Osteoporosis Article

Osteoporosis is an insidious condition that affects nearly two million Canadians.  Appropriately referred to as “the silent thief”, it is characterized by the gradual loss of bone density throughout the skeleton; this in the absence of symptoms to warn of the ongoing depletion.  Diminished bone density increases an individual’s risk of sustaining a bone fracture, even from minor falls or accidents.  Fortunately, there are a number of steps that one can take under the guidance of a naturopathic doctor to build bone and prevent future bone loss.  Please note that the following recommendations pertain to both women and men, as the latter group accounts for 20% of all osteoporosis cases.   

 Dietary counseling is a cornerstone of naturopathic treatment, and osteoporosis management is no exception.  Food like broccoli, kale, and other dark green, leafy vegetables contain calcium, magnesium, and vitamin K, which are all important for bone health.  Other rich calcium sources include soy milk, dairy, almonds, and sesame seeds.  Choosing foods to make your diet less acidic has also been associated with increased calcium retention by the body.  This can be accomplished by incorporating more fruits and vegetables into the diet and removing excess red meat and processed food.

Nutritional supplements have a great deal of research baking up their efficacy in osteoporosis treatment.  Vitamins and minerals like B vitamins, vitamin D, strontium, boron, zinc, and copper are all associated with improved bone density; oftentimes they can be a challenge to obtain through diet alone and are ideally obtained via a bone-support combination supplement.  It is important to note that supplemental strontium should never be taken at the same time as calcium as it will interfere with its absorption.  Adequate calcium intake can be difficult to achieve through diet as well, and therefore calcium supplementation can be necessary.  Calcium citrate tends to be less constipating than calcium carbonate and is available at most health stores.  Omega-3 essential fatty acids also facilitate bone health and are found in fish and fish oil supplements.  “Milk Basic Protein” is a new product that has been isolated from a specific dairy extract and has been shown to increase bone production while decreasing bone breakdown.

Botanical herbs and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are other naturopathic tools, although they are not commonly used to treat osteoporosis; however herbs like Equisetum arvense and dandelion root are sometimes indicated.  TCM may be called for if symptoms like poor memory, leg swelling, low energy or low back pain are present.

Lifestyle factors are also extremely important for the maintenance of good bone health.  Light weight lifting, balance training, and regular walking, swimming, or cycling help to improve bone strength and prevent falls.  Excess body weight, tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, salt and soda consumption are associated with diminished skeletal integrity and should be addressed.

Properly caring for your bones takes effort and guidance; however the long-term health benefits are unquestionable.  Get started today to enjoy a stronger tomorrow!