The Brittle Truth about Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by a decreased bone density that leads to brittle bones and increased fractures. For a complete explanation click here to view a video on osteoporosis. Despite the abundance of calcium available in North American diets, society is suffering from this disease more so then less industrialized societies. Many assume that osteoporosis if from a lack of calcium in the diet. However, many countries that do not consume calcium rich dairy products do not suffer from the osteoporosis that North Americans do. One theory about bone loss is that when people have an acidic terrain due to dietary influences (eating too many acidic foods such as sugar, alcohol, grains, meat, dairy and legumes) and too little alkaline foods (fruits and vegetables) the body will leach minerals from the bones to maintain a normal pH (acid balance). This may explain why people who eat a poor diet tend to suffer from osteoporosis. However there are other correlations to brittle bones such as:

• Being a slight frame, underweight with low body fat percentage
• Certain medications such as glucocorticoids (humulog, cortisone, prednisone), antacids (proton pump inhibitors), seizure medications (barbiturates, dilantin, phenobarbitol), pain medicine (oxycodone, codeine, morphine, methadone) and diabetic medications
• Certain diseases such as hyperparathyroidism, hypothyroidism, alcoholism, rheumatoid arthritis, anorexia nervosa, kidney and liver disease
• Having gastric bypass surgery
• A lack of calcium, magnesium and vitamin D in the diet
• Smoking is linked to a 230% increase in spinal osteoporosis in men and a 19% increase in bone fractures
• A sedentary lifestyle or being bed ridden

What can you do to help yourself if you have osteopenia or osteoporosis?

• Eat a healthy diet with at least 50% of your food intake in the form of fruit and vegetables. Choose whole grains, lean protein and legumes. Dairy products such as plain yogurt are an excellent source of calcium and protein. Limit caffeine because it leaches minerals. Avoid refined carbohydrates, sugar and drinking more than two glasses of alcohol per day.

• Get some exercise daily. Weight bearing exercises are a good to help with bone density. Check with your doctor before starting an exercise regime.

• Improve your digestion and stomach acid. Calcium is one of the harder minerals to digest and absorb so ensuring the stomach acid is adequate helps considerably. Consider taking a digestive enzyme.

• Take a calcium supplement that includes two parts calcium, one part magnesium and vitamin D. Certain forms of calcium are easier to assimilate, such as calcium citrate or calcium hydroxyapatite.

• Quit smoking

If you have an underlying disorder or would like further support for natural osteoporosis support please contact the clinic for a regimes tailored to your needs.

Food Sources of Calcium

What food sources are good for calcium?

• Yogurt, Milk, Cheese
• Artichoke
• Collards
• Turnip greens
• Navy and pinto beans
• Calcium fortified orange juice
• Sesame seeds
• Almonds
• Sardines bones included
• Salmon bones included
• Tofu and Soya milk

Many know that dairy products are quite high in calcium but have trouble digesting them. For a list of common dairy and non-dairy foods and their calcium content click here

Holiday Notice

Just a quick note to advise the clinic will be closed on Saturday August 20th and re-open on Monday August 29th.

Did You Know?

You can book an appointment with homeopath Heather Caruso? What we offer:

•Personalized plans for your specific health needs using homeopathic medicine, supplements and dietary advice
•Weight loss counseling with a focus on healthy eating and lifestyle.
•Chronic disease treatments, specializing in digestive health, heartburn and IBS. Women's health issues, hormonal imbalance, adrenal fatigue, fibromyalgia and autoimmune disorders.
•Various in office testing

Book before Sept. 30th and receive a free food sensitivity test with your visit, (for new clients only), Please mention the newsletter at your visit. For regular clients if you would like to save on your visits, please check out our discounts on buying a package of visits.

For more information on our clinic click here.

Call Caruso Homeopathic Clinic now: 519-827-9237

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