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Calcium Enemies

Many concerned about getting adequate calcium intake in their diet, may need not be so concerned if the many enemies to calcium in the body were avoided. These include:

      Alcohol, caffeine and other diuretics

      Smoking

      Fiber supplements (should not be taken at the same time as calcium supplements)

      Diet high in protein, sugar, and refined carbohydrates (increases pH - calcium is used as a buffer)

      High phosphorus intake (found in meat, dairy products and soda pop)

      Foods containing oxalates. These bind calcium, inhibiting its absorption in the body. These include (ranked from highest to lowest concentration)

     Spinach, Swiss chard, Peanuts, Rhubarb, Wheat germ, Chocolate, Beets, Pecans,
      Tea (black)

      High sodium intake

      Saturated fat

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is the result of a loss of normal bone density, marked by thinning of bone tissue and the growth of small holes in the bone. Osteoporosis means "porous bone".

More than 1.5 million Americans have fractures related to osteoporosis at annual cost in the U.S. healthcare system of 10 billion dollars. Complications of hip fractures are a major killer of women. In many cases, the fracture precedes a fall rather than being caused by it. Soft spongy bone (found in the jaw, hips, spine and wrists) is the first to go.

Great pain may be experienced with osteoporosis but fortunately it is preventable and can be aided with the help of special nutritional supplements. For those who are affected, it can be also disfiguring and debilitating.

There are no warning signs that a bone is weak enough to fracture. The only way of knowing your risk is by a bone density test. A DEXA scan is one of the most accurate tests available for bone density. It is painless, accurate, non-invasive and takes only a few minutes to perform.If the results indicate you have low bone density, you must take steps to stop bone loss and build new bone as soon as possible, before a weakened bone breaks.

Weakened less dense bones are more susceptible to fractures and breakage. X-rays of osteoporotic bones often reveal many hairline fractures in areas such as the lumbar spine region, wrists, forearms, legs and hips. These fractures are not only painful, they further weaken the bone.

Bone cells like all cells in the body, are continually renewing themselves. This process involves bone reasorption where minerals are removed from the bones, and bone formation where minerals are put back into new bone. When bone reabsorption occurs at a faster rate than new bone is formed, the result is bone loss, medically termed osteoporosis.

After our third decade, the level of our bone mass plateaus. Bone loss begins in the fourth and fifth decade of life. In women, bone loss accelerates after menopause. Among men, it accelerates after age 65. Men lose bone too, although only about half as quickly as women.

Are you at risk?

Osteoporosis is not inevitable for everyone, but there are numberous factors which increase one's susceptibility to the problem.

Women are more likely to develop osteoporosis than men because men start with larger bone mass and do not go through the dramatic hormonal change that women do. Caucasian women with northern European blood ties are the highest risk.

Individuals at additional risk are those who take steroid hormones such as anti-inflammatory agaents commonly prescribed for arthritis and joint discomfort.

Smokers and those who consume alcohol or caffeine (coffee, tea, cola etc) are at higher risk.

A diet high in saturated fat reduces calcium absorption. Fiber (as important as it is for health) makes calcium more difficult to absorb if eaten at the same time.

Individuals who consume a large amounts of sweets and refined carbohydrates are at higher risk.

Individuals who experience prolonged stress, or live a sedentary life and do not get adequate exercise are at higher risk.

Symptoms of Osteoporosis

Frequent broken bones, loss of height, cramps in legs and feet (often at night), bone pain, lower back pain, leg pain, fractures of the hip, wrist, spine, fatigue, brittle or soft fingernails, premature grey hair, heart palpitations, and Dowager's hump (forward bending of the spine and other deformities).