


A preventive screening tool for breast health
ERIKA HOROWITZ, ND, MSOM

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women, behind lung cancer. According to the American Cancer Association, in 2007 an estimated 178,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women, as well as an estimated 62,030 additional cases of in situ breast cancer. In addition, approximately 40,460 women are expected to have died from breast cancer in 2007 (American Cancer Association, n.d.). Epidemiological studies estimate that one in eight women will develop breast cancer during their lifetimes.

Moreover, one in five women with breast cancer will die of the disease, despite the considerable advances in treatment (Keyserlingk, 1998). Given these circumstances, early detection of breast cancer is considered an important prognostic factor. There is general consensus that earlier detection of breast cancer can improve survival rates, resulting in a 30'40% reduction in deaths from breast cancer within 10 years from detection (Roebuck, 1986). Adoption of screening programs has been based on the premise that early detection leads to early treatment, which leads to better survival rates.

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Osteoporosis, Not Just a Disease for the Elderly

It was then that I knew I had to do something to strengthen my bones to avoid the other debilitating characteristics that come with the disease. At the same time, I began a search for the reasons I developed osteoporosis. After all, I didn’t have a small frame and I wasn’t in one of the higher-risk ethnic groups


Read More..

Next Generation Of Heart Stents-Interventional Cardiologists Reduce Risk Of Stents By Magnetizing Endothelial Cells

Interventional Cardiologists Reduce Risk Of Stents By Magnetizing Endothelial Cells
Interventional cardiologists used magnetic particles to accelerate the process of healing after the placement of a stent. To do this, they extract cells from the interior of a patient's blood vessels, cultivate them, and insert iron-based paramagnetic particles into the cells...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2008/1204-next_generation_of_heart_stents.htm

Surgeon General: Act now, as we know more than enough.

While genetic factors play a significant role in determining bone mass, controllable
lifestyle factors such as diet and physical activitycan mean the difference between a frail
and strong skeleton.

There is much that individuals can do to promote their own bone health, beginning in
childhood and continuing into old age. These activities contribute not only to bone health,
but to overall health and vitality.

While much valuable work is already underway, more needs to be done to change the
perception that osteoporosis is an inevitable part of aging. On the contrary, like heart
disease, it needs to be thought of as a preventable chronic disease, the roots of which begin at a fairly young age even though symptoms may not manifest until later in life.

Recommendations:

• Proper nutrients - from a well-balanced diet containing a variety of foods including grains, fruits and vegetables, nonfat or lowfat dairy products or other calcium-rich foods, and meat or beans each day.
• Vitamin D  -available in supplementsfor those unable to get enough through sunshine and diet.
• Physical activity - 30 minutes a day for adults and 60 minutes for children as well as specific strength- and weight-bearing activities critical to building and maintaining, bone mass throughout life.
• See a health care provider if they have a medical condition or use medications that can affect the skeleton. Women should also see their health care provider if menstrual periods stop for 3 months.

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Surgeon Generals Report Encourages Individuals and Families to Take Action

Because many individuals may not realize that they are at risk of bone disease and may not take action (e.g., begin engaging in physical activity) until they are motivated to do so,
individuals and families need to:

• Educate themselves on the importance of
bone health and to recognize that bone health
is a lifelong issue and that osteoporosis is not
just a women’s disease.

• Set the stage during infancy, childhood, and
adolescence for their children to have healthy
bones throughout their lives.

• Encourage their middle-aged and elderly
parents to take actions to maintain healthy
bones and to prevent bone disease and fractures
later in life.

• Recognize that, regardless of their age, gender,
or racial and ethnic background, they
are at risk of getting bone disease and therefore
should consider making a lifelong commitment
to doing what is necessary (e.g.,
getting adequate nutrition and physical activity)
to maintain strong bones. Doctors cannot
do this for their individual patients, although
health care professionals clearly have
a role in encouraging their patients to adopt
bone-healthy behaviors.

Read Report

Surgeon General Report - Intent to bring awareness to public

A major message of this Surgeon General’s

report is that the bone health status of Americans

can be improved. Many of the physical,

emotional, and financial costs of bone disease and

fractures can be avoided. However, much of

what could be done to reduce this burden is not

being done today, largely due to a lack of

awareness of the problem and the failure to apply

current knowledge. In fact, many in the public

and even the medical community believe that

osteoporosis, by far the most common bone

disease, is a natural, unavoidable consequence

of aging. This view must be changed. The intent

of this Surgeon General’s report is to serve as a

catalyst for the development of a public health

approach to promoting bone health.
 
