preventing bone loss Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Osteoporosis Warning: How Bone Loss Signals Inflammation and a Risk of Disease

The AHA! Team — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 06:11:34 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – Osteoporosis, a disease in which bones become brittle and prone to breakage, is so widespread that 50 percent of all women over age 50 (and 25 percent of all over-50 men) will eventually suffer an osteoporosis-related bone fracture. A new study published in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle reveals systemic inflammation and frailty as key contributors to osteoporosis and fracture risks. Unfortunately, the consequences of osteoporosis extend even beyond the pain and disabling effect of broken bones. In fact, recent research highlights a shocking connection between osteoporosis and life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer. Fortunately, a combination of natural nutrients may help prevent osteoporosis – and offer protection against the devastating diseases that can accompany it. Pro-inflammatory molecules released by bone loss are linked to increased risk of deadly diseases The creation of bone is regulated by the actions of the body’s osteoblasts (bone cells that create new bone) and osteoclasts (cells that break down bone). At about age 35, the “balancing act” begins to shift – and the rate of bone breakdown starts to overtake the rate of bone development, leading to bone loss. Researchers are now learning that aging bones contain more “senescent” cells – meaning they have stopped reproducing themselves and now exclusively promote the breakdown of bone tissue. These senescent cells release pro-inflammatory molecules into the bloodstream, laying the groundwork for disease. Senescent bone cells have been found in plaque deposits in heavily calcified arteries. And, having large numbers of senescent cells in the bones is linked in studies with accelerated aging – particularly affecting the brain. Finally, people with osteoporosis have an increased risk of cancer. Keep in mind, when over-activated, the bone proteins that normally regulate bone maintenance and healing can lead to uncontrollable cell growth and replication. Discover a natural way to strengthen your bones The antioxidant vitamin C plays a critical role in preventing bone loss – which it does by preventing the oxidative stress that destroys bone structure. Vitamin C also plays a pivotal role in the formation and structure of bones by forming collagen and developing other bone proteins. If the body’s need for vitamin C is unmet, insufficient collagen production can result – leading to easily fractured bones. Many natural health experts believe osteoporosis is a vitamin C deficiency or “scurvy of the bones.” Bone-building vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, kiwi, strawberries, and bell peppers. However, supplementation may be necessary – especially if you have osteoporosis. By the way, for superior bioavailability (absorption), natural health experts advise using a liposomal form of vitamin C. Boron reduces the loss of indispensable calcium from the bones This little-known trace mineral packs a powerful punch when it comes to supporting bone health. Simply put, boron helps the body produce and use vitamin D – a mainstay of bone health. The mineral also helps regulate calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus levels – all “MVPs” of bone maintenance and support. A study published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal showed that 3 mg of boron daily helped prevent calcium loss and bone demineralization in postmenopausal women. Natural health experts may advise 3 to 6 mg of boron daily. You can increase your dietary boron intake by eating organic nuts, beans, avocados, and whole grains. Calcium: The primary structural component of bones Bones contain 99 percent of the body’s calcium stores – integral to bone building. But, for your body to use calcium to build bone, you must have sufficient levels and adequate amounts of vitamin D. Deficiency in both minerals can cause bone loss and symptoms of muscle pain, muscle cramps, and weakness. Calcium exists in sardines, including the bones, dark leafy greens, and cruciferous vegetables, such as Brussels sprouts. Most adults require between 1,000 and 1,200 mg of calcium a day. Magnesium deficiency is a cause of “incalculable” suffering Magnesium works in concert with calcium to suppress hormones that break down bones – while activating enzymes needed to produce new bone. Unfortunately, experts estimate that about half of all Americans fail to consume enough of this important mineral. More than 40 percent of post-menopausal women have low magnesium blood levels, which can trigger excessive bone breakdown. In one landmark study on magnesium benefits, the researchers lamented that the deficiency of such an “inexpensive, low-toxicity nutrient” is currently causing diseases that are a source of untold “suffering and expense” worldwide. Eating organic dark leafy greens, potatoes, raisins, chocolate, pumpkin seeds, nuts, and avocados can help ramp up your dietary intake of magnesium. Of course, your holistic healthcare provider may recommend supplementing with magnesium to avoid shortfalls. Most natural healers recommend 250 to 750 mg a day. Magnesium citrate, magnesium glycinate, and magnesium taurate are considered the most bioavailable forms. Vitamin D helps improve calcium absorption Vitamin D reduces the activity of the pro-inflammatory signaling molecules that are released from senescent bone cells during bone breakdown. Unsurprisingly, vitamin D shortfalls are bad news for your bones and the rest of your body. Vitamin D deficiency has been identified as a major contributor to osteoporosis – as well as to cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and lowered cognitive functioning. This fat-soluble vitamin is found in cold-water fatty fish (like wild-caught salmon), as well as in mushrooms and egg yolks. Because the body manufactures vitamin D in response to sunlight, many natural health experts advise getting 20 minutes of direct sunlight three or four times a week. However, supplementation may be necessary to maintain healthy vitamin D levels, especially in northern climates. Just remember to opt for vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) over vitamin D2. Vitamin K2 directs calcium in the body Vitamin K2’s job is to route calcium where it belongs – in the bones and teeth – while keeping it out of blood vessel walls (thereby helping to prevent heart disease). Vitamin K2 improves bone mineral density and is particularly beneficial for improving bone mineral content of the femoral bone – which is particularly susceptible to fracture during falls. Researchers have found that vitamin K2 is synergistic with vitamin D3 – meaning that each nutrient enhances the beneficial effect of the other. In an influential study published in Maturitas, supplementation with a combination of vitamins K2 and D3 protected and increased vertebral bone mass in postmenopausal women. Food sources of vitamin K2 include liver, egg yolks, and natto, a food made from fermented soybeans. Your doctor may recommend 100 mcg per day of vitamin K2 in the form of menaquinone-7, a highly available form of the nutrient. Prescription drugs can jeopardize zinc supply Zinc is needed for bone cells (osteoblasts) to create bone tissue – and is crucial for the entry of vitamin D into cells. And, yes, patients with osteoporosis have been found to have low levels of zinc. Ironically, pharmaceutical osteoporosis drugs – such as Boniva and Reclast – actually rob the body of this important trace mineral. The RDA for zinc is 8 mg for women and 11 for men. You can increase your dietary zinc intake by eating organic pumpkin seeds, chickpeas, nuts, yogurt, and cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli. Grass-fed beef, oysters, and pasture raised poultry are also rich in zinc. As with the other vitamins and minerals, consult your holistic doctor before supplementing with zinc. With millions of people either suffering from osteoporosis – or at serious risk – it’s time to fight back. And, your best weapons in the battle to slow and reverse bone loss could be these non-toxic, natural micronutrients. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov LifeExtension.com SaveOurBones.com UniversityHealthNews To read the original article click here.

