Living a high paced lifestyle of fast cars, fast computers, and fast food is not only accelerating our excitement and experiences but accelerating the age of our bodies. Our bodies are no longer able to replenish vital systems as fast as our bodies are depleting them. This system failure is seen across the human dashboard with warning lights for the immune system, organ system, and structural bone system. Our skin will be lack luster in health appearance, but what about the one beneath the hood – our skeletal system?
Osteoporosis: What is it?
Osteoporosis is a chronic, progressive disease of the skeletal system. Bone is living tissue, which is constantly being absorbed and replaced. Osteoporosis occurs when the creation of new bone does not keep up with the removal of old bone. The ineffective reproduction reduces the amount of bone strength you have in your body, making you susceptible to fractures, especially of the hip, spine and wrist. Any fracture is disabling, but in older people they can prove fatal. It may surprise you to know that 50% of women and one in eight men will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture at some point in their life.
Osteoporosis is not the same as arthritis, in that there is no pain from osteoporosis until a fracture happens. The absence of swollen and painful joints does not indicate an absence of osteoporosis, because these symptoms relate to arthritis. It is therefore sensible to be proactive and begin living a healthier lifestyle including maintenance checks, long smooth drives, and adding a higher octane of fuel – higher quality food.
Great Instruction Manual Information
- Regular exercise, such as walking, rope-jumping, jogging, racquet sports, swimming or aerobics. Do this for a minimum of 20 minutes three times a week to help strengthen bones and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
- Weight-lifting is known to trigger an increase in bone density, so this is an excellent way to guard against osteoporosis. However, medical advice on weight-lifting should be sought if you already have the condition to avoid putting excess strain on already-brittle bones.
- Tai Chi, which is a slow and gentle form of martial arts, is a useful strength training exercise if you have severe osteoporosis or have already suffered fractures.
- Care should be taken when bending or lifting objects if you already suffer from osteoporosis. Make sure to bend at the knees, not at the waist, and keep the object close in to your body. Also try to avoid sitting or standing in a hunched position.
- Ensure a sufficient intake of calcium found in foods rich in Vitamin D3 or supplements. Recommended daily amounts are 1,000 mg/day for post-menopausal women taking estrogen, and 1,500 mg/day for postmenopausal women not taking estrogen and generally for men and women over 65 years old.
- The best types of calcium supplements are the most absorbable, such as microcrystalline hydroxyapatite concentrate (MCHC), or one of the malates, fumarates, succinates, glutarates, or citrates. Keep to the recommended doses, though, because too much can lead to kidney stones.
- Additional nutritional supplements, such as vitamin C, magnesium, zinc and silica may be of use, but talk to your Chiropractor first.
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Include green leafy vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds. Raw sesame seeds contain more calcium than any other food on earth. Limit your intake of animal protein, baked goods and junk food.
- Drink 8 eight-ounce glasses of water a day. That’s water, not teas, juices or coffee. Try to avoid caffeine, sodas and alcohol.
A Road Hazard – Dairy
If you’re wondering why you did not see milk or cheese in the above food list, it’s because these are probably the worst things to eat if you want to avoid osteoporosis. No, you did not read that wrong; dairy products DO NOT guard against osteoporosis, and are very likely responsible for most instances of it. Here’s why:
- The enzymes needed to break down and digest milk – renin and lactase – are no longer present in humans past around three years of age.
- There is 300 times more casein in cow’s milk than in human milk, which clogs and burdens the system as it can no longer be broken down.
- The calcium in cow’s milk is far coarser than in human milk, and it is tied up with the aforementioned casein, thus it is not easily absorbed.
- The processing of dairy products, such as pasteurization and homogenization, degrades the calcium to a point where it becomes very difficult to utilize.
- And here’s the killer: one of the major roles of calcium in the human body is to neutralize acid. Dairy products are extremely acid-forming. Thus the net impact of consuming dairy is that your system actually loses calcium in its vain attempt to deal with its negative effects.
Chiropractic – Great Road Protection
Our office specializes in helping patients not only who suffer with osteoporosis but look forward to serving and providing our community with a future “built to last” healthcare solution – . Contact us today to learn more!
For Your Health,
Dr. Salvatore Minicozzi