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Preventing Falls

Preventing falls is important at any age, but it is especially important for those who have osteoporosis because their bones are more fragile and easily broken.


Each year, about one-third of individuals 65 years of age or older will fall, and some will be disabled by the broken bones that can follow.


Medications
In many cases, a fall can be precipitated by medications such as sedatives, muscle relaxants, and blood pressure drugs that can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or loss of balance. When two or more medications are used in combination, these side effects may be aggravated. Falls also result from diminished vision, hearing, muscle strength, coordination, and reflexes and from diseases that affect balance.



This safety checklist can help you eliminate many common household hazards:


Floors. Remove all loose wires, cords, and throw rugs. Minimize clutter. Make sure rugs are anchored and smooth. Keep furniture in its accustomed place.

Bathrooms. Install grab bars and non-skid tape in the tub or shower.


Lighting. Make sure halls, stairways, and entrances are well lit. Install a night light in your bathroom. Turn lights on if you get up in the middle of the night.


Kitchen. Install non-skid rubber mats near sink and stove. Clean spills immediately.


Stairs. Make sure treads, rails, and rugs are secure.


Other precautions. Wear sturdy, rubber-soled shoes. Keep your intake of alcoholic beverages to a minimum. Ask your doctor whether any of your medications might cause you to fall.

http://www.nof.org/patientinfo/fall_prevention.htm

Fluoride in Black Tea May Pose Health Risks

If you are a huge fan of black tea, you may be consuming more fluoride than is healthful. Researchers at the Medical College of Georgia found that individuals who drink large amounts of black tea may be getting much higher concentrations of fluoride than previously believed.

Dr. Gary Whitford, Regents Professor of oral biology in the School of Dentistry, notes that the increased risk appears to be associated with people who drink one or more gallons of black tea daily for a prolonged period of time. Previous studies have indicated that black tea contains 1 to 5 milligrams of fluoride per liter, but new research indicates that one liter may contain as much as 9 milligrams. People who ingest about 20 milligrams daily for more than 10 years face a significant risk to bone health.

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Low Vitamin D Levels and Cognitive Impairment

NHANES Findings



Vitamin D was once just of interest in bone health, but recent work has suggested low vitamin D levels may be a risk factor for a wide range of age-associated diseases, Dr. Llewellyn said, including cancer, hypertension, stroke, and more recently, cognitive decline.


It is known that vitamin D crosses the blood–brain barrier and that receptors for vitamin D are found across the brain, but its precise role is still not known, Dr. Llewellyn noted. It does seem to play a role in processes that may be important for dementia risk, including vascular health and amyloid clearance from the brain. Given these associations, he noted, it seems "biologically plausible" that there might be an association of low vitamin D levels with dementia risk and cognitive performance in the general population.


It is estimated that about a billion people worldwide have vitamin D levels considered insufficient (<75 nmol/L). Most of the world's population living in the northern hemisphere does not have sufficient exposure to the sun to produce enough vitamin D, there are few dietary sources, and aging skin loses the ability over time to produce vitamin D. "So it's an enormous public health concern, given its association with an increasingly wide range of age-associated diseases," Dr. Llewellyn said.

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Simply Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days

The Drugs I Need

Men and Osteoporosis

Think osteoporosis is only an issue for women? Watch this video and learn more about men and osteoporosis...Watch Video

Men And Osteoporosis

How to tell if you are losing bone without a bone density test

While most doctors tend to monitor bone density with the dual-energy x-ray absorptiomentry (DEXA) test, there is another, less expensive test helpful in determining if you are currently losing bone. This test, called the cross-linked N-teleopeptide (or NTx for short), is a simple urine or blood test known as a "marker of bone resorption." When you lose bone, small fragments of bone protein show up in the urine and blood, and measuring these bone protein fragments gives an indication of rate of bone breakdown. In most cases a high rate of bone breakdown, also known as bone resorption, indicates that there is an ongoing loss of bone mass.
The bone resorption markers most commonly used are the urine NTx osteomark marker and the urine deoxypyridinium cross-links (Dpd). Your physician can order either of these tests. Generally, a score that’s near or even a bit below the premenopausal mean for women, and one near or even a bit below the young adult mean for men, is ideal. In both tests, the higher the number, the greater the likelihood of a more rapid rate of ongoing bone loss

Source: Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD

Maternal diet affects infant's long-term bone health

(Reuters Health) - Women who maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet during pregnancy have children with bigger and stronger bones than women with poorer quality diets, according to the results of a study presented Tuesday at the National Osteoporosis Society Conference in Manchester, UK.

