Osteoporosis

This is a loss of bone mass which increases the risk of fractures.

Risk Factors:

• high alcohol consumption
• consumption of phosphoric acid found in colas and carbonated soft drinks
• estrogen deficiency due to menopause is a major contributor
• smoking
• lack of exercise
• lack of calcium or Vit. D
  • high salt intake causes calcium loss
  • high caffeine (more than 3 – 4 cups per day) causes calcium loss
• Androgen Deprivation Therapy (used to treat prostate cancer)
• use of Glucocorticoid medication (a steroid used to reduce inflammation)
• Malabsorption Syndromes (from celiac disease or cystic fibrosis)
• Chronic Inflammatory Disease
• Low body weight or extreme weight loss

Prevention Strategies:

• calcium and strontium are required for bone health but must be taken separately as they use the same pathways for absorption in the intestinal tract
• take Vit. D & calcium together to reduce the risk of fractures
• calcium ossein-hydroxyapatite compound is safe and effective for prevention of bone loss in post-menopausal women BUT comes from animal bones
• increase Vit. B & K, protein and Omega 3’s
• exercise
• green tea and magnesium supplements help with bone mineral density