This is an Article I wrote some time ago, but it’s still pertinent. I still see Sally touting the benefits of Boniva, only I think now she is selling you on the “once a month version”.
OSTEOPOROSIS
“DON’T LISTEN TO SALLY FIELD”
You know, I love SALLY FIELD. She’s a great actress and I’ve admired her for years. But, just like
thousands of other women who are worried about the threat of Osteoporosis, she has fallen prey to the “Big Pharma” hype and solution of a DRUG to treat this most dreaded disease. BONIVA’s not the answer, Sally! Yes, as we get older, all of us face the likelihood of some bone loss because our bodies just don’t function like they did when we were younger.
ACID/ALKALINE BALANCE
One of the ways our bodies try to keep their Acid/Alkaline balance is through our BONES, which are the alkaline storehouse. Proper pH balance is critical to maintaining our overall good health. When the body becomes over Acidic, it draws alkalizing ammonia, carbonates, and phosphates from our bone and muscle tissue. Our highly acidic diet of sugars, cola’s, and refined carbohydrates make it very
difficult to maintain that proper pH.
CALCIUM
Calcium supplements have been highly overrated as a solution to bone loss. It takes a very acidic stomach pH to properly break down calcium supplements for absorption into our bodies. Carbonated sodas, TUMS, or any form of calcium carbonate (as found in CALTRATE, OSCAL, or CORAL CALCIUM) destroy stomach acid. And, as we age, our bodies produce less and less stomach acid, which only exacerbates the problem. Our Bones store up Calcium and the body draws upon those reserves when needed.
BIOPHOSPHONATE DRUGS
OSTEOBLASTS build new bone tissue and OSTEOCLASTS remove old, weak, bone tissue. And therein lays the problem with BONIVA, FOSAMAX, or other Biophosphonate drugs. They target the Osteoclasts and DESTROY them, so that old bone is NOT REMOVED. So, this prevents bone loss and, wonder of wonders, your Bone Density Test shows no more bone loss, or maybe even shows a slight gain. This is Wonderful, right? WRONG! As old bone continues to build up, it just becomes even more brittle and diseased. When this continues over a period of years, your skeleton becomes more and more brittle, more and more susceptible to fractures. IT GETS WORSE. Over the long-term, these drugs bond to the surface of the bone and can cause “OSTEONECROSIS” or “BONE ROT”.
I’m not kidding, folks. Dentists are just starting to discover this dreadful, incurable disease occurring in the jaw bone of their patients using these types of drugs.
So, what do you do? The two words that strike fear into all of us. DIET and EXERCISE.
EXERCISE
Weight-bearing exercises are recommended. At least 3 times a week for 20 to 30 minutes each. Walking is a great way to keep your bones strong. Exercise the large muscle groups. Try biking, or do the age old favorite, “calisthenics” for your legs and back. Use those little dumbbells and exercise those arms. You’ll be amazed at how much better you feel just doing a little bit of exercise now and then. And, you’ll be keeping those Osteoblasts and Osteoclasts just a working away, building new bone cells and getting rid of the old, worn out bone cells. Check here: Women’s Health at Mayo Clinic.com
DIET
1. REDUCE SUGAR INTAKE. Sugar and refined “carbs” cause glucose to rise, which causes a secretion of Insulin, which causes you to dump more Calcium into your Urine and out of the body.
2. REDUCE CAFFEINE INTAKE. Caffeine causes minerals to leach from your bones.
3. REDUCE CARBONATED DRINKS. Carbonated drinks destroy stomach acid, which, believe it or not, is NOT a good thing.
4. TAKE PROBIOTICS to improve your digestion. L.Acidophilus is a good over-all Probiotic.
5. EAT LOTS OF GREEN LEAFY VEGGIES. And, that’s not Iceberg Lettuce, folks. Eat sulfur-containing foods like garlic, onions, leeks, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and asparagus.
6. Take a GOOD VITAMIN and MINERAL SUPPLEMENT. You want a NATURAL Vitamin and Mineral Supplement, not that man-made stuff like Centrum or Theragram, stay away from those. A good source of Natural Vitamins and Minerals that particularly target Osteoporosis can be found at: http://www.evitamins.com
Tags: Acid Alkaline Balance, Biophosphonate Drugs, Boniva, Calcium, Diet, exercise, Osteoporosis, Sally Field
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