Bone Health Supplements

Bone Health Supplements knows that for many of us, we have major lifestyle changes as fall and winter approach. We may not be outdoors as much with colder weather and shorter days. And less time outdoors, and less sun exposure, can mean a deficiency in Vitamin D, a critical vitamin for bone health.

Did you know that typically about 5-20 minutes of sun exposure between 10 am and 3 pm about twice a week is the recommended amount for sufficient Vitamin D for the average adult?   Not much, right?  However, many of us do not get that, especially in the Fall and and Winter.  My doctor recently informed me that if you live above 42 degrees north latitude (you could draw a line on a map of the U.S. between the northern California and Boston) you will not get enough sunlight for cutaneous vitamin D absorbtion and  synthesis from November through February.  If you live even further north, this reduced intensity lasts for up to 6 months. The good news is that for others living in latitudes below 34 degrees north (drawing another line between Los Angeles and Columbia, South Carolina) those U.S. residents do receive sufficient sunlight for cutaneous production of vitamin D throughout the year.

As previously revealed in our sister site, Bone Health Vitamins and an article entitled, “Bone Health Vitamins and Key Vitamins for Women”, Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and fighting off osteoporosis.  In fact, this is not just about women’s bones, but the bone health in men as well.  Furthermore, Vitamin D is a key vitamin that we should ensure is part of the daily diet and routine for our children and teenagers as it is never too early to focus on bone health.

How can you maintain your necessary Vitamin D intake?  First of all, you should be getting about 400-800 IU of Vitamin D.   This is a range, and you should discuss your Vitamin D needs with your physician before starting any kind of vitamin or supplement for your bones.    D3 is typically the best supplement to get for bone health, as it is usually the best-absorbed. 

You can also address your daily Vitamin D needs in your diet.  Unfortunately, few foods in nature contain Vitamin D.  However, many fortified foods do include Vitamin D, especially milk, as milk fortification was long ago implemented to combate rickets.   

D-rich foods include:

Fish, such as tuna, sardines, salmon

Fish Oil

Vitamin D fortified foods like milk or orange juice, yogurt (check labels closely, as different products may or may not fortify with Vitamin D) and breakfast cereals

There are great supplement options to ensure that you get the daily allotment of Vitamin D for your bone health when you see less and less sun in the Fall and Winter months.  Discuss your Vitamin D options with your physician and create a plan to address Vitamin D in both your diet, lifestyle and supplements!

Bone Health Supplements and Bone Health Vitamins  want to remind you that your mom was right about eating your fruits and veggies! Did you know that one of the best things that you can do to improve your bone health is to eat more fruits and veggies?

I recently read that people who consume the most fruits and vegetables enjoy higher bone density levels than those that have diets low in fruits and vegetables. This is based off of the diets of people who consumed at least 5 servings per day of fruits and vegetables. Only FIVE servings a day can dramatically impact bone density levels? Seems easy to accomplish, right?

Tips to enjoy more fruits and veggies:

Add fresh fruit to your morning routine of cereal or outmeal. Just a handful of fresh berries a day can bring healthy antioxidants to your diet and help you to maintain stronger bones!

Skip the soda, substitute a fresh fruit juice. The soda may give you a short term sugar boost, however, the fruit juice will give your body a natural boost, as well as positively impact your bone density!

Cut up carrots, celery, apple slices and other yummy natural snacks and have them fridge-ready and handy in snack-size baggies. They are easy to grab, easy to pack in a briefcase, backpack or purse, and you can take all the work out of preparing the snacks by creating multiple snack packs all at once! You can even add healthy, organic peanut butter, almond butter, hummus or other healthy spreads and snacks to make the veggie or fruit snack more appealing and less boring or monotonous!

Add veggies to every meal, by adding a side salad, or incorporating the vegetables into the meal itself. Love pasta? Adding brocoli to your usual pasta meal not only adds appetizing color, but a healthy way to fortify your bone density. Chop carrots, celery and other veggies into your hamburger mix, chili or meatloaf. You will add a new level of flavors, add moisture and texture to your usual meal and impact your bones!