Read more...

Prevention

PREVENTION

Osteoporosis is a preventable disease for most people, if they take the necessary steps throughout their lives. Contrary to popular belief, osteoporosis is not a disease of old people, and if preventative steps are not taken, bone loss occurs earlier in life, long before symptoms of the disease. Osteoporosis and low bone mass are currently estimated to be a major public health threat for almost 44 million US women and men aged 50 and older. By the year 2010, it is estimated that over 52 million women and men in this same age category will be affected and, if current trends continue, the figure will climb to over 61 million by 2020.

A comprehensive program that can help prevent osteoporosis includes:

a balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D

weight-bearing exercise

a healthy lifestyle with no smoking and limited alcohol intake and

bone mineral density testing (BMD Test) and medication when appropriate.

Prevention is important at all ages, however, at the time of menopause, these steps may not be enough without estrogen therapy or other osteoporosis-related medications to protect from bone loss. With menopause, women begin to lose bone mass at an accelerated rate as their estrogen levels fall, and they can lose up to 20 percent of their bone mass in the five to seven years following menopause, placing them at increased risk for osteoporosis.

EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

We are in a new era of preventing, detecting and treating this disease. In the past decade, bone density tests, painless diagnostic tests, have become available, in addition to several medications to prevent and treat this disease. Osteoporosis is highly preventable and treatable, especially if caught early, and people with risk factors should ask their doctor about a bone density test.

Read More:

http://www.nof.org/news/pressroom.htm

Factors Affecting Peak Bone Mass

Factors Affecting Peak Bone Mass

Peak bone mass is influenced by a variety of factors: some that you can't change, like gender and race, and some that you can, like nutrition and physical activity.
Gender: Bone mass or density is generally higher in men than in women. Before puberty, boys and girls develop bone mass at similar rates. After puberty, however, boys tend to acquire greater bone mass than girls.

For most people, the amount of bone tissue in the skeleton (known as bone mass) peaks by their late twenties. At that point, bones have reached their maximum strength and density. Up to 90 percent of peak bone mass is acquired by age 18 in girls and age 20 in boys, which makes youth the best time for your kids to “invest” in their bone health.

Building your children's “bone bank” account is a lot like saving for their education: The more they can put away when they're young, the longer it should last as they get older.

Osteoporosis is most common in older people but can also occur in young and middle-aged adults. Optimizing peak bone mass and developing lifelong healthy bone behaviors during youth are important ways to help prevent or minimize osteoporosis risk as an adult

Race: For reasons still not well understood, African American girls tend to achieve higher peak bone mass than Caucasian girls, and African American women are at lower risk for osteoporosis later in life. More research is needed to understand the differences in bone density between the various racial and ethnic groups. However, because all women, regardless of race, are at significant risk for osteoporosis, girls of all races need to build as much bone as possible to protect them against this disease.

Hormonal factors: Sex hormones, including estrogen and testosterone, are essential for the development of bone mass. Girls who start to menstruate at an early age typically have greater bone density. Those who frequently miss their menstrual periods sometimes have lower bone density.
Nutritional status: Calcium is an essential nutrient for bone health. In fact, calcium deficiencies in young people can account for a 5- to 10-percent lower peak bone mass and may increase the risk for bone fracture in later life. A well-balanced diet including adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, zinc, and vitamin D is also important for bone health.
Physical activity: Physical activity is important for building healthy bones, and provides benefits that are most pronounced in the areas of the skeleton that bear the most weight. These areas include the hips during walking and running and the arms during gymnastics and weight lifting.

Magnesium

60% of the magnesium in our bodies is found in our bones in combination with calcium and phosphorus. Magnesium appears to enhance our bone quality. Studies suggest that it may improve bone mineral density, and not getting enough may interfere with our ability to process calcium.

