Guest guest Posted July 15, 2001 Report Share Posted July 15, 2001 Lifting weights is a goo dcure for bone loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2001 Report Share Posted July 16, 2001 ----- Original Message ----- From: <fskelton@...> < > Sent: Sunday, July 15, 2001 4:09 AM Subject: [ ] osteoporosis > Also Greg, if you don't mind answering either publicly or privately, is > Shirley on HRT? If so, that could explain why her bones are so strong; > however is she's not, I am in awe of her. Hi Francesca, Shirley has been on my protocol mix for several years now and I believe the Tribulus (T & E booster), APGL (GH) booster and her genes have given her a good balance of growth factors. I doing further work on the USDA database to do a sort which eliminates foods with a bad OI (Omega Index), bad GI, bad AI (Acid Index), bad SI (Saturated fat Index) bad EI (Energy density Index). We do somehow seems to eat foods which fall in the < 60 OI category and < 50 GI which should also help bone density. Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 12, 2002 Report Share Posted May 12, 2002 Yes I agree there are other things that cause this condition luckily we stumbled upon it early and I am able to take action now, I do lots of weight bearing exercise, I eat well, and I take the magnesium, Ca and vitamin D as well as some other specific suplements for bones, including something that helps bones absorb calcium better and helps with the acid in your body, I am trying to think of what it is called, I think it is body 02 or something like that. Anyhow there is also a nasal spray that I am taking that I have no side effects from, it is miacalcin and it is very effective, I am hoping that when I check my bones again with a DEXA scan in 2 years that we will see improvement. In the meantime I do what I can for it and I feel that I have eliminated the cause of it for several years now so I don't think it will get worse if I handle it now. I am just so glad that I found it when I did. Thanks Love ----- Original Message ----- From: Bos@... Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2002 9:32 PM Subject: Re: Osteoporosis That is excellent if one happens to have overactive parathyroids. There are other things that can be responsible for osteopenia (the state preceeding bone problems of different kinds) In the case of breast implants, suggest you check levels of Magnesium and Vitamin D--both are necessary for calcium to work. Actually, you can just start taking them--Magnesium at about 4-500 mgs daily (always take this) and Vitamin D has a daily limit of 400 IU (I think--healthfood stores usually have a vitamin and herb supplement book which will probably tell you) Neither of these is pricey. The parathyroids can be putting out a normal result and the body showing osteopenia. Magnesium is needed for 300+ bodily functions and is associated with fibromyalgia. Vitamin D (acutally a hormone) is lipid-soluble and lipids are what our implants favor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2003 Report Share Posted January 17, 2003 I have a ? for this group.. I have osteoporosis and I have read Sally's book and started doing the bone broths but then I started reading Bernard Jensen's book on osteo and it seems contraindicating.. according to Bernard.. meat broth is very high in uric acid which in my case would be harmful with my bones and not helpful oh man.. I'm so confused now ....he said you should do veal joint broth only as there is no uric acid Advice? jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2003 Report Share Posted January 17, 2003 Jen, here's a reply by Kat from August last year... I haven't seen her post lately so I hope she wouldn't mind her post reappearing. also, check out http://www.krispin.com/magnes.html#Deficiency, the article about magnesium... a quote -- 'Osteoporosis - just adding magnesium reversed bone loss... Dedy ----------------------------------- Kat's reply -- Much research is being done in the area of magnesium deficiency. Seems calcium = calcification = osteoarthritis, Alzheimer's, heart disease, etc. This is a very brief explanation: When there is a magnesium deficiency, calcium calcifies the arteries, and leaches calcium out of the muscles and bones (remember the heart is a muscle). I have seen amazing, and very quick results when supplementing with magnesium. Everything from heart palpitations, to muscle cramps, to fatigue turns around in just a few minutes to a few hours! The only side effect is loose bowels if too much is taken orally. I take mine transdermally, so I by-pass the digestive system. There is so much wonderful information on magnesium, it is a shame that so few people know about it. Magnesium protects your arteries, muscles, bones, brain, and digestive system. It is the most abundant mineral in the body, but unfortunately misunderstood and most people are deficient. Go to any search engine and read up on magnesium. Especially look at medical web sites. Magnesium has added quality to my life and those I have shared this information with. It is so disheartening that doctors know all about the life saving benefits as well as the pain reducing benefits, yet they pay NO attention, and certainly are not going to tell you about it. *If you want more information on transdermal magnesium, please contact me off the group. Kat -- http://www.katking.