"The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and the prevention of disease."
-Thomas A. Edison
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OSTEOPOROSIS- Not just a condition of the elderlyOsteoporosis is a condition, sometimes asymptomatic, which causes the bones to become weak and more susceptible to breaking. This weakening of the bone (osteo) is a result of demineralization, making the bones more porous – hence the name osteoporosis.
Most people realize that calcium is an important component of bone, but it is not the only one. IN FACT, STUDIES HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT LESS BONE FRACTURES OCCUR IN POPULATIONS WHERE WOMEN CONSUME LESS CALCIUM THAN WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES. Put another way, we’re consuming a lot of dairy-rich foods in America, but the number of cases of osteoporosis continues to increase, even with such “wonder drugs” as Fosamax and Actonel regularly prescribed. The reported number of cases of osteoporosis is expected to reach 52 million by the year 2010; there were 34 million cases in 2003.
EAT ALKALINE-FORMING FOODS. Once again, vegetable and fruit consumption in the human diet plays a critical role. REDUCE ACID-FORMING FOODS. Cheese, grains, and sugar promote acidification of the tissues. This causes unhealthy bones. REDUCE INFLAMMATION IN THE BODY. Gluten- containing grains such as wheat, rye, and barley contain gliadin which promotes gut inflammation. Remember that cakes, cookies, crackers, and many cereals contain wheat. Read labels! MAKE SURE YOUR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM IS WORKING PROPERLY. Mayo Clinic lists a faulty digestive tract as one of the risk factors for this disease.
STAY AWAY FROM POP AND CHIPS. These substances contain phosphates which leach calcium and other minerals out of bone. MAKE SURE YOUR PROTEIN CONSUMPTION IS SUFFICIENT. The Journal of Bone and Mineral Research found that a low protein intake was “significantly related to bone loss.” CONSUME MORE OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS. Studies demonstrate that insufficient Omega-3’s in the diet promote bone loss. The typical American diet is significantly deficient in Omega-3 fatty acids. EXERCISE. Mentioned previously in this article. American children are more overweight now than they’ve ever been in our history. Sitting in front of a computer or TV screen combined with poor dietary habits is a formula for health problems such as osteoporosis down the road. At ABC Wellness & Rehab we can assist people to make better dietary and activity choices, thereby enabling better bone health. Call us today to make a change for life! Dr. Nabzdyk is a holistic physician with over 18 years experience. He owns and operates ABC Wellness & Rehab, providing individualized nutritional coaching, acupuncture, and chiropractic, as well as hormonal and allergy testing. Call (815) 609-7735 for more information or visit us at www.abcwellness-rehab.com |
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| James J. Nabzdyk, DC, FIAMA Holistic Physician | 3524 Caton Farm Rd. | Joliet, IL | 60435 | ph: 815-609-7735 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Anttix, Inc. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Once thought of as a disease of the elderly, this condition actually has its beginnings early in life. Think of your bones as an IRA account. The more money you deposit and the earlier you do this (with consistency of course), the more you will have available to draw upon later. If the early deposits are not made significantly or consistently enough, you’ll be playing catch-up the rest of your life, and the risks will be greater. As one ages, activity levels usually decrease (weight-bearing exercises are necessary to achieve and keep proper bone health), the diet typically suffers, and hormones change, especially in women. All of these can put a person at risk.
So if calcium is not as big a deal as we have been led to believe, what can be done to develop, and keep, healthier bones?