Hit the Farmer’s Market, or check out local produce providers to get the freshest fruit and veggies available, as well as interesting new varieties that you can experiment with in your cooking and baking. If you do not have a Farmer’s Market available, check out services that will deliver fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables to your doorstep! Farm Fresh to You is just one example, you may be able to find a service in your community or surrounding community that offers a similar service! AAA Fruit Baskets can be the best gift you give to a loved one, or even yourself! Shop Fruit Baskets Now

Got a sweet tooth? Eat a yogurt with fresh fruit, or an energy bar with a fruit serving. The natural sweetness of fruit can soothe that sweet tooth, saving you calories and fat…and making for stronger bones!

Okay, fine. So you cannot eat enough fruits and vegetables. At least take a multi-vitamin or bone health supplement to your daily routine to help your body get those much needed vitamins and minerals found naturally in fruits and vegetables.

Do you have other great ideas on how to add fruit and vegetable servings to your every day routine?

Phosphorus is a bone health supplement that many of us may overlook.  Discuss if you need to boost your phosphorus intake with your physician.  There are a variety of bone health supplements and bone health vitamins that you can take to positively impact your bone health, however, you should always consult with your physician prior to making any changes to your diet, exercise or supplementation plans.

Phosphorus supplement – how do you ensure that you include this humble mineral in your diet?

Phosphorus is essential for the structure and function of your body, phosphorus is also vital for communication between cells and for energy production.

It is found in most foods and deficiency is rare, but too much phosphorus can upset your mineral balance and decrease calcium levels.

How It Works

Phosphorus is needed for the production of energy from food and to activate the B-complex vitamins (also involved in energy production).

It is a component of genetic material, essential for growth and repair, and combines with calcium to form calcium phosphate, which makes teeth and bones rigid.

Phosphorus requires vitamin D and calcium in order to function and you need to have twice as much calcium as phosphorus for both to work properly.

Deficiency Symptoms

Deficiency of phosphorus will result in these symptoms:

Bone pain

Weak, soft bones

Twitching muscles

Loss of appetite

Fatigue

Benefits of Phosphorus Supplements

Bone Health - Phosphorus is needed to maintain bone density, and an increased intake may shorten the time broken bones take to heal.

Energy Booster - Phosphorus is valued by athletes because it increases endurance and reduces tiredness.

Alcoholism - Phosphorus supplements are thought to reduce alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Heavy drinkers are usually deficient in phosphorus and may need to take supplement.

Kidney Stones - Kidney stones reduces the level of calcium in urine and may help to protect against the formation of kidney stones.

Phosphorus supplement is essential for the structure and efficiency of your body, phosphorus helps to boost energy levels and fight fatigue.

How to get phosphorus from your supplements?

Multimineral tablets usually include a low dose of phosphorus, despite the fact that deficiency is rare.

Antacids and alcohol may interfere with phosphorus levels, and pregnant or breastfeeding women may need slightly higher doses.

Precautions

Fizzy cola drinks may upset your calcium- phosphorus balance (they contain high amounts of phosphotic acid). Extra phosphorus should only be taken under medical supervision.

Author: Kim Kia Tan

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kim_Kia_Tan

Yet another key bone health supplement is zinc.  Zinc is critcal in collagen formationa, and it is the collagen tissue that is necessary for calcium to deposit and form bone.   If you have more questions about how to supplement your bone health with zinc, or other bone health supplements or bone health vitamins, discuss your concerns and questions with your physican.

Zinc can do more to prevent brittle bones than any other nutrient. Collagen tissue is necessary for the deposition of calcium phosphate to form bone. That is, collagen tissue provides the infrastructure for the bone to be formed. It is into this structure that calcium is deposited to form the bone. The presence of collagen is essential for bone strength and density. Without it all the calcium in your diet has nowhere to go and zinc is an essential part of collagen formation.

Collagen holds it all together

Collagen is the most widespread tissue in the body. It forms the background of all your tissues of all your organs, making them firm and resilient. When the skin starts to wrinkle and loose elasticity you can be sure that your collagen cells are not as active as they used to be.