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Evely Sent: Friday, January 17, 2003 4:38 AM Subject: Re: OSTEOPOROSIS I have a ? for this group.. I have osteoporosis and I have read Sally's book and started doing the bone broths but then I started reading Bernard Jensen's book on osteo and it seems contraindicating.. according to Bernard.. meat broth is very high in uric acid which in my case would be harmful with my bones and not helpful oh man.. I'm so confused now ...he said you should do veal joint broth only as there is no uric acid Advice? jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2003 Report Share Posted January 17, 2003 meat broth is very high in uric acid which in my case would be harmful with my bones......he said you should do veal joint broth only as there is no uric acid Advice? >>>>> Veal is meat >>>>> Veal is beef - it is from a young beast which has been maltreated to make it tender ------>that is true of conventionally raised veal, but not true of ALL veal. there are small family farms that raise veal calves humanely and no differently than they raise beef steer - on pasture, but also with access to milk. the difference is they are slaughtered at a younger age, ie; slaughtered at 6 months as opposed to 18 months typical of beef steer. Suze Fisher Lapdog Design, Inc. Web Design & Development http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze3shjg/ mailto:s.fisher22@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2003 Report Share Posted January 30, 2003 This fascinates me having done my share of veg. indoctrination. What is an example of a protein isolate? Elaine > According to the metabolic typers, such as Walcott in The Metabolic > Typing Diet, meat can alkalinize some people and acidify some people. > Nevertheless, the most recent study done on protein intake correlated an > INVERSE correlation between hip fractures and protein intake. All of this > bulls*hit about protein causing osteoperosis propogated by the > vegetarian/vegan crowd (mostly, from what I've seen) is based (only, as far > as I know) on studies that showed that PROTEIN ISOLATES caused calcium loss. > I was in a debate with someone on this once, and they sent the studies just > to " prove " it-- and they were feeding these people over *800 GRAMS* of > protein a day in isolates!!! Who could eat that, even on a 90% meat diet??? > > I wouldn't worry about it. > > Chris > > ____ > > " What can one say of a soul, of a heart, filled with compassion? It is a > heart which burns with love for every creature: for human beings, birds, and > animals, for serpents and for demons. The thought of them and the sight of > them make the tears of the saint flow. And this immense and intense > compassion, which flows from the heart of the saints, makes them unable to > bear the sight of the smallest, most insignificant wound in any creature. > Thus they pray ceaselessly, with tears, even for animals, for enemies of the > truth, and for those who do them wrong. " > > --Saint Isaac the Syrian > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2003 Report Share Posted January 30, 2003 Hi , This is usually a conversation the vegetarian/vegan docs like to throw around. While the buffering is somewhat physiologically true, it is taken out of context. Would they prefer that you eat no protein at all? At 27 years old with osteoporosis I'd say that there is something seriously awry metabolically and I'd look to that first before I considered limiting protein or anything else for that matter. The book you refer to has some good info regarding progesterone in it but is too " shotgun " in its approach for someone like you. DMM www.cedarcanyonclinic.com --- In , " Evely " <je@h...> wrote: > hello group! > I am 27 year old female with osteoporosis and recently been reading book > " What your doctor may not tell you about menopause.. the breakthrough book > on natural progesterone " > Anyway, I was reading about meat and it says that too much protein causes > excess acidity.. kidneys need to buffer and then you lose the calcium > ~I am concerned here given all the protein that I consume with NT lifestyle > > jen > > > > " And we have made of ourselves living cesspools, and driven doctors to > invent names for our diseases. " Plato Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2003 Report Share Posted January 30, 2003 In a message dated 1/30/03 6:53:30 PM Eastern Standard Time, ynos@... writes: > > Anyway, I was reading about meat and it says that too much > > protein causes excess