Natural Cures Not Medicine: osteoporosis

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Showing posts with label osteoporosis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label osteoporosis. Show all posts

Everything You Thought You Knew About Milk is Wrong

Marco Torres | Prevent Disease

Image: preventdisease.com
The belief that milk is what builds strong bones is ingrained in our society, but has no based on myths promoted by the dairy industry. Calcium is but ONE of the many minerals your body needs for building strong bones. The calcium in milk is not absorbed by the body and effectively causes osteoporosis rather than prevents it. A recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics, examined the association between teenage milk consumption and risk of hip fracture at older ages in a study of more than 96,000 men and women with a follow-up of more than 22 years and found that drinking more milk as a teenager was not linked to a lower risk of bone fractures as an older adult, and instead appears to increase that risk, according to new research. Make sure you read to the bottom of the article where we talk about some valid options for bone health.

The dairy industy has been hard at work the last 50 years convincing people that pasteurized dairy products such as milk or cheese increases bioavailable calcium levels. This is totally false. The pasteurization process only creates calcium carbonate, which has absolutely no way of entering the cells without a chelating agent. So what the body does is pull the calcium from the bones and other tissues in order to buffer the calcium carbonate in the blood. This process actually causes osteoporosis.

There is no doubt that raw milk is a suitable form of calcium. While there is also evidence to suggest the nutritional effectiveness of the calcium provided by raw milk, there is still some debate as to whether this source of calcium is biologically better than other sources, such as calcium salts or certain vegetables.

Pasteurized dairy contains too little magnesium needed at the proper ratio to absorb the calcium. Most would agree that a minimum amount of Cal. to Mag Ratio is 2 to 1 and preferably 1 to 1. So milk, at a Cal/Mag ratio of 10 to 1, has a problem. You may put 1200 mg of dairy calcium in your mouth, but you will be lucky to actually absorb a third of it into your system.

Over 99% of the body's calcium is in the skeleton, where it provides mechanical rigidity. Pasteurized dairy forces a calcium intake lower than normal and the skeleton is used as a reserve to meet needs. Long-term use of skeletal calcium to meet these needs leads to osteoporosis. Dairy is pushed on Americans from birth yet they have one of the highes risk of osteoporosis in the world.

Leafy green veggies such as kale, broccoli and spinach are also rich in calcium and far more absorbable. Seeds such as sesame and chia are also rich sources of calcium.

No Evidence Milk Makes Strong Bones

Led by Diane Feskanich of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard University, the authors noted that the role of milk consumption in reducing the risk of fractures later in life has not been established.

Although some teens who consume more milk achieve greater heights, the bones themselves ares also associated with a greater risk of fracture, especially in the hip.

Feskanich and her colleagues reported finding that teenage milk consumption (between the ages of 13-18 years) was associated with an increased risk of hip fractures in men, with each additional glass of milk per day as a teenager associated with a 9 percent higher risk.

"We did not see an increased risk of hip fracture with teenage milk consumption in women as we did in men," said the authors. "One explanation may be the competing benefit of an increase in bone mass with an adverse effect of greater height."

"Women are at higher risk for osteoporosis than men, hence the benefit of greater bone mass balanced the increased risk related to height," they suggested.

Study Details

Feskanich and her team assessed the frequency of milk consumption along with consumption of other foods during ages 13 to 18 years, which along with height were reported at baseline.

During the 22 year follow up, current diet, weight, smoking, physical activity, medication use, and other risk factors for hip fractures were reported on biennial questionnaires.

During the follow-up, 1,226 hip fractures were reported by women and 490 by men.

Analysis of the data suggested that milk consumption was not associated with hip fractures in women, but that a direct association between drinking milk and hip fractures in men was partially influenced by height.

Gender Differences?

In a related editorial, Dr Connie Weaver of Purdue University commented that a main tenet of Feskanich and colleagues is that milk consumption in teens may have led to an increase in height as an adult - noting that it is not clear why this would be true in men but not women, "especially given that men experience about one-fourth the hip fractures that women do."

"The investigators could have tested the contribution of other dietary protein sources (eggs, meat) to height and subsequent fracture risk to help confirm the impact of dietary protein more generally," Weaver added.

The Problem With Some Calcium Supplements

A 2004 study showed that people with excess calcium in their coronary artery and who take statins have a 17-fold higher risk of heart attacks than do those with lower arterial calcium levels; researchers concluded that the two most definitive indicators of heart attack were LDL levels and calcium build-up.

