OSTEOPOROSIS IS a condition characterised by a loss of bone mass and weakening of the bones. It has become big news and big business in today's world.
Over the past 25 years or so osteoporosis has become a major concern to women throughout the industrialised world.
Advertising campaigns in the media and fact sheets in doctors' waiting rooms and pharmacies continually warn women of the dangers of disappearing bone mass.
The statistics from the United States show that more than 20 million of their people have osteoporosis and approximately 1.3 million annually suffer a bone fracture as a result of the disease. Sixteen per cent of patients who have hip fractures will die within six months, while 50 per cent will require long-term nursing care.
Women are constantly bombarded with the message that the war on bone loss must include
calcium supplements and a daily consumption of calcium-rich foods, primarily dairy products. Doctors strongly recommend long-term use of synthetic oestrogen to the post-menopausal woman, and, if additional help is required, they prescribe bone-building drugs like Fosamax.
Osteoporosis is a problem of bones, not women. Although men have half as many fractures as women, they are more likely to die as a result of the fracture than are women. Yet little is said about men and osteoporosis. The 'male factor' was intentionally played down because it didn't fit with the definition of the condition as a woman's disease caused by lack of oestrogen. This strategy was necessary to promote synthetic hormones replacement. The truth is anyone can get osteoporosis.
BAREBONE FACTS
Bone is living tissue that undergoes constant transformation. Bone might appear to be static, but its basic components are continually renewed. At any given moment in each of us, there are from one million to 10 million sites where small segments of old bone are being dissolved and new bone is being laid down to replace it. Bone tissue is nourished and detoxified by nutrients from the blood in constant exchange with the rest of the body. A healthy body will ensure healthy bones.
The conventional medical approach that focuses primarily on hormone replacement therapy, high calcium intake and prescription drugs is in my opinion flawed. Osteoporosis is not just an ageing disease or an oestrogen or calcium deficiency state, but a degenerative disease of Western culture. We have brought it upon ourselves through poor dietary habits and lifestyle factors, and exposure to pharmaceutical drugs.
The Bantu of West Africa have the lowest rates of osteoporosis of any culture, yet they consume less than 500 mg of calcium daily. The Japanese average about 540 mg daily, but the post-menopausal fractures so common in the West are almost unheard of in Japan, even though the Japanese have one of the longest life spans of any population.
Studies of populations in China, Gambia, Ceylon, Suriname, Peru and other cultures all report similar findings of low calcium intake and low osteoporosis rates. Studies in people in North and Central America, failed to find a link between calcium intake and bone loss. While it is agreed that adequate calcium is absolutely necessary for development and maintenance of healthy bones, it is also obvious from these studies that high calcium intake is not necessary for healthy bones.
HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Like so many things, osteoporosis is better prevented than treated. Here are my recommendations:
Avoid bone destroyers: Minimise your consumption of potentially bone-damaging substances like excess animal protein, salt, saturated fat and sugar. Some drugs, alcohol, caffeine and tobacco are harmful to your bones
Have good balanced cellular nutrition:
There are at least 18 key bone-building nutrients essential for optimum bone health. If one's diet is low in any of these nutrients, the bones will suffer. They include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, boron, silica, fluorine, vitamins A, C, D, B6, B12, K, folic acid, essential fatty acids and protein.
The body uses minerals only when they are in proper balance. For example, girls who consume diets high in meat, soft drinks and processed foods which have high levels of phosphorus have been found to have an alarming loss of bone mass.
Exercise regularly: More and more studies are validating the extremely beneficial effects of a regular weight-bearing exercise programme in increasing bone density in post-menopausal women, as well as men. A recent study found that in less than 22 months, women who exercised three times a week increased their bone density by 5.2 per cent, while sedentary women actually lost over one per cent. Effective strength-training includes such exercise as walking uphill, bicycling in low gear, climbing steps and training with weights.
Balance hormones
naturally: Good hormonal balance contributes to bone health. However, I do not believe that synthetic oestrogen and synthetic progestins are the answer. I suggest that women and men approaching midlife have their hormonal profile done by a lab test and that they use bio-identical hormones to bring their levels back to normal. Very often skin creams of natural progesterone and testosterone are most appropriate and effective and oestrogens less often required. DHEA and human growth hormone are sometimes needed.
Get enough sunshine:Vitamin D is essential to bone health. It is made in your skin when exposed to sunlight. This naturally-made vitamin D is more effective than the vitamin D available in supplements. Without adequate vitamin D, all the calcium in the world will not get into the bones in proper quantities. People of colour need more sunshine than white-skinned people and research shows that many black persons, especially women, living in tropical countries like Jamaica are vitamin D-deficient. The situation is even worse for blacks living in temperate countries.
I recommend a half-an-hour sunbath on most days for the average individual.
So live a healthy lifestyle and maintain healthy bones.
Email Dr. Tony Vendryes at Vendryes@mac.com, visit the website www.anounceofprevention.org, or listen to 'An Ounce of Prevention' on Power 106 FM on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m.