Good sources include green leafy vegetables such as spinach, potatoes, nuts, seeds, whole grains including bran, wheat, oats, and chocolate. Smaller amounts are found in many foods including bananas, broccoli, raisins and shrimp.

http://www.niams.nih.gov/health_info/bone/bone_health/nutrition/other_nutrients.asp

Bone Support For Life

Our bones are fully capable of supporting us throughout our life. But ongoing factors like hormonal imbalance,  nutritional challenges, certain medications, and acid-forming diets place an excessive burden on our bones. Without continual compensation, the result is thin bone, weak bone, or both.

We can reduce the demands on our bones. When we combine a natural approach of nutrition, exercise and bio-replenishment support for bone-building cells, we can balance our bones metabolism and help to strengthen our bones. 

What are you doing for your bones? Be an advocate for your own health and live well!

US FDA says acid reflux drugs carry fracture risk

* FDA recommends lower dose, shorter duration of use

* Drugs include Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid, Protonix

* Package insert labels to include fracture-risk warnings

NEW YORK, May 25 (Reuters) - U.S. health regulators have cautioned doctors and patients of an increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist, and spine from high doses or long-term use of a widely used class of drugs to control the amount of acid in the stomach.


Read More

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Gastroenterology/GERD/20030

Osteoporosis Drugs May Increase Broken Bones in Some Women

Watch ABC World News with Diane Sawyer


Sandy Potter, 59, of Queens, N.Y., was jumping rope with neighborhood children when she felt her thigh bone snap. "I went up in the air and I came straight down to the ground," Potter said. "The pain was excruciating." Potter, who was diagnosed with osteoporosis at age 48…

Read more

Stand Tall Against Osteoporosis

Stand tall against osteoporosis. No matter what your age, it’s never too late to stop bone loss now for better posture and fewer fractures down the road. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful:

Pump it up

Make weight-bearing exercise a regular habit to increase bone density and prevent osteoporosis

Cut the caffeine

Avoid excessive calcium loss in the urine from by switching to healthier beverages

Aim for lifelong calcium and vitamin D nutrition

An extra 800 mg of calcium and 400 to 800 IU of vitamin D a day can help protect the bones of people at any age

Get your soy

Make tofu, soy milk, soy protein, and other sources of beneficial isoflavones a regular part of your diet

Watch the salt

Avoid excessive salt intake and high-salt processed and restaurant foods that may contribute to calcium and bone loss

Talk to your doctor


Source

Bone & Joint Health Tip: The Benefits of Walking Sticks

Walking sticks (also called hiking poles) are common in Europe, especially in Switzerland and Austria, where you'll often see older adults moving briskly over alpine hillsides, walking sticks firmly in hand. Now they're catching on in the U.S., too, as they are quite useful and provide more of a workout than you would get otherwise. In the first place, the sticks help to support your knees and back when you're hiking or walking. If you have joint or knee problems, sticks can help by distributing your weight more evenly and giving you more stability. They also make uphill climbs easier and improve your hiking form by helping to keep your momentum forward, with your chest and arms out in front. You'll burn 20 to 25 percent more calories per walk as a result of putting your upper body muscles to work with the use of a stick.


Source

Maintaining Vitamin D Levels

Vitamin D3, also known as cholecalciferol, is the natural form of vitamin D for humans. Vitamin D3 is produced in the skin with sunlight exposure. Vitamin D2, known as ergocalciferol, is a compound produced by irradiating yeast with ultraviolet light.

A substantial body of research documents that vitamin D3 is the preferable form and researchers clearly recommend its use. Vitamin D3 has been found to be at least three times as potent as vitamin D2, and is more stable, safe, and useful in the body.


The less desirable vitamin D2 has been generally used in prescription vitamin preparations and in food fortification, while the nutritional and health food industries generally use the superior, natural vitamin D form, D3. Dr. John Cannell, vitamin D advocate and founder of the nonprofit Vitamin D Council, speaks of vitamin D3 in the following manner:


"If you take ergocalciferol, or "vegetarian" vitamin D, be warned. Ergocalciferol is not vitamin D, but a vitamin D-like patent drug whose patent has expired. It does not normally occur in the human body and is probably a weak agonist at the receptor site, meaning it may actually partially block vitamin D actions. Ergocalciferol is the villain in most of the reported cases of toxicity in the world's literature. All bets are off in terms of measuring blood levels if you take ergocalciferol. Some of the labs can pick it up, and some can't. Don't take ergocalciferol; it is not vitamin D." For more details, see Dr. Alan Gaby's summary of the research comparing vitamin D2 and D3.



