Calcium… the right stuff

There has been a good deal of talk concerning calcium and osteoporosis. Many post-menopausal women have been advised to supplement their diets with calcium in order to stave off bone loss.

This is good advice, but it does not go far enough. Studies have shown that calcium needs to be coupled with Vitamin D and magnesium to be effective. There are very good formulas with all three components that will help reverse bone loss without reverting to damaging drugs such as boniva, fosomax and others

These drugs work by killing off certain cells in your bones called osteoclasts. Osteoclasts destroy the bone as part of the natural bone regeneration process. Killing off these cells means you are left with only osteoblasts, which will increase bone density but not bone strength.
As a result, your bones lose their natural ability to build new bone and readjust to the constantly changing forces applied.
Now you have thicker bones with less strength, which actually increases your risk of bone fractures. Additionally, these drugs have been linked to some terrible side effects, including increased risk of ulcers and:
• Eye problems such as blurry vision, pain and swelling
• Thigh bone fractures and osteonecrosis of the jaw
• Liver damage and renal (kidney) failure
• Atrial fibrillation
• Esophageal cancer
• Hypocalcemia (blood calcium levels are too low)
Fosomax is in the same chemical class (phosphonate) as the soap scum cleaner you use in your bathroom! I’m sorry to say, it isn’t surprising that the pharmaceutical companies have never put that little tidbit of information on your prescription drug label. (http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/12/21/osteoporosis-prevention-and-treatments-exposed.aspx)

What we need to understand is why people start losing their bone density. At the core of the problem is pH. The body wants to stay at a certain pH level. Human blood is 7.3 pH. The western diet is very acidic with its processed fast foods, and will put an enormous burden on the body to maintain a normal pH. The soda industry is also a large part of the problem. I remember as a teen using a soda product to clean the acid off my car battery. I know of women who use soda to clean rust stains off the inside of the toilet.

The problem is that we partake of these addictive foods, and we upset the natural balance of the body. The body, always a survival organism, will pull minerals from the bones to buffer the acid. This action on the part of the body will cause bones to lose their density.

So, what is the smart thing to do?

1. Limit the number of sodas that are consumed. Offset the acid from each soda (assuming a 12 oz can) with at least eight 8 oz glasses of water;
2. Opt for fresh organic fruits and vegetables (will have trace minerals that will replenish what is lost due to an acidic diet);
3. Refuse processed and fast foods. These foods are full of chemicals, which place another acidic burden on the body;
4. Supplement with a good bone building formula which contains the right kind of calcium. Magnesium, vitamin D and Vitamin K

Until next time…

Polly