acidity.. kidneys need to buffer and > > then you lose the calcium ~I am concerned here given all > > the protein that I consume with NT lifestyle According to the metabolic typers, such as Walcott in The Metabolic Typing Diet, meat can alkalinize some people and acidify some people. Nevertheless, the most recent study done on protein intake correlated an INVERSE correlation between hip fractures and protein intake. All of this bulls*hit about protein causing osteoperosis propogated by the vegetarian/vegan crowd (mostly, from what I've seen) is based (only, as far as I know) on studies that showed that PROTEIN ISOLATES caused calcium loss. I was in a debate with someone on this once, and they sent the studies just to " prove " it-- and they were feeding these people over *800 GRAMS* of protein a day in isolates!!! Who could eat that, even on a 90% meat diet??? I wouldn't worry about it. Chris ____ " What can one say of a soul, of a heart, filled with compassion? It is a heart which burns with love for every creature: for human beings, birds, and animals, for serpents and for demons. The thought of them and the sight of them make the tears of the saint flow. And this immense and intense compassion, which flows from the heart of the saints, makes them unable to bear the sight of the smallest, most insignificant wound in any creature. Thus they pray ceaselessly, with tears, even for animals, for enemies of the truth, and for those who do them wrong. " --Saint Isaac the Syrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2003 Report Share Posted January 30, 2003 --- In , " Evely " <je@h...> wrote: > Anyway, I was reading about meat and it says that too much > protein causes excess acidity.. kidneys need to buffer and > then you lose the calcium ~I am concerned here given all > the protein that I consume with NT lifestyle Hi jen: Everyone is concerned with the amount of protein in the diet. No one, however, is concerned with the quality of the protein. In agriculture, the highest quality protein may occur when the total protein is at its minimum. Agriculture wants quality, not quality, because they get paid for quantity, not quality. Simple. So too with food in general, everyone is concerned with what they eat and no one is concerned with the nutritional quality of what they eat. In food as in protein, quantity doesn't make up for lack of quality. Chi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2003 Report Share Posted January 31, 2003 This fascinates me having done my share of veg. indoctrination. What is an example of a protein isolate? ---->i believe *soy* protein isolates were used in the studies that showed 'too much protein contributes to osteoporosis.' Suze Fisher Lapdog Design, Inc. Web Design & Development http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze3shjg/ mailto:s.fisher22@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2003 Report Share Posted January 31, 2003 In a message dated 1/31/03 3:39:52 AM Eastern Standard Time, itchyink@... writes: > This fascinates me having done my share of veg. indoctrination. What is an > example of a protein isolate? Soy protein isolates, sodium caseinate, whey powders, etc. Chris ____ " What can one say of a soul, of a heart, filled with compassion? It is a heart which burns with love for every creature: for human beings, birds, and animals, for serpents and for demons. The thought of them and the sight of them make the tears of the saint flow. And this immense and intense compassion, which flows from the heart of the saints, makes them unable to bear the sight of the smallest, most insignificant wound in any creature. Thus they pray ceaselessly, with tears, even for animals, for enemies of the truth, and for those who do them wrong. " --Saint Isaac the Syrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 1, 2003 Report Share Posted February 1, 2003 yeah~ protein is the main ingredient in living matter... transporting oxygen now there's a big one I guess the big issue now is " " HOW MUCH?? " " jen > > hello group! > > I am 27 year old female with osteoporosis and recently been > reading book > > " What your doctor may not tell you about menopause.. the > breakthrough book > > on natural progesterone " > > Anyway, I was reading about meat and it says that too much protein > causes > > excess acidity.. kidneys need to buffer and then you lose the > calcium > > ~I am concerned here given all the protein that I consume with NT > lifestyle > > > > jen > > > > > > > > " And we have made of ourselves living cesspools, and driven > doctors to > > invent names for our diseases. " Plato Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2005 Report Share Posted March 8, 2005 , I can tell you that several years ago I was told I had the beginnings of osteo...to increase my calcium for one thing... since I've change to a more raw diet I' ve had no problems.. Suzibellpepperboy <cweeks@...