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Osteoporosis and bone loss have to be one of the most dreaded conditions of aging.
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I have listened for decades to fearful clients who have been recently diagnosed with osteoporosis and they are considering their options. The effects of surgery, broken bones and disability that come with this condition can be heartbreaking. The second part of this sad story is that in most cases this could have been prevented by understanding the true concept of what actually causes bone loss.
I was recently interviewed on 3 Plus You TV by Julie Edwards on this subject and I made the following 4 important points:
- Calcium is not the answer to your bone loss.
- The bisphospanate drugs used to treat osteoporosis may be far more limited in results than you are being told.
- Using a combination of nutritional supplementation consisting of Vitamin D, Vitamin K, Magnesium, Silica and Calcium is the only science based nutrition method to increase bone mass.
- Daily weight bearing exercise is the last point and this is critical to encouraging the bones to be able to gather and form minerals and collagen back into itself. (I have an easy answer for this below.)
Watch the 6 minute segment on 3 Plus You:
Drugs used to treat bone loss work by a mechanism that forces rebuilding of the size of the bone but it does NOT address the building of the strength of the bone. Share on X
A 75 year old that is tested to have the exact same bone mass as a 35 year old still has a 7 times increased risk for bone fracture! This is because the important part of the skeletal system is not primarily the size of the bone but should be its strength instead. Collagen comprises 30% of your bones and this is what gives bones the strength of steel. The only predictable method to increase collagen is by taking something that contains silica. One brand called BioSil is one of the most absorbable silicas on the market.
When a symphony is playing music that is extremely out of tune, the solution will never come from focusing on only one musical instrument because that would have little total effect on the overall quality of that music. This sadly is similar to the mainstream approach to your health. A full complement of supplements, exercise and food choices in combination is the only safe option for optimal health because it addresses the multiple reasons for the problem.
The exercise program that works for building bone mass must consist of weight bearing exercises. The reason for this is that your body is already able to support your present weight. The only way bones increase in mass is if the signals received within the bone indicate its need to thicken and this only comes when adding additional weight. Activities such as long distance walking, high reps with weights, doing work around the house and gardening are all wonderful for your overall body but they definitely won’t send the signal to thicken the bones. There are a couple of options I tell people. Number one, if you are able and want to pursue personal training, consider the gym here at Nutrition World called Maxx Fitness. Mackie Peirre has been with me over 15 years as an expert in the field of doing weight training for osteoporotic women.
Secondly, for those who do not want to train or do personal training, go online and purchase an athletic weight vest. Pick one that allows you to carry between 20-25 pounds in the vest. This should be worn 40 minutes per day during normal activities from walking to housework or anything but sitting. This will indicate to your bones that they need to thicken. It doesn’t require any skill level or expensive equipment. Click here to view an example.
When putting together a nutritional supplement protocol, the following nutrients are the minimum needed to create the healthy orchestra of bone mass health. Please feel free to stop in and ask us about the proper exact choices for your needs.
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Vitamin K
- Silica
- Vitamin D
Vitamin D, in my opinion, must be monitored with blood testing. After being on a dose for 8 weeks I encourage you get a blood test. Your goal is to be at least 50ng/ml on that blood test.
