Alternative Medicine & Diets for Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis raises your possibility of hip, spinal or wrist fractures. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, more that eight million American women and two million American men 50 and older suffer from osteoporosis. Osteoporosis occurs when your body draws on the minerals stored in your bones and your diet doesn't replenish them.

Side effects from some prescription osteoporosis drugs have made many people turn to alternative medicine and diet as treatments.

Dietary Changes

• Dr. Zoltan P. Rona, M.D., PhD, pinpoints dietary practices to change if you have osteoporosis. They include:

  Sugar consumption
  Protein consumption
  Dairy product consumption
  Low-calorie weight loss diets
  Consumption of alcohol, distilled water, carbonated and caffeinated beverages

  Cut down on refined sugar, lacking in bone-essential nutrients like B vitamins manganese zinc and magnesium. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends that only 8 percent of your total calorie intake be from sugar. That's 160 calories of a 2,000 calorie diet, or about 10 tsp. of sugar. A sugar content chart from the University of Michigan Health System offers some eye-opening information (med.umich.edu/1libr/aha/aha_sugarcar_art.htm).

  Processing whole grains removes most of their calcium magnesium zinc, copper and manganese. The USDA recommends that sedentary women and men over 50 eat 5 and 6 oz. respectively of grain products daily, with at least half being whole grains. More whole grains will be better for your bones.

  According to the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine, the 3g of plant proteins in each of those grain servings can replace animal-based proteins that increase calcium secreted in your urine. The committee also recommends eating three or more daily servings of vegetables for their 2 g of protein, and two or three servings of legumes like cooked beans, tofu or nuts.

  Check these products' labels for their protein content. Multiply your body weight by 0.36 to find your daily protein requirement (see Resources).

  Caffeinated and alcoholic beverages are mineral-leaching diuretics. Both carbonated drinks and dairy products are high in phosphorus. Consume more phosphorus than calcium, and your body will rebalance itself by pulling calcium from your bones (see Resources). The adult daily requirement for phosphorus is 700 mg per day. One serving of cola can contain 500 mg.

  Tofu, salmon, sardines with the bones, and green leafy vegetables provide nondairy calcium (see Resources). Dr. Rona claims that drinking lots of distilled water also leaches minerals. Replace these drinks with plain water or fresh fruit or vegetable juices.

  Extremely low-calorie diets also may be deficient in vitamins and minerals.

Atternative Medicines

• Black cohosh contains phytoestrogens, possibly helpful in treating osteoporosis. Find it at your health food store or online as capsules, tincture, or extract, or prepare tea from the dried root.

  A 2006 study at Italy's University of Messina School of Pharmacy found that red clover extract reduced bone loss in female rats that had their ovaries surgically removed. Red clover is available online and at health food stores in a range of preparations, but there's no established dose for using it to treat osteoporosis.

Digestive Aids

• If you're over 65, both your stomach's hydrochloric acid production and your ability to absorb minerals may have decreased. If diagnosed with hydrochloric acid (HCL) deficiency, consider taking a digestive aid like citric acid, apple cider vinegar or betaine HCL after your meals.

  The University of Michigan Health System recommends that you consult with your doctor before taking betaine HCL.