Maintaining an optimum 50 - 60 ng/mL blood level of vitamin D is the simplest thing you can do to promote overall health. Ask your doctor to test your 25(OH)D level or order a Vitamin D test online at http://www.zrtlab.com/vitamindcouncil/ or http://www.grassrootshealth.net/daction.




Source http://www.betterbones.com

Calcium: Gotta Have It for Healthy Bones

Milk and other calcium-rich foods are an important part of a bone-healthy lifestyle that can not only reduce the risk of fractures as you get older, but may also protect against certain cancers.

Read more...

Bio Replenishments - Taking anti aging to the bone

Bio-Replenishment: Taking Anti-aging to the Bone

- By John Jackson, M.D.
Everybody needs healthy bones and joints. Bones store 99% of the body’s calcium. All body organs depend on a supply of calcium from bone – the brain 150 mg., the heart 100 mg., intestines 600 mg. and kidneys 150 mg. of bone calcium each day. This mineral management system is vital to such body functions as conduction of nerve impulses, hearing, heartbeat and blood flow, bowel movements, liver and kidney performance, acid-base balance and detoxification.

In childhood, we remake the entire skeleton every 4 years, 5 times on average by age 20. With advancing age the process slows considerably, due to a decline in production of the mineral managing molecule we made in abundance when younger. This is the reason, despite eating well and exercising regularly, we can start to suffer with bone and joint problems.

Osteoporosis has been diagnosed in 10-12 million, borderline bone density or osteopenia in 34-40 million and related joint problems, such as osteoarthritis, in 66 million. At least one third of Americans have bone and joint problems. The lifetime risk of brittle bone fractures, already 2 million per year and rising, is 50% in women and 25% in men.

When joints hurt conventional approaches focus on symptomatic relief by means of anti-inflammatory medications and pain relievers. Cures are rare and if all else fails, surgery becomes a consideration. Common recommendations for bone disease include calcium and vitamin D supplementation, chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine, isoflavones and hyaluronic acid. These alone are seldom effective. Hormones, such as estrogen and parathyroid hormone, may build some new bone AND carry the risk of cancer. Bisphosphanates (eg., Actonel, Boniva and Fosamax) are the most popular prescription drugs. These slow bone renewal and interfere with calcium release to vital organs. Jaw bone damage and loosening of teeth, as well as esophageal irritation and cancer have been reported.

Thanks to 30 years of research by Dr. Naidu, twice nominated for a Nobel Prize, there is now a safe and effective solution for healthy bones and joints. OsteoDenx is not a vitamin, mineral supplement or drug. It forms part of the revolutionary new class of Bio-Replenishments. Obtained from food, OsteoDenx is the same protein that a young body uses to remake the whole skeleton every 4 years. This mineral managing molecule also stimulates the cells that produce and maintain cartilage. A patented Synoportin delivery system directs nutrients to the joints.

OsteoDenx, as published in Osteoporosis International (2009), starts turning osteoporosis and osteopenia around in just 2 weeks! Side-benefits of the completely natural OsteoDenx, as published in Inflammation Research (2010), include supplying bone calcium to body organs and the lowering of elevated inflammatory markers linked to heart attack, diabetes and colon cancer.

Bone density increases can be seen in 3-6 months, 24% in less than a year for one of my female cousins at age 83! Young people may be candidates, just like a 16-year old boy who had 8 fractures by age 14, but none since starting OsteoDenx. Joints improve, as in the case of a 70-year old man whose amputated thumb couldn’t bend for nearly 7 years post surgical reattachment that started bending again 8 months after starting the natural product. Soft tissues benefit, based on my own experience with a bad ankle sprain that healed completely in 37 days, allowing me to run a half marathon with our daughters. As an internal medicine specialist for 25+ years, I have found nothing safer, simpler or more successful in securing the wellness of bone and joints than OsteoDenx.

Risk factors you can control

Risk factors you can control
Diet. Getting too little calcium can increase your chances of getting osteoporosis. Not getting enough vitamin D can also increase your risk for the disease. Vitamin D is important because it helps the body use the calcium in your diet.