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AMAZING Compound Found in Tomatoes Can Strengthen Bones and Help Prevent Osteoporosis

AHA Publisher — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 08:00:25 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – Osteoporosis, characterized by low bone mineral density, causes brittle bones susceptible to breakage. Odds of developing osteoporosis skyrocket with advancing age – with women disproportionately affected. About 30 percent of postmenopausal women in the United States are affected by osteoporosis, and – according to the International Osteoporosis Foundation – roughly one in three women over age 50 will experience a bone fracture due to the condition. (For men over 50, the odds of an osteoporosis-related fracture are one out of five). Unfortunately, pharmaceutical therapies for osteoporosis can feature horrific side effects, including jaw osteonecrosis, thromboembolisms, increased cancer risk, and – ironically – bone fractures. This has led to an urgent search for effective natural interventions. And, there’s good news on that front. New research suggests that lycopene, the antioxidant plant pigment responsible for the ruby-red coloration of tomatoes, may help to stop the progression of osteoporosis in its tracks. New Study Explores Exciting Potential of Tomato Compound to Support Bone Health In a study conducted at Azienda University Hospital in Catanzaro, Italy, and published in the Journal of Translational Medicine, scientists set out to investigate the effects of lycopene on bone mineral density. Some of the research centered around test-tube studies – and was designed to evaluate the effects of lycopene on bone cells such as osteoblasts (the specialized cells that synthesize bone matrix). But, it wasn’t all lab tests. The team also conducted a clinical trial involving 39 postmenopausal women. In this deceptively small trial, participants received 150 ml a day of a lycopene-rich sauce made from vine-ripened tomatoes. The control group – 39 women of comparable age and health status – received no tomato sauce. Lycopene Plays a Vital Role in the Regulation of Bone Metabolism and IMPROVES Bone Density The study results were encouraging. The team found that lycopene helps activate cellular systems – such as the WNT/beta-catenin pathway – that help prevent bone loss. In addition, lycopene appears to improve bone resistance and repair by influencing collagen biosynthesis. But, it was the clinical study that yielded the most dramatic results. To put it simply, at the end of the three-month study, the control group had a loss of bone density – but the lycopene group did not. Lycopene also reduced biomarkers of bone loss (and the team noted that it did this about as well as raloxifene, a pharmaceutical anti-osteoporosis medication). The impressed researchers concluded that lycopene improves bone mineral density and can help prevent the bone loss that results from osteoporosis – potentially exciting news for the 10 million people in the United States suffering from the disease. Additional Research Backs Therapeutic Effects of Lycopene Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that can scavenge harmful free radicals that otherwise cause oxidative stress and damage. Researchers have learned that oxidative stress can increase osteoclast cells, which degrade bone and cause bone loss (a process also known as resorption). So, it’s not surprising that additional research helps to confirm the therapeutic potential of lycopene. In a separate study published in Osteoporosis International, the team found that 30 mg of lycopene a day – the amount found in two glasses of tomato juice – could decrease bone resorption and prevent bones from becoming brittle and prone to breakage. And a 2020 review of studies published in the International Journal of Molecular Science (IJMS) concluded that there is a positive correlation between lycopene consumption and prevention of bone loss. Boost Dietary Intake of Lycopene With Ripe, Red Tomatoes According to the review published in IJMS, most people get about 80 percent of their lycopene by way of tomatoes – making them an important part of a healthy, bone-supporting diet. In addition to consuming stewed tomatoes and tomato sauce, you can get lycopene from fresh tomatoes and tomato juice. Lycopene is fat-soluble, so it is best absorbed with some healthy fat. This is one reason why natural health experts and nutritionists are so enthusiastic about serving tomatoes alongside avocados or olives. (For the “best of all possible worlds,” add tomatoes and olives to your favorite guacamole recipe). If you absolutely can’t tolerate tomatoes in any form, other sources of lycopene include watermelon, guava, papayas, pink or red grapefruit, red cabbage, persimmons, and, somewhat surprisingly, asparagus. Many researchers believe that tomatoes release more lycopene when cooked, although not all scientists agree. By the way, it’s not only women who benefit from this amazing compound. Men can – and do – suffer from osteoporosis. In addition, lycopene is important for prostate health. Whether you eat tomatoes raw or cooked, one thing is clear. These savory fruits (yes, tomatoes are technically fruit) can be a valuable natural ally in the fight against osteoporosis. Sources for this article include: HealthyDirections.com InternationalOsteoporosisFoundation.com NIH.gov Healthline.com To read the original article click here.

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