Each strand of collagen is made up of amino acids and it takes many of these amino acids to make up one strand. The strength of collagen tissue is increased as some of the molecules are strengthened by a biochemical process initiated by vitamin C. This process helps to stabilize the whole collagen structure. If the process does not occur the bones soften. Three single strands of collagen are, initially, twisted around one another, forming a triplet. Three of these triplets are then twisted around each other forming a super cable. Each strand is also bonded to adjacent strands by cross-linking. It is into this collagen structure that calcium phosphate is deposited to form your bones. Bone therefore consists of collagen (an organic protein – live material) and calcium phosphate (an inorganic material).

Collagen ages slowly to be replaced by new collagen tissue. To ensure that this process continues it is important to see that your intake of protein and nutrients are adequate. One of the important nutrients is zinc.

Zinc a critical nutrient

Adequate levels of zinc are necessary to form collagen tissue, unite bone fractures, heal wounds and prevent osteoporosis. For the formation of collagen tissue zinc is essential, other nutrients are also necessary, but zinc is the most important.

It is recommended that you have 12 to 15 mg of zinc a day and that this level be increased during pregnancy.

Food sources of zinc include: meat, chicken, beans, nuts and oysters.

Dietary phytates, which are found in wholegrain cereals and unleavened bread may significantly decrease the absorption of zinc. There is also the possibility that increasing your calcium level inappropriately can interfere with zinc absorption.

Zinc can be taken as a supplement and should be taken as a salt, such as, zinc sulphate, combined with vitamin C. Zinc is best absorbed after eating a protein meal – preferably not breakfast which could contain foods high in dietary phytates.

Zinc, pregnancy and the first stage of osteoporosis

Johns Hospital Medical School estimates that 85 percent of pregnant women throughout the developed world have an intake of zinc that is insufficient for the pregnancy. During pregnancy zinc requirements increase by 50% during the last 15 to 10 weeks. If the mother does not consume sufficient zinc, then zinc in her muscles and bones will be given to the fetus, thus starting the first stage of osteoporosis. (NOTE: the British Medical Association advises that zinc sulphate be avoided or used with caution during pregnancy as safety is not established and it crosses the placenta.)

Calcium and osteoporosis

The reason for the emphasis on the calcium content of bones to prevent osteoporosis, and for the neglect of zinc as the critical nutrient, is that when X-rayed, zinc and collagen are invisible. When osteoporotic bone is X-rayed and compared to normal bone, it appears transparent because you are unable to see the normal amounts of calcium. Medical Practitioners often recommend increased calcium consumption but then neglect to recommend a zinc supplement to help replace the collagen. Unfortunately, without the collagen and zinc the calcium has nowhere to go, which will see the development of the osteoporosis to continue.

Fractures and zinc

There are two stages to the healing of bone:

Initially, after the fracture, an extensive blood clot forms around the ends of the fractured bone. Collagen forming cells invade the blood clot producing a specialized form of collagen which wraps itself around the fracture. Slowly, the bone forming cells move into the collagen tissue, now called a callus. These cells lay down the calcium, giving the bone its strength again.

If the patient is given zinc supplements immediately after the fracture occurs, a large amount of collagen tissue is formed quickly, as the enzymes responsible for laying down the bone callus are activated by zinc. Zinc is not only responsible for rapidly increasing the amount of collagen tissue around the fracture, it is also responsible for activating the bone cells which deposit the calcium into the collagen tissue.

Exercise and zinc

It is paradoxical that physical exercise which is recommended for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis can also increase it if the person exercising has insufficient nutrients – in particular zinc. People who exercise excessively lose a significant amount of zinc in sweat. The loss of zinc in sweat per hour can exceed by 50% the excretion of zinc in urine in 24 hours.

In America this condition is labelled ‘brittle bones, but good body’. In women the condition is also accompanied by amenorrhea (cessation of menstruation) as a zinc deficiency can decrease ovarian activity.

Menopause

In the lead up to menopause the formation of collagen tends to slow down as the activity of the hormones decreases. Beyond menopause a zinc deficiency can be more pronounced with the accelerating loss of collagen and calcium. If the loss of collagen is due to the lack of zinc then calcium excretion can increase.