Physical activity. Not exercising and not being active for long periods of time can increase your chances of getting osteoporosis. Like muscles, bones become stronger – and stay stronger – with regular exercise.

Body weight. Being too thin makes you more likely to get osteoporosis.

Smoking. Smoking cigarettes can keep your body from using the calcium in your diet. Also, women who smoke go through menopause earlier than those who don’t smoke. These things can increase your risk for osteoporosis.

Alcohol. People who drink a lot are more likely to get osteoporosis.

Medicines. Certain medicines can cause bone loss. These include a type of medicine called glucocorticoids (gloo-ko-KOR-ti-koids). Glucocortiocoids are given to people who have arthritis, asthma, and many other diseases. Some other medicines that prevent seizures and that treat endometriosis (en-do-me-tree-O-sis), a disease of the uterus, and cancer can cause bone loss, too.
 
Source   http://www.niams.nih.gov/

By 2020

Bone Health and Osteoporosis: A Surgeon General's Report

By 2020, one in two Americans aged 50 years or older will be at risk for fractures from osteoporosis or low bone mass.


Powerful Bones. Powerful Girls.TM site for Girls


This girl-friendly Web site helps girls understand how weight-bearing physical activity and calcium can be a fun and important part of everyday life.

Also available for Parents.

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Peak Bone Mass

Peak bone mass refers to the genetic potential for bone density. By the age of 20, the average woman has acquired most of her skeletal mass. A large decline in bone mass occurs in older adults, increasing the risk of osteoporosis. For women this occurs around the time of menopause.

It is important for young girls to reach their peak bone mass in order to maintain bone health throughout life. A person with high bone mass as a young adult will be more likely to have a higher bone mass later in life. Inadequate calcium consumption and physical activity early on could result in a failure to achieve peak bone mass in adulthood.

Source

Harvard School of Public Health

Get your vitamin D. Vitamin D plays a key role along with calcium in boosting bone health. Look for a multivitamin that supplies 1,000 IU of vitamin D per day. If your multi only has 400 IU of vitamin D, consider taking an extra supplement to get you up to 1,000 IU or 2,000 IU per day. Some people may need 3,000 or 4,000 IU per day for adequate blood levels, particularly if they have darker skin, spend winters in the northern U.S., or have little exposure to direct sunlight. If you fall into these groups, ask your physician to order a blood test for vitamin D. Read more about vitamin D in the vitamins section of The Nutrition Source.

Read more...

Remember it's All About Absorption

A reader challenged me the other day to come up with one everyday food that will improve her calcium absorption and bone health. My answer surprised her since the food I suggested is so common that it is often overlooked. I decided to share the wealth and write an article about this bone-smart food so that you don’t miss out.




And believe it or not, that food is… the banana!
 
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Focus on Spinal Bone Health

World Osteoporosis Day 2010 will focus on raising awareness of vertebral (spinal) fractures. As many as one in three spinal fractures remain undetected and untreated, leaving the patient at risk of further fractures in what is often termed the ‘fracture cascade’. Vertebral fractures can lead to severe back pain, loss of height, spinal deformity, immobility leading to an increased number of bed days, and even reduced pulmonary function. They can have a profound impact on quality of life, restricting the inability to carry out daily activities at home and in the workplace, and can even result in premature death.
Join IOF and its member societies around the globe in their efforts to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of vertebral fractures through the 2010 World Osteoporosis Day Spinal Bone Health campaign!


Further information about World Osteoporosis Day 2010 will be available here in the coming months.

For more information

Understanding the T-score

Some people have low bone mass but do not yet have osteoporosis. This condition is called osteopenia, defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as 10% to 25% below peak adult bone mass, or a T-score between –1.0 and –2.5 standard deviations below normal. It is very important for people with osteopenia to develop a good prevention plan to keep them from developing osteoporosis.

Read more...

•Osteoporosis causes over 1.5 million fractures each year in the USA

•Osteoporosis causes over 1.5 million fractures each year in the USA (National Osteoporosis Foundation, 2004)
•Osteoporosis causes over 300,000 hip fractures each year in the USA (National Osteoporosis Foundation, 2004)
•Osteoporosis causes over 700,000 vertebral fractures each year in the USA (National Osteoporosis Foundation, 2004)
•Osteoporosis causes over 250,000 wrist fractures each year in the USA (National Osteoporosis Foundation, 2004)
•Osteoporosis accounts for 70% of all fractures for people over 45 in the US (NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases - National Resource Center)

Green Tea May Benefit Bone Health

New research from Hong Kong found that green tea, one of the most popular drinks around the world, may benefit bone health and the researchers suggest it has the potential to help prevent and treat osteoporosis and other bone diseases suffered by millions of people worldwide.