A 2007 study showed that calcium from dietary sources has more favorable effects on bone health than calcium from supplements in postmenopausal women (Am J Clin Nutr 2007).

A 2008 study found calcium supplements are associated with a greater number of heart attacks in postmenopausal women (BMJ 2008)

A 2010 meta-analysis showed calcium supplements (without coadministered vitamin D) are associated with increased risk for heart attack (BMJ 2010)

Most supplements on the supplement market today contain calcium carbonate which is an inferior form of calcium and manufacturers attach a simple chelating agent like citric acid to make it more absorbable, however the end product is inferior to other calcium supplements such as calcium orotate, which is the only known form of calcium which can effectively penetrate the membranes of cells.

Effective Supplementation 

If you want to supplement for calcium intake you must seek a reputable and balanced calcium/magnesium formula. Researchers examined 21 formulations of calcium carbonate (both natural [i.e., oyster shell] and refined). Four out of seven natural products and four out of 14 refined products, including brand products, had measurable lead content. A research team in California found essentially the same contamination in calcium supplements.

Acid rebound. Calcium carbonate may cause acid rebound: the stomach overcompensates for the high dose of calcium carbonate, which is alkaline, by churning out more acid. For that reason, people with a history of stomach ulcers are advised that they may not tolerate it and may have to switch to calcium citrate.

Constipation. Calcium supplements can have a mild binding effect but by themselves don’t usually cause serious constipation. But if you’re taking another supplement or medication that binds the stool, the addition of calcium supplements could cause a problem.

Too much calcium. Although it doesn’t happen often, some people have taken so much calcium that it causes hypercalcemia, an above-normal level of calcium in the blood since most of the calcium carbonate is not absorbed. Hypercalcemia may cause nausea, vomiting, confusion, and other neurological symptoms.

The type of minerals in the formula determines the absorption levels: Opti-Cal/Mag with Vitamin K2 is a co-enzyme complex, heat-stabled molecules that must be associated with another enzyme for them to perform their function in the body. It is necessary in the utilization of vitamins and minerals for proper delivery to the cell nucleus. One study found that Opti-Cal/Mag complex is 8.79 times more absorbed into the blood than calcium carbonate and 2.97 times more than calcium gluconate.

6 Ways to Build Strong Bones

1. Eat calcium rich foods
Eat foods high in calcium. The best food sources are non-pasteurized raw dairy sources such as raw milk/yogurt, as well as bony fish, such as sardines. Leafy green veg such as kale, broccoli and spinach are also rich in calcium. Dried herbs and dried fruits such as figs and currants are also good choices. Seeds such as sesame, chia and flax are also rich sources of calcium. Also, enjoy foods that contain sulfur such as garlic and onions.

2. Food selections/combinations are critical
Try not to eat whole grains and calcium-rich foods at the same time. Whole grains contain a substance that binds with calcium and prevents proper absorption. Some foods that contain compounds such as oxalic or phytic acids, such as sweet potatoes, beans, rhubarb, celery and beets, can also decrease the amount of calcium that's absorbed when eaten at the same time as calcium-rich foods.

3. Avoid the causes of mineral excretion
Pass on phosphate-containing foods such as soft drinks. Phosphorus causes the body to excrete calcium. Limit or avoid high-protein animal foods. A diet high in protein causes calcium to be excreted from your body. Decrease caffeine consumption. People who smoke have significantly lower bone density, while drinking alcohol can also prevent your bones from absorbing the maximum nutrients from your food.

4. Get more Sunlight and Vitamin D
Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. Although some is found in oily fish, our main source comes from the effect of sunlight on your skin. It's estimated that half of us have a deficiency because we don't get outside enough or because we always use sunblock. It is especially important to maximize sun exposure between May and September to keep vitamin D levels topped up. Just 10 minutes of sunlight a day on bare arms and your face can cut your risk of bone fractures by a third. A half hour exposing your torso is equivalent to roughly 10,000 units of Vitamin D.

5. The right exercise
Another vital way to boost your bones is weight-bearing exercise --basically anything that has you upright and using your body weight. Good choices include squatting, rope skipping, aerobics, plyometrics, dancing or brisk walking. "Research shows that if you don't exercise you end up weeing out all the calcium you take in instead of storing it in your bones," warns Professor Dawn Skelton, an aging and health specialist at Glasgow Caledonian University. "Ideally we should aim for 150 minutes of moderate activity per week. "Put simply, the more hours we spend on our feet, the fewer bone breakages we should have in later life."