> wrote: Hi,On Friday, my sister mentioned that women on raw food diets were at a higher risk of osteoporosis. Today, via the Glenbrook Farms newsletter, Susun Weed, a well known herbalist, wrote the following:"To extract minerals from fruits and vegetables, I cook them for long periods of time, or until there is color and texture change, evidence that the cell walls have been broken. Kale cooked for an hour delivers far more mineral to your bones than lightly steamed kale. Fresh juices contain virtually no minerals. Cooking maximizes the nutrients available to us, especially the minerals." I would be interested in hearing from knowledgeable raw foodists if osteoporosis is in fact a problem they need to watch out for and if so, what they do to prevent it. Two such remarks in one week makes me take note! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2005 Report Share Posted March 8, 2005 bellpepperboy wrote: > > Hi, > On Friday, my sister mentioned that women on raw food diets were at > a higher risk of osteoporosis. Today, via the Glenbrook Farms > newsletter, Susun Weed, a well known herbalist, wrote the following: > " To extract minerals from fruits and vegetables, I cook them for > long periods of time, or until there is color and texture change, > evidence that the cell walls have been broken. Kale cooked for an > hour delivers far more mineral to your bones than lightly steamed > kale. Fresh juices contain virtually no minerals. Cooking maximizes > the nutrients available to us, especially the minerals. " > I would be interested in hearing from knowledgeable raw foodists if > osteoporosis is in fact a problem they need to watch out for and if > so, what they do to prevent it. Two such remarks in one week makes > me take note! > ====================== Well , All I am going to say on this is if fresh juices have vitrually no minerals then cooking them will not produce any minerals either. This is a rather odd statement to be made by Susun Weed. Cooking your food only makes the minerals inorganic and totally useless, to the human body for health purposes. One only needs to eat fresh fruits and vegetables and the body is more than capable of breaking down the cell walls. This is what the enzymes in the fresh fruits and vegetables are for. Cooking foods kills the enzymes needed to help digest the food properly. Actually, cooking your food does more damage to your bones than eating raw foods will ever do. Your body cannot use inorganic minerals. Not one bit. It can use the minerals that come in fresh fruits and vegetables because they are combined with an enzyme that assists in their assimilation into the cells of your body. I do believe that I posted something to this effect several weeks or a month or so ago that talked about inorganic minerals versus organic minerals (or raw food versus cooked). It is really a shame that the majority of people (including those who should know) don't know about organic vitamins and minerals. They still believe that cooking is good for you. Maybe it is but that is not my truth. There is beginning to be a lot of research that says otherwise as well. Okay, what source/s does your sister have for her statement? Don't take anyones word as Gospel. Do the research for yourself. You have to find what is true for you. Nobody else can do this. What is true for Susun Weed is not necessarily true for me. What is true for me may not be what is true for you. We each, everyone one of us must seek the truth for ourselves. Otherwise we end up living someone else's truth and we may find ourselves in a heap of doo doo. -- Peace, love and light, Don " Quai " Eitner " Spirit sleeps in the mineral, breathes in the vegetable, dreams in the animal and wakes in man. " -- In compliance with the highest standards of Universal Law, this email has been thoroughly disinfected and purified in the solar flares of the sun. Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.6.4 - Release Date: 3/7/05 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 Green Pharmacy for Osteoporosis http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/41/89.cfm Osteoporosis, as you probably know, is a disease caused by loss of the mineral calcium and involves a weakening of bone. It is one of the most common conditions associated with aging, and it affects many more women than men. About 25 percent of women over 65 show signs of osteoporosis, while the figure for elderly men is less than 10 percent. Thin, petite women are at greatest risk. (My wife, Peggy, who is under 65 and formerly thin, has been diagnosed with osteoporosis.) Osteoporosis causes a variety of possible symptoms: lower back pain, loss of height (up to several inches), stooped posture (dowager's hump) and increased risk of fractures, particularly of the hip. Currently, management of osteoporosis costs the United States some $6 billion a year. Until quite recently, the Food and Drug Administration and most physicians told us that supplements, including calcium, were