One of the effects of the reduced estrogen production is an increased excretion of hydroxyproline, an amino acid critical in stabilizing collagen structure. Calcium will do nothing to prevent this occurring. It is therefore important to guard against the rundown of your collagen tissue at menopause. This is achieved by maintaining an adequate intake of nutrients, including zinc.

Zinc is an important (and often underestimated) nutrient for the prevention of osteoporosis. Zinc is often deficient in the diet and in times of added need such as during pregnancy or menopause or when doing a lot of exercising the zinc levels in the body can run low.

References

Bland, J. 1996, Contemporary Nutrition. J & B Associates.

Davies, S. and A. Stewart., 1997, Nutritional Medicine. Pan.

Fitzherbert, J.C. 2002, Osteoporosis: The Missing Zinc. Wellbeing, Issue 87.

Holden, S., Hudson, K., Tilman, J. & D. Wolf, 2003, The Ultimate Guide to Health from Nature. Asrolog Publication.

Pressman, A. and S. Buff, 2000, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Vitamins and Minerals. (2nd Ed.) Alpha Books.

Soothill, R. 1996, The Choice Guide to Vitamins and Minerals. A Choice Book Publication.

Sullivan, K. 2002, Vitamins and Minerals: A Practical Approach to a Health Diet and Safe Supplementation. Harper Collins.

Author: Dr Jenny Tylee

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr_Jenny_Tylee

Key bone health supplements include taking calcium.  Ask your physician if you need to supplement calcium for your bone health. 

Calcium is found in many naturally occurring substances such as limestone, calcite, chalk, gypsum, and coral reefs. In all these substances it occurs as calcium carbonate. Many other compounds like calcium citrate, calcium phosphate and calcium glycinate are also found naturally.

Coral reefs can be termed as a source of vegetarian calcium supplements. Coral calcium is obtained from fossilized coral reefs above sea level without disturbing the ecosystem. This coral calcium is essentially calcium carbonate but it also contains traces of many other minerals like magnesium, potassium, sodium and phosphorus.

Many companies are using this coral calcium as a source of calcium in their supplement products. This is because this salt has been found to be very effective in promoting bone health and assisting in the treatment and prevention of many degenerative diseases. Other benefits of coral calcium include assisting in weight loss, preventing kidney stones and treating prolonged depression, especially in women.

Coral calcium is used as a source of vegetarian calcium supplements because it not only provides up to 40% elementary calcium but also has a higher absorption rate than normal calcium coming from other sources.

This was shown in studies done at various Japanese universities where they used a special kind of coral calcium known as Okinawan coral calcium on people of all ages. They found out that people who intake more coral calcium daily than others were at a reduced risk of developing bone disease, colon cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. In addition to this, people who were given coral calcium supplements had been able to overcome their calcium deficiency in just about weeks.

Okinawa is an island in Japan and it’s known for the special coral calcium it provides. This coral calcium is also sometimes referred to as marine grade Okinawa coral calcium. Supplements made with this calcium salt are the most effective and beneficial and can be used by people of all ages.

Other than coral calcium, calcium extracted from green vegetables such as kale and fruits like dates and oranges can also be termed as a source of vegetarian calcium supplements. These supplements are available in liquid form and are equally effective with no side effects at all.

Normally it is recommended to consume at least 1000 mg of calcium daily. This calcium can be obtained from diet and calcium supplements.

Author: John Gibb

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Gibb

About Alternative Health Supplements

Bone Health Supplements offers this information on how supplements can positively impact your health.  Discuss with your physician the supplments which can positively impact your bone health.

These days, there are plenty of pills out there offered by your local pharmacy to cure what ails you. But you can never be too sure that the products pushed on us by the food and drug administration are the best thing for you. A lot of these pills have side effects, and some of them are not tolerated well by certain people.

To that end, there are numerous alternative health supplements offered that can help your body get into the best shape it’s ever been. Here are the facts on some of them:

Coral calcium- This supplement is great to help your body. You probably know that your body needs calcium to maintain its bones and teeth, but most people don’t realize that you need a certain level of calcium in your bloodstream as well.

