Building strong bones: the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a common bone disease associated with aging. It is characterized by an excessive loss of bone mineral density that causes the bones to become weaker and brittle.
What are the symptoms of osteoporosis?
It often starts with a severe backache. Other symptoms are a broken hip or a compression fracture, both of which occur when the weakened bones collapse because they can no longer support the body’s weight.
Conventional medical treatments
The standard approach is to take calcium and vitamin D for prevention. However the most common forms of calcium are not very effective, nor are these minerals alone enough to strengthen the bones.
There are two types of bone cells:
- osteoclast which breaks down and recycles old bone that becomes weaker with age and
- osteoblast which builds new bone.
Drugs such as Fosamax and Boniva inhibit the osteoclast, thereby preventing osteoporosis from getting worse. Yet at the same time, they stop the natural recycling process of bone and do nothing to build new bone.
Alternative treatments
The single most important factor in preventing or reversing osteoporosis is weight-bearing exercise. Lifting heavy weights puts stress on bone and stimulates it to build new, stronger bone. The keys to success are not to do more than is reasonable for your body, and to do exercises that use multiple muscle groups at the same time.
The role of nutrition
Your body needs the right raw materials to do its job. They include adequate amounts of calcium, but for maximum effect you need to take it with phosphorus and vitamin D.
Vitamin D helps move calcium into the bloodstream where it is available to build bone. The best source of vitamin D is sunlight. Secondary sources are cod liver oil, and the yolks of eggs from pasture-fed chickens.
The best source of calcium is from whole bone meal that also supplies trace minerals. It’s preferable to find a health care professional who is qualified to deal with osteoporosis and can provide you with effective, professional quality products.
Hormones and osteoporosis
Both estrogen and progesterone play roles in maintaining bone mass and growing new bone. Postmenopausal women are at greater risk of osteoporosis if their hormones are out of balance.
Prevention is better than treatment!
Osteoporosis develops over a long time. It is preventable if you do the right things early in life. Live an active lifestyle, get plenty of exercise, eat well and spend time in the sun, and you can make sure your bones stay strong throughout your life.
For a more detailed discussion of the points mentioned above, click here to listen to our podcast.
Dr. Brown
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