Natural Treatments for Osteoporosis

More than 8 million Americans suffer from osteoporosis, a disease that silently weakens the structure of bones, causing them to become brittle, and eventually break. Because of this debilitating disease, 1.5 million people will endure life-threatening fractures this year. Most of those fractures will be hip fractures; 20 percent of the people who suffer these will die within a year. Treating and preventing osteoporosis has become a priority. More and more doctors, and their patients, are realizing that natural prevention, rather than medication after osteoporosis has already developed, is the key to solving the problem.

Exercise

• For many years, doctors have known that exercise strengthens bones. Now research shows that strength training and weight-bearing exercises are truly the key to preventing bone loss and fractures. By strengthening the muscles around the bones, more fractures can be prevented. Mayo Clinic recommends a combination of strength training exercises, especially those for the back, weight-bearing aerobic activities and flexibility exercises. In addition to strengthening muscles around the bones, maintaining an active lifestyle keeps your body functioning properly. In much the same way that muscle tone decreases with sedentary lifestyles, so does bone tissue.

Diet

• Adding calcium and vitamin D to your diet are perhaps the most commonly known ways to help prevent osteoporosis. Calcium is needed for bone density, and vitamin D is required by the body to use calcium properly. Dairy products are only one source. Calcium is also found in almonds, sardines, broccoli and oats. The best source of vitamin D is sunlight. Although excess sun exposure is not recommended, getting a little sun every day can help to keep your bones strong.
  Kale, which contains both calcium and vitamin K, is a very good food for osteoporosis prevention. Researchers have recently discovered that vitamin K is critical to calcium regulation in the body.
  Soy products such as tofu and soy milk are very good sources of calcium. They're also packed with plant estrogens. Mayo Clinic researchers believe these plant estrogens help bones to maintain their density and can help prevent fractures.
  The American diet is frought with high-fat content, refined sugars and sodium-rich foods, and sometimes what we don't eat can be just as important as what we do eat. Too much salt and sugar leeches calcium from the bones and sends it out of the body through the urine. And, ironically, eating too many dairy products can be detrimental to bone health. This is because of high amounts of animal fat found in dairy products. Numerous studies show that vegetarians and vegans, who eat little to no animal fat, have bones that are far more dense than their meat-eating counterparts.
  Drinking too many colas is also detrimental to bone health and can contribute to osteoporosis. Colas contain phosphorus. Calcium and phosphorus are constantly doing a balancing act inside your body. When you drink too much phosphorus, the body takes calcium from your bones to offset the increase in phosphorus. This leads to fragile bones.
  The best diet to prevent osteoporosis includes lots of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, oats, whole grains, seeds, beans and dairy products, such as yogurt that contain live cultures.

Quit Smoking

• Evidence is rapidly growing that decreasing bone density can result from smoking. Dr. Molly T. Vogt, PhD, of the University of Pittsburgh reported bone density in smokers is 6 percent to 10 percent lower than bone density in non-smokers. As a result, smokers are twice as likely to fracture their spines, and are 50 percent more likely to suffer hip fractures. They are also less likely to heal from these fractures. Avoid smoking to limit your risk.

Preventative Herbal Remedies

• Natural herbal remedies are available for prevention of osteoporosis, but their efficacy has not been proven by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Horsetail (Equisetum) and Trifolium (red clover) are the two most commonly used botanicals for bone health.

Caffeine and Alcohol

• The Mayo Clinic reports that excess alcohol consumption interferes with the body's ability to absorb and use calcium. Studies also show that heavy coffee drinkers show a marked increase in bone fractures. However, caffeine from tea does not seem to have the same impact. Studies have not yet shown if caffeine was the primary factor or if something else in coffee is the true issue. By avoiding excess alcohol or caffeine, you can naturally decrease your chances of suffering from osteoporosis or limit its damaging effects.

Prescription Drugs

• Many prescription drugs, including cortisone, blood thinners, antacids, chemotherapy drugs, lithium and certain antibiotics decrease bone density. Birth control pills and fluoride also have deleterious effects on bone health. Ask your doctor if alternatives are available.