If you don’t keep replenishing this calcium, your body will begin to sap the calcium from your bones and teeth to maintain the level in your blood. This can result in bone and teeth shrinkage, and can make them brittle and cause movements to be painful. Coral calcium is a source of calcium that surpasses most of the others. Available in supplement form, coral calcium can be a great buy.

Another one of the alternative health supplements offered is fish oil. Harvested from fatty fish, this oil contains substances known as omega-3 essential fatty acids. Containing the fatty acids DHA and EPA, fish oil has been linked to memory improvement and general brain health, considering DHA is a substance that needs to maintain its presence in the brain. Also, the American Heart Association recommends that you take fish oils to help maintain heart health. It can help to decrease your risks of heart disease or cardiac arrest!

These are two of the alternative health supplements offered these days that can help lead your body to great health. Hopefully they can help you!

Why not check out our nutrition guide at http://www.nutritional-supplement-guides.com/nut-ebook.html

and also what supplement we personally use for our nutrition needs at http://www.nutritional-supplement-guides.com/what-we-use.html

By: john

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

John Gibb is the owner of Nutrition guides, a website offering free nutrition advice and a quality nutrition book for newsletter subscribers.

Natural Progesterone For Better Bones And Health

Bone Health Supplements presents the following information regarding natural progesterone and bone health.  It is recommended that you discuss this hormone with your physician.

These days you hear a lot about hormones and estrogen in particular especially when it comes to the effects of women aging. Recently we’ve been hearing that hormone replacement therapy may not be the great answer we once thought it was and can, in fact, be dangerous.

But estrogen is not the only hormone in your body and in fact, progesterone is just as important and as much a part of the aging process as estrogen. Hormone replacement pills often contain synthetic progestins which in themselves may not be so good for you and at the least do nothing at all. However, natural progesterone can be quite beneficial in helping your body in a few key areas.

Natural progesterone has not shown to be toxic or cause any increased risk of disease even when taking at much higher levels in the body typically produces. In fact, it is then shown that breast cancer cells which were exposed to natural progesterone did not multiply as fast as those cells which were not exposed to it so there may be some protection against breast cancer.

Another thing that natural progesterone can help in aging body with his bone health. We all know that as women age, the risk of osteoporosis increases. One of the reasons for this, although it is not widely publicized is that your body does not produce as much progesterone. In fact this can happen in even younger women who, for some reason, do not ovulate properly be it due to excessive exercise or other factors.

You see, your bones are made up of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Osteoblasts are responsible for building new bone and they are stimulated into production by progesterone. And osteoclasts, on the other hand, are responsible for the removal of old bone and are stimulated into production by estrogen. If you are producing too much estrogen in comparison to progesterone, then your body is taking way old bone but not building any new bone.

Natural progesterone can also help with a slew of other symptoms including migraine headaches, hot flashes, unstable blood sugar, depression, ovarian cysts and a lot more!

You can get natural progesterone pills, but the easiest way is probably to just get a natural progesterone cream that you can buy without a prescription. You should check with your doctor before doing this though because you want to be sure that this will not interfere with any other medications or hormone replacements that he has you on. The creams are quite easy to use and you simply rub them on a thin skin area such as your breasts, or underneath your arms. Depending on whether you are premenopausal or postmenopausal you may use the cream on different days out of the month.

By: Lee Dobbins -

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Lee Dobbins writes for Natural Health Buzz where you can learn more about natural health as well as the protective effects of natural progesterone.

Bone Health Supplements presents the following information on Osteoporosis.  There are many wonderful supplements that can help you maintain bone health, discuss those options with your doctor to get on a plan for healthy bones!

Regrettably the symptoms of osteoporosis do not grow to be evident until there has been a sizable quantity of bone deficiency, which is why post menopausal women, and those more than 65, should have a bone density examination.While women are more likely to have osteoporosis, men can also acquire it.Through time, your bone mass drops creating first a precondition recognized as osteopenia, or reduced bone mass, and followed by osteoporosis, when your bones grow to be weak, spongy and especially prone to fractures.
Read more…

Slowing The Progression Of Osteoporosis

Bone Health Supplements offers the following information about slowing osteoporosis.  If you have further questions about your bone health and the supplements that are right for you, consult your physician for more details.