The study was the work of Dr Ping Chung Leung and colleagues from the Institute of Chinese Medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and you can read about it in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry where a web version appeared last month.

Other studies have already suggested that chemicals in green tea benefit health in many ways, for example by preventing cancer and heart disease, but this is the first study to pinpoint which of those chemicals may also improve bone health by stimulating formation and slowing the breakdown of bone.

To read more...

Bone Health and Pregnancy

Pregnancy, Breastfeeding,
and Bone Health

Both pregnancy and breastfeeding cause changes in, and
place extra demands on, women’s bodies. Some of these
may affect their bones. The good news is that most women
do not experience bone problems during pregnancy and
breastfeeding. And if their bones are affected during these
times, the problem often is corrected easily. Nevertheless,
taking care of one’s bone health is especially important
during pregnancy and breastfeeding, for the good health of
both the mother and her baby.

To read more...

You are at risk for osteoporosis:

You are at risk for osteoporosis:

• if you are very thin,
• if your calcium intake is low,
• if you eat too much animal protein,
• if you do not exercise, or are physically inactive,
• if you smoke cigarettes your body will absorb less calcium from your diet and smoking also affects your lungs, heart and skeleton,
• if you drink excessively - 2 or 3 alcoholic drinks everyday can be damaging to your health,
• if you reached menopause before the age of 45,
• if you have had a hysterectomy and your ovaries were removed,
• if you have an overactive thyroid or kidney disease,
• if you have eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia.

www.safemenopausesolutions.com/osteoporosis.html

Bones offer new hope for diabetes

Bones may play a more active role than previously thought in regulating the body's chemistry, scientists say.

An international team found the molecule osteocalcin, produced by bone cells, is active in helping to regulate blood sugar levels in mice.
This is important in the development of diabetes and obesity, so the findings, in the journal Cell, offer the hope of new ways to treat these conditions.

But experts have warned more research is needed to confirm the link.
The researchers looked at two different mice strains, both of which had altered activities of osteocalcin, which is produced by osteoblast cells in bones. One strain had no osteocalcin gene, and so no osteocalcin, and the other had increased levels of osteocalcin activity.

Novel function Lead author Professor Gerard Karsenty of the Columbia University said: "Osteocalcin has been known since 1977 to be made by osteoblast cells, but it had no known function." However, the team found a novel function of the molecule. Usually, an increase in insulin levels in the blood is accompanied by a decrease in insulin sensitivity. But the authors found osteocalcin boosted both the secretion and the sensitivity to insulin.

In mice, increasing the activity of the molecule stimulated pancreatic cells to produce more insulin and at the same time directed fat cells to release a hormone called adiponectin - which improves insulin sensitivity. It also stimulated the production of the insulin-producing cells themselves, which is currently considered to be one of the best, although unattainable, potential treatments for diabetes. Increasing the activity of osteocalcin also prevented the development if type 2 diabetes and obesity in the mice, and mice who could make no osteocalcin had type 2 diabetes and increased fat mass.

New therapies Professor Karsenty said: "The discovery that our bones are responsible for regulating blood sugar in ways that were not known before completely changes out understanding of the function of the skeleton and uncovers a crucial aspect of energy metabolism. "These results uncover an important aspect of endocrinology that was unappreciated until now." And the finding could provide a new therapeutic target to help treat diabetes in humans too, as people with type 2 diabetes have been shown to have low osteocalcin levels.

The researchers will now investigate the role of osteocalcin in regulating blood sugar in humans. Matt Hunt, Science Information Manager at Diabetes UK, said: "This is a very interesting study. "Diabetes research has never previously proposed the idea of the skeleton being involved in the development of diabetes.

"This could potentially open up a whole new area of research."

He said the research could led to an improved understanding of the causes of diabetes, but warned further research was needed to establish a conclusive link between osteocalcin and diabetes.

Source: Osteoworks

living well

No Bones About It

It's widely recognized that strong bones are necessary for long-term wellness. A common misconception, however, is that bone health is important only for structural reasons. It's true that the skeleton provides us with support and mobility But this strong and light system is more than a physical framework.

