Increase Bone Density Naturally and Prevent Osteoporosis

It is widely known that loss of bone density leads to bone fractures, some of which can be life-altering. By the year 2020, according to the FDA, over half of all Americans over 50 will have osteoporosis severe enough to incur broken bones very easily. Shockingly, despite the wide use of dairy consumption, calcium supplements, and modern drugs, one in three women 65 and older still suffer osteoporosis-related fractures. The New England Journal of Medicine states that dietary calcium supplementation has been marginal at best for increasing bone density¹.

The prevalence of osteoporosis

Why is osteoporosis incredibly prevalent in developed countries even after the implementation of drugs and supplements and the increased consumption of dairy products? It appears as though the drugs, dairy consumption, and supplements are not working well.

The answer has been found

The answer to this dilemma has come from Dr. D. Feskanich and his group who performed a lengthy 12-year study published in the American Journal of Public Health in 1997 (87:992-997) on this very topic. His study concludes that increased consumption of dairy actually contributes to fractures from osteoporosis, which is contrary to popular belief about diary consumption.

But how can this be true? How can dairy consumption actually lead to an increase in incidence of osteoporotic bone fractures? This conflicts with everything we've been taught in the past about nutrition.

This, and many other alarming studies are exactly why the USDA was under tremendous pressure to change the old Food Pyramid. Thus it has been updated in recent years.

The Feskanich study revealed that the reason for the increase in broken bones despite high dairy consumption is because metabolizing animal-based proteins (dairy protein, "casein," included) results in excessive amounts of endogenous acid in the body. In Dr. Colin Campbell's book, "The China Study," dairy protein ("casein"), was twice as likely as all other animal-based proteins to have this adverse affect. The acidic condition does not occur with plant-based proteins, only animal. In order for our bodies to be able to eliminate this acid, it must first be neutralized by combining it with calcium. This neutralizing-calcium is extracted from our bones, according to the U.S. National Dairy Council, a leader in nutrition research and education since 1915. As a result, bone loss occurs as well as an increase in broken bones from osteoporosis.

Curing bone loss condition

Considering the above information, there are two factors involved in maintaining or increasing our bone density: 1) Diet (eliminating animal-based proteins), and 2) Exercise.

One doctor, Ruth Heidrich, who eliminated animal-based proteins from her diet experienced an increase in her bone density after the age of 50. Her story is at: http://www.drmcdougall.com/stars/star07_ruth-heidrich.html

A newsletter at http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2008nl/apr/osteo.htm, published by Dr. John McDougall, MD, addresses this same topic by confirming that animal-based proteins fuel the onslaught of osteoporosis and its devastating symptoms.

The second method of maintaining or increasing bone density is exercise. Prior to starting any exercise program, one should check with one's physician. According to an article found at the US National Library of Medicine⁶, the best way to increase bone density is by jumping. Exercises that involve jumping are volleyball, basketball, or other sports that require jumping. If sports are not your forte, then jumping rope or jumping jacks will do the job. However, if you find jump rope or jumping jacks to be uncomfortable, just start with one per day. Anyone who is not suffering from a life-altering injury or condition can do one single jumping jack, or jump a rope one time. Do this once daily for a week. The next week, do twodaily. The week after that, do three daily, and so on. Amazingly, after one year, you'll be doing 52 jumps in one day, most likely increasing your bone density significantly, not to mention the benefits this type of natural cure will have upon your entire cardiovascular system.

Conclusion

In summary, our bone density is very dependent upon our lifestyle, essentially our food intake and our exercise. Fortunately, these are things that we can control ourselves. Having good bone density is our own responsibility. It's never too late to begin taking charge of our own bone density, and living without the worry of bone fractures from osteoporosis, using a natural cure. Now is a good time to begin.

Resources:

1. Johnston C.G. Jr. et al, 1992 "Calcium supplementation and increases in bone density in children." The New England Journal of Medicine 327:82-87

2. WHO Bulletin: International Journal of Public Health

3. Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteoporosis

4. Beating osteoporosis after 50: http://www.drmcdougall.com/stars/star07_ruth-heidrich.html

5. Newsletter on osteoporosis: http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2008nl/apr/osteo.htm

6. Exercise increases bone density. US Library of Medicine, (Harvard Health Lett. 2004 Aug;29 (10):7)