6. Avoid Medications and Medical Therapies
Acid-blocking medications used for heartburn and other gastrointestinal conditions can block the absorption of calcium through the stomach walls. Stomach acids break down food during the digestive process, allowing the nutrients to become absorbed into your body. Medications designed to stop acid production or decrease the amount of acids present in your stomach can have a negative effect on calcium.

Sources:
preventdisease.com
harvard.edu
preventdisease.com
jamanetwork.com
naturalcuresnotmedicine.com

This Tea Naturally Protects Your Bones and Fights Off Osteoporosis

Margie King | greenmedinfo.com

Image: www.deltalabsusa.com
Green tea is one of the latest superfoods making its way into bottled waters and energy drinks.  You'll even find it in energy bars, mints, chewing gum and ice cream. It has many claimed health benefits.  Texas researchers add to the list with evidence that green tea aids in the prevention of osteoporosis.  Especially when coupled with a tai chi practice.  

Green tea is full of compounds called polyphenols which are known for their potent antioxidant activity. Studies have shown that people who consume the highest levels of green tea polyphenols tend to have lower risks of several chronic degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular disease.

Animal studies suggest that the mechanism behind this correlation may have to do with lowering chronic levels of inflammation.  These studies show that green tea may benefit bone health by mitigating bone loss due to aging, estrogen deficiency, or chronic inflammation.  That in turn may improve clinical symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, normalize bone metabolic disorders, and impact trace element metabolism.

In humans, the Mediterranean Osteoporosis Study showed that drinking up to 3 cups of tea per day was associated with a 30% reduction in the risk of hip fractures in women as well as men over 50 years of age.

Researchers at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center believe bioactive components in green tea might decrease the risk of fracture by improving bone mineral density.  These compounds may support osteoblastic activities (bone building) while suppressing osteoclastic activities (bone breakdown).

Focusing on postmenopausal women, the researchers investigated the potential for green tea to work synergistically with tai chi in enhancing bone strength.  Tai chi is a traditional Chinese form of moderately intense aerobic fitness activity grounded in mind-body philosophy.

They conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, intervention trial involving 171 postmenopausal women with a mean age of 57 years.  The women had weak bones but not full-fledged osteoporosis.

Subjects were divided into 4 groups:

Placebo: starch pill (placebo) and no tai chi
GTP: green tea polyphenols (500 mg/day) and no tai chi
Placebo+TC: starch pill and tai chi (3 times/week)
GTP+TC: green tea polyphenols and tai chi

The results show that consuming 500 mg of green tea polyphenol improved bone health after 3 months and muscle strength at 6 months.  That dosage is equivalent to about 4-6 cups of steeped green tea daily.  

Participants in the tai chi group improved their markers of bone health and muscle strength within 6 months.

But participants who combined both green tea polyphenols and daily tai chi practice also showed substantial effects on markers of oxidative stress, which is the main precursor to inflammation.

The authors of the study concluded that there is a favorable effect of modest green tea consumption on bone remodeling in pre-osteoporotic postmenopausal women.  They also suggest that green tea and tai chi may help reduce the underlying cause of not only osteoporosis, but other inflammatory diseases as well.

Green tea is one of three main categories of tea.  The other two are black and oolong. Green tea is the least processed of the three and is steamed but unlike black and oolong, is not fermented. As a result, green tea is about five times higher in EGCG, a catechin or antioxidant, which is also found in red wine, chocolate, berries and apples.

The caffeine content of green tea is about half that of coffee and it's also available in decaffeinated versions.

Source: greenmedinfo.com

The Power of Broccoli




Broccoli has been cultivated since the 6th Century. There are several varieties, the most common one being Calabrese. Broccoli can be eaten raw, steamed, sauteed and added as an accompaniment to a wide selection of meals. Avoid boiling broccoli as this decreases the levels of vitamins and compounds that make this vegetable so powerful.



The health benefits of broccoli are:
  • Prevents cancer- in particular research suggests that broccoli can be particularly beneficial in reducing prostate cancer.
  • Keep the Nervous System healthy, reducing the risk of cell damage and development of illnesses.
  • It is a Powerful Antioxidant- helping to prevent the onset of illness and disease.
  • It is high in Vitamin C.
  • Reduces Allergy and Inflammation.
  • Helps to regulate blood pressure.
  • Alkalizes the body - helping to maintain a healthy pH balance.
  • It is great for bone health and can help prevent the onset of osteoporosis.