Bones are actually a chemical storehouse and factory, serving as a repository for essential minerals and as a facility producing cells that enable systemic processes. Healthy bones keep us alive by performing both the structural support and metabolic functions.

First, consider the physical aspect: the skeleton not only provides us a free range of motion that is impossible in invertebrates (try to imagine a jellyfish walking), it also serves as a protective armor for vital organs. Our skeleton is a safety cage for heart, lungs and liver - specialized organs that are in constant operation. One organ, the brain, is so important that it is completely encased in bone, a natural helmet. There is no doubt that highly developed animals could not exist without this complex system of scaffolding and protection, and that good health depends on keeping this system in good working order.

In addition to serving in this way, our bones contain dynamic internal systems that are in constant motion. We require the mineral known as calcium to support a variety of activities at the cellular level. Bone is a reservoir for 99% of the body's calcium supply It releases amounts of this element as needed to assist in heart, muscle and nerve function. Bone is also a blood generator. It produces red blood cells, necessary for transferring oxygen from the lungs to tissues throughout the body Bone marrow synthesizes white blood cells, which help the body fight off infection, and platelets, which enable blood to clot and assist in healing. Without healthy bones, none of these processes are possible.

Yet our bony structure is under constant threat. As we mature, the ability of our skeletal system to renew these vital minerals and carry out these processes will diminish. Calcium replacement slows - and one result is that an estimated 10 million Americans over the age of SO suffer from osteoporosis, a condition in which bone mass is reduced and the skeleton becomes fragile. Age is only one factor that can lead to a decline in bone health. As fewer adults get the regular exercise they need, this also affects bone mass and regeneration. Additionally, the rise in obesity and overweight imposes increased stress on the skeletal structure.

Diet is critical in maintaining osseous health. Our bones need the raw materials necessary to rebuild themselves (the adult skeleton is largely replaced every 10 years). Yet ordinary calcium supplements are not an effective way to answer this need. Most ingested calcium is excreted - and an unfortunate side effect of excess calcium in the system can be the formation of kidney or bladder stones.

Instead, the skeletal system requires a regular infusion of the natural substances that enable specialized cells to regenerate bone tissue. Providing these nutrients in supplement form would require a targeting mechanism to ensure that the ingredients are delivered to the correct destination and readily absorbed by these cells. Research continues on developing a mechanism that will accomplish this - and actively support the structure that supports us. " '"
NIKKEN | JULY/AUGUST 2007

Diet during pregnacy effects long term bone health in infants

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women who maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet during pregnancy have children with bigger and stronger bones than women with poorer quality diets, according to the results of a study presented Tuesday at the National Osteoporosis Society Conference in Manchester, UK


Read more...
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5605LT20090701

Osteoporosis Drug in Rare Thighbone Fractures

Researchers Puzzled by Role of Osteoporosis Drug in Rare Thighbone Fractures
By GINA KOLATA
Published: March 24, 2010

The case reports first surfaced about two years ago and they were frightening. A few orthopedists reported that women taking osteoporosis drugs to prevent broken bones were showing up with rare and serious fractures of their thighbones. The bone was snapping like a twig, sometimes splintering. Often there was no trauma, like a serious fall, to bring it on.

Read more... http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/25/health/25bone.html

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Did you know

RA affects women 3 times more often than men.
After 5 years of disease, about 33% will not be working.
After 10 years, about half will have substantial functional disability.

Stunning!

10 Million Americans
have Osteoporosis.
34 Million Americans
have low bone mass.
66 Million - joint related issues.
TOTAL: 110 Million

Studies indicate our teenage youth are at risk for osteoporosis… Athletes, mothers, older men and women.

Protein and Calcium for Bones

Protein: Protein and calcium act synergistically on bone if both are present in adequate quantities in the diet, but protein can become an antagonistic towards bone when calcium intake is low.

Dietary calcium to protein ratio equal to or greater than 20:1(mg/g) can provide adequate protection for the skeleton. Milk is a unique source of protein because its calcium content is high in relation to its protein content. The calcium to protein ratio of cow's milk is approximately 36:1. Thus, the nutrient package of milk has beneficial effects on bone health.

Source: Bio-Replinishment for Bone Health, AS Naidu