Our skeletal system consists of bones of a variety of different shapes and sizes. It serves many different functions including providing a framework for the body in which to support the tissues and protect the vital organs.It acts as levers, working with the muscles to produce body movement.It also works to produce red blood cells within the marrow and serves as a reservoir for calcium and phosphorus.

Calcium is one of the primary minerals required for normal bone formation as well as for many of our biological functions.As we grow, the body uses calcium to create new bone.At around the age of around 35, we achieve peak bone mass.After that, bone mass gradually and steadily declines and which if left unchecked can cause our bone tissue to become weak and brittle.Osteoporosis occurs when the body fails to form enough new bone or when too much calcium is reabsorbed back into the body to support its necessary biological functions or both.

Often thought of as a women’s disorder, osteoporosis is the most common type of bone disease, a disease in which the bones become fragile and more likely to break.Many times individuals who have decreased bone density don’t even know it.Progressing gradually over many years, often times the first indication of a problem is when a bone suddenly breaks such as in the hips, wrists or spine.The truth is, any bone can be affected and activities as insignificant as laughing, coughing or light lifting can cause a fracture.

There are two different kinds of osteoporosis – Type 1 and Type 2.Type 1 Osteoporosis is only found in post-menopausal women and is directly related to estrogen deficiency.Type 2 osteoporosis can be found in both men and women and is due to both aging and a prolonged calcium deficiency.Other causes of osteoporosis can include Cushing syndrome, hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, being confined to bed, bone cancer and a family history of osteoporosis.

If you smoke, have an eating disorder, have low body weight, consume a low calcium diet, consume alcohol in excess, experienced early menopause or are taking certain medications including steroids and anticonvulsants you may also be at a greater risk of developing osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is not a new health disorder and there are a large number of tried and true natural and alternative health remedies that can be used to prevent or minimize bone loss.

Recommendations For Wellness

If you are concerned about your bone health, talk to your doctor about having a bone density test done, especially if you are a woman over the age of 50.

Consume a diet of calcium rich foods.Calcium can be found in all milk products as well as in tofu, salmon, sardines (with the bones) and dark leafy green vegetables.

Supplement your daily food intake with supplemental calcium to ensure you are getting the recommended amount of calcium daily.

Go outside and get some sun.Exposure to the sun causes our body to produce vitamin D – a vitamin that aids in calcium absorption.If that’s not possible, add a vitamin D supplement to your daily health routine.

Start an exercise program.The best exercises for bone health are weight-bearing exercises which force you to work against gravity.Activities such as lifting weights, walking, hiking, jogging, climbing stairs and dancing are all excellent for your bones.

Quit smoking, eliminate caffeine and carbonated soft drinks and reduce your salt intake, each of which enhances calcium loss from the body.

Limit alcohol consumption.Heavy alcohol use can lead to decreased bone formation.

Talk to your doctor or health care practitioner about Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy.Hormone replacement therapy has been shown to help prevent bone loss and increase bone density.

Some studies indicate that foods such as spinach, chard, beet greens and chocolate! Contain substances that can prevent calcium absorption.

Herbs such as horsetail, oat straw and alfalfa have been traditionally used in North America as effective remedies for osteoporosis.

Studies suggest that magnesium may help to improve bone density and assist in calcium absorption.If blood levels are low, magnesium supplementation may be helpful.

The mineral zinc is required in a number of biological processes which include the formation of a strong bone structure.Scientists have discovered that individuals with osteoporosis often have low zinc levels.

Copyright Body, mind & SoulHealer – www.soulhealer.com 2007. All rights reserved.

By: Dr. Rita Louise

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Dr. Rita Louise, Ph D is a Naturopathic Physicianm Medical Intuitive & founder of the Institute Of Applied Energetics and the host of Just Energy Radio.    Let Dr. Rita assist you bringing health, healing and wholeness back into your life. Visit www.soulhealer.com or listen live online to Dr. Rita on www.JustEnergyRadio.com.