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Foods that strengthen bones!

Fruits and veggies that are good for detoxing

Why you should start juicing carrots today!

Carrots are widely known for their benefits for eye health and antioxidant properties, but here are a few more health bonuses that come with drinking carrot juice.

File:Flickr - cyclonebill - Juice af gulerod, ingefær, appelsin og grape.jpg
Eating healthy is nature's health insurance!

-Carrot juice helps with skin health and skin tone.

-Carrot juice is refreshing but is a low-calorie juice, not penalizing you for knocking back a tall glass.

-By reducing fat and bile within your liver, carrot juice can significantly help with liver health.

File:GlassOfJuice and carrots.JPG

-Since it is loaded with beta carotene, carrot juice can fight free radicals in the body which cause cell damage and slow the aging process down.

-The beta carotene contained in carrots is converted to vitamin A which helps with bone health and can prevent some bone problems like osteoporosis.

-Carrots also contain potassium which helps with muscle function and cholesterol management.

-The vitamin E along with the antioxidants in carrot juice help to prevent cancer from forming. 



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How sunlight benefits our health.

Besides warming up or getting a tan, just why should we be inclined to get under the sun sometimes?
File:Actual Sunset.jpg
Here are a few benefits of sun exposure.

  • Strengthens the cardiovascular system
  • Improves digestion
  • Aids in weight loss
  • Balances blood pressure 
  • Regulates blood sugar
  • Prevents anxiety and depression 
  • Helps kidneys function properly
  • Increases the metabolism
  • Aids in liver function

File:The Sun by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly of NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory - 20100819.jpg

Sunlight helps prevent several ailments such as depression, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, seasonal affective disorder, and several cancers including, breast, prostate, stomach, bladder, and colon cancer.  Ergosterol in the skin is converted into vitamin D when exposed to sunlight.  Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and also aids in moving calcium through cell walls.  Including vitamin D in your diet helps to lesson the risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis.



5 health boosts from bananas


File:A Banana cluster.JPG
Here are a handful of health benefits from eating bananas

Blood health:  Bananas are just loaded with vitamin B-6 which converts tryptophan to serotonin and helps the body produce hemoglobin, a crucial component of your blood.  Vitamin B-6 also helps manage blood sugar levels and is essential for immune system health since it aids in producing antibodies

Bone health:  Since bananas are rich in potassium, they can promote bone health due to the fact that regular intake of potassium suppresses calcium excretion from the body thereby reducing the risk of developing osteoporosis. 

Digestive health:  Notably good for children with problems with digestion.

Heart health:  Potassium, which is present in bananas, is essential for muscle contraction so therefore plays an important role in muscle actions such as heart function.  Lower potassium intake has been linked to heart disease.

Kidney health:  Regular intake of potassium minimizes calcium secretion in the ruin and thus reduces the risk of developing kidney stones.

File:Bananas on tree.JPG
Bananas are amazing in flavor and in healing properties.  Make a smoothie or add some to your steel cut oats with a spoonful of raw honey!

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Dairy free calcium sources for your diet

Calcium rich options for the dairy  free diet.

Herbs:  Basil, oregano, and thyme all have over 80 mg of calcium per tablespoon, so make good on recipes that include these tasty spices.










Green Vegetables:  Broccoli, kale, spinach, and Swiss chard are good sources of calcium.  Be careful how much spinach you have in your diet as it also contains compounds that inhibit calcium absorption.
Nuts:  A cup of almonds beats a cup of milk when it comes to calcium.  What?  Brazil nuts are also a good choice, packing a whopping 213 mg. of calcium per cup.





Seeds:  A cup of flax seeds contains 428 mg. of calcium among all the other beneficial compounds found in the superfood.











Garlic:  A bulb of garlic contains many nutrients and has a score of health benefits.  Yes, calcium is one of them so don't hold back on the garlic.










Are you a vegan?  Do you have calcium deficiency?


Did you know that calcium contributes not only to bone health but also helps prevent Osteoporosis? 


The Hazards Of Cow's Milk

VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL OF YOU


If Pus, Blood, Hormones, Antibiotics is what is in our milk then it is not worth it !

Many people In diary farms inject cows with hormones to increase milk production which in turn makes cows produce lot of milk and also their milk bag becomes v large. this results in problem and internal injuries due to which the pus and blood also gets mixed with the milk.  Cow's milk is not necessary for human health and numerous studies link dairy consumption with various health risks


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