Recently a woman wrote the Mayo Clinic inquiring about the safety of Fosomax. She expressed particular concern about the risk of developing "osteonecrosis of the jawbone" (osteomalacia), which she had heard was a possible side effect of the osteoporosis drugs. Anyone versed in the machinations of Big Pharma would have known better than to ask the Mayo Clinic or any other health professional on the receiving end of the pharmaceutical industry’s largesse. Their reply could easily be anticipated. Fosomax was safe "for the majority of people taking it," although they conceded that in "rare" cases osteomalacia was a possibility. They went on to explain that these "rare" instances of osteomalacia were limited to people with cancer, and to those of us with dental problems. So, no sweat, if you’ve never had a filling and will never need one, never had or will never need a tooth extracted, a root canal, dental implant, crown or bridge installed, and have never had and will never have periodontal treatment, you can "safely" take Fosomax. As for the rest of us, we have a 10% chance, yes, that’s one in ten, of getting osteomalacia if we take Fosomax. The same goes for the sister drugs, Boniva, Actonel, and Reclast. They all share the same active ingredient, bisphosphonate.

Bisphosphonates — How They Work

Bisphosphonates work by killing the blood vessels to the bone, preventing bone loss by limiting the circulation of the blood. Over time, the bones nearly die, crystalize and shatter like glass. Countless people taking these osteoporosis drugs have reported simple stress fractures, many of which never heal. This is just one element in the tossed salad of side effects the osteoporosis drugs deliver. Along with the fractured bones come constant heartburn, dizziness, hot flashes, and excrutiating bone pain and body aches, which only get worse as the medication continues.

Big Pharma Knows

The manufacturer, Merck, is well aware of this. So will this drug be removed from the market? Heaven forbid. It is just too profitable an item. So profitable in fact, that Merck has set up an 84 million dollar legal defense fund in anticipation of the coming flood of litigation.

Don’t Blame Your Doctor

If you have osteoporosis and have been prescribed Fosomax, Boniva, Actonel, or Reclast, you may want to take a breath before blaming your doctor. The pharmaceuticals have been busily conducting high powered sales campaigns along with their very generous incentive programs. Most doctors out in the trenches are simply too busy to keep up with all the advances in medicine on their own and they rely heavily on information forwarded to them by their peers, their professional journals, and their pharmaceutical representatives, all of whom are well compensated by the producers of these drugs.

Our Powerless FDA

Even the the FDA is no help here. Full fifty percent of the FDA payroll is funded directly by the pharmaceutical industry. Being aware of the problems with Fosomax, the FDA has timidly requested that a warning label be added to their product. The result was a 22 page document of fine print given to the pharmacies that dispense Fosomax, and here, on page 13, will be found a short paragraph warning of osteonecrosis.

We Don’t Need This Stuff

The good news in all this is that we really don’t need any of these overpriced, overpromoted, overprescribed, and essentially worthless drugs. Alternative physicians have been treating osteoporosis successfully for some time, and more recently have been provided with a new weapon for their arsenal. It’s called Strontium.

Strontium and Osteoporosis

Many of us, when we hear the word "Strontium," conjure up the image of Strontium 90 the radioactive isotope found in nuclear fallout. Here we’re discussing stable strontium, which has been used medicinally for more than 100 years. It is the most abundant element in seawater; there is more strontium in the earth’s crust than carbon, and the human body contains about 350 mg of strontium normally, nearly all of which is in bone and connective tissue. It has in fact been used as treatment to gradually eliminate the radioactive strontium from the body and it has worked astonishingly well.

Mayo Clinic Learns It Works

Strontium tends to accumulate in bone, especially where active remodelling is taking place. As far back as 1959, the Mayo Clinic investigated the effects of strontium on bone health and bone remodeling. The study lasted three years and during this time, no significant side effects were observed.. The bone health of the individuals in the study improved and the bone mass was seen to increase. Since there was no potential patentability to strontium, interest in the substance quickly faded.

Step Out and Help Yourself

Now alternative physicians are rapidly adopting it for their own treatment protocols and it would be advisable for anyone with osteoporosis, or osteopenia, to consult an Alternative Physician. There are other very effective formulations of bone nutrients out there too, if you know where to look. The trick here is to find a reliable manufacturer.What this all means is that there is no need to follow along with the big lie we’re being fed by Big Pharma. We’re not strapped into their faulty product line. Unless we want to be.