a waste of time and money. Now, very belatedly, they tell us that we're not getting enough calcium. According to the 1995 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Development Panel on Optimal Calcium Intake, Americans (especially women) should get 1,000 to 1,500 milligrams a day. Unfortunately, most get much less than that, and many don't get even half that amount. Getting the Full Spectrum of Nutrients Ironically, the very doctors and federal officials on the NIH panel who would have said "food over supplements" a few years ago now seem to be saying "supplements over food" when it comes to calcium. The panel did say that, ideally, people should get their calcium from foods such as low-fat dairy products, broccoli, tofu, kale, legumes, canned fish, nuts and seeds. But the panel's report also implied that this is impossible or at least impractical for the vast majority of Americans. The report spent a good deal of space telling people how to take calcium supplements--between meals, to minimize interference with iron absorption. I have nothing against calcium supplements, but I firmly believe that everyone should get as much calcium as possible from foods. It's not only possible to do this, it's also better for your bones, because the mineral strength of bone depends on more than calcium. For calcium to actually strengthen bone, it must be consumed along with several other nutrients that few experts seem to talk about. Phosphorus is particularly important, but you also need magnesium, boron, zinc, vitamin D and vitamin A. You can get all of these nutrients from supplements, but I prefer to get them the way Nature intended--packaged all together in food. The other news about osteoporosis that few people know is that high-protein diets leach calcium from bone. Nutrition experts I rely on suggest that people at risk for osteoporosis limit their protein intake to no more than one gram of protein per kilogram of body weight, which translates into around two to three ounces of protein--on the order of one chicken breast--daily for the average woman. Most Americans eat considerably more protein than this, thus running a risk of calcium loss even if they consume a lot of the mineral. Green Pharmacy for Osteoporosis If you're looking to consume less protein and more nutrients that help prevent osteoporosis, here are the plant foods I'd suggest. Cabbage (Brassica oleracea). Boron helps raise estrogen levels in the blood, and estrogen helps preserve bone. In my database, cabbage ranks highest in boron content among leafy veggies with 145 parts per million (ppm) on a dry-weight basis. I eat a lot of coleslaw, and it's easy to combine cabbage with high-calcium broccoli, kale, beans and tofu in salads and steamed vegetable dishes. Cabbage is also a key ingredient in my Bone-Strengthening Broth. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). Speaking of boron, dandelion shoots run a close second to cabbage, with 125 ppm. Dandelion also has more than 20,000 ppm of calcium, meaning that just ten grams (just under seven tablespoons) of dried dandelion shoots could provide more than 1 milligram of boron and 200 milligrams of calcium. Dandelion is also a fair source of silicon, which some studies suggest also helps strengthen bone. I recommend including it in my Bone-Strengthening Broth. Pigweed (Amaranthus, various species). On a dry-weight basis, pigweed leaves are one of our best vegetable sources of calcium, at 5.3 percent. This means that a small serving of steamed leaves (1Ž3 ounce or 1Ž10 cup) provides a hearty 500 milligrams of calcium. Other good plant sources of calcium, in descending order of potency, include lamb's-quarters, broad beans, watercress, licorice, marjoram, savory, red clover shoots, thyme, Chinese cabbage (bok choy), basil, celery seed, dandelion and purslane. Bone-Strengthening Broth Here's a recipe that will appeal to the economy-minded woman who is eager to explore every possible avenue for preventing osteoporosis. Both the fish bones and the veggies provide generous amounts of calcium and other nutrients that prevent this debilitating disease. In a large pot, place some leftover fish bones in a few quarts of water. (If the bones are really tiny, you might want to tie them in a cheesecloth bag to make it easier to retrieve them later.) Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Add a couple of handfuls each of finely chopped cabbage, dandelion greens, stinging nettle greens, papaya, pigweed and purslane. (You'll need to wear gloves when harvesting stinging nettle greens, but the leaves lose their sting when the plant is cooked.) Simmer until the greens soften slightly. Season to taste with salt and pepper and any other seasonings that appeal to you. Remove the fish bones before serving. Serve as a vegetable/herb soup topped with avocado slices and black pepper. Or use it as a stock for even heartier bean soups. Properly prepared, a generous serving of my Bone-Strengthening Broth could easily contain generous amounts of calcium, magnesium, boron, beta-carotene (plus other vitamin AÂlike carotenoids) and vitamin C, as well as some vitamin D, fluorine and silicon. Avocado (Persea americana). As one reputed vegetable source of vitamin D (and the tastiest), avocado can help the body turn calcium into bone. Some people shun avocados because they are fairly high in fat, but if you eat a generally low-fat, vegetarian or semi-vegetarian diet, I don't see much harm in them, especially if you're at risk for osteoporosis. I suggest mashing an avocado into nonfat cottage cheese or yogurt so you get your calcium and some vitamin D at the same time. Avocados are also rich in heart-healthy vitamin E. Soybean (Glycine max) and other beans. Vegetarian and Japanese women have a lower incidence of osteoporosis and fractures than Western or meat-eating women. The reason, according to , M.D., of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in Lexington, appears to be that Western-diet meat-eaters excrete more calcium in their urine. Beans are a good source of protein, but they cause less calcium loss in the urine than meat. In addition, soybeans and other beans contain genistein, a plant estrogen (phytoestrogen) that acts like the female sex hormone in the body. Pharmaceutical estrogen replacement helps preserve bone and prevent heart disease, but it also increases the risk of breast cancer. Genistein from beans has never been shown to increase cancer risk, and I'd be willing to bet that a diet rich in beans would strengthen bone and prevent heart disease almost as well as, or equally as well as, estrogen pills. Black pepper (Piper nigrum). According to my database, black pepper contains four anti-osteoporosis compounds. If you like pepper, you might consider sprinkling it generously on your avocado or bean soup or salad, assuming that every little bit helps. Horsetail (Equisetum arvense). French research suggests that silicon helps prevent osteoporosis and can be used to treat bone fractures. Horsetail is among the richest plant sources of this mineral, in the form of the compound monosilicic acid, which the body can readily use. Aging and low estrogen levels decrease the body's ability to absorb silicon. Some people recommend up to nine 350-milligram capsules a day. You should use this herb only in consultation with a holistic practitioner. If you're advised to use horsetail tea, add a teaspoon of sugar to the water along with the dried herb. (The sugar will pull more silicon out of the plant.) Bring it to a boil, then let it simmer for about three hours. Strain out the leaves, then let the tea cool before drinking. parsley (Petroselinum crispum). That dark green garnish, which is so often thrown away instead of eaten, is generously endowed with boron. It would take about three ounces of dried parsley to provide the three milligrams deemed useful in raising estrogen levels. That's more than most people want to consume, but every sprig helps. In my database, parsley is also among the highest food sources of fluorine, another bone strengthener. Freshen your breath while you save your bones by routinely eating every sprig of parsley garnish placed on your plate in restaurants._________________Becky I read recipes the same way I read science fiction. I get to the end and I think, "Well, that's not going to happen." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 Nutrients to Prevent Bone Loss ---------------------------------------------------------------------Depending upon the situation,at certain times in your life your body will more than likely need some extra support in a particular area of bone density, that's because your body is in a constant state of either building bone, repairing bone or forming and strengthening new bone. Building strong bones requires: alfalfa, green barley grass, dandelion root, rose hips, yucca and red raspberry. Formation of bones: to maintain bone density-- horsetail, oat straw, flaxseed and vitamin C daily, preferably with bioflavonoids. Vitamin D-- is required to help your body absorb calcium, Boron and zinc are required to help enhance the effectiveness of vitamin D. If you take in too much calcium,you will find that your body doesn't use vitamin D correctly. Often pharmaceutical drugs will result in loss of bone. Surgery and illness can be a factor in bone loss. If you suffer from an illness that requires your body to be in a constant state of healing your body will rob calcium from the bones to provide healing to injured areas. The body will always work to maintain healing of an organ, even if it means sacrificing calcium from your bones. Just because you are taking a calcium supplement or eating calcium rich foods does not guarantee your body is absorbing and using calcium correctly. There are some things that prevent proper assimilation of calcium: fluoride,carbonated beverages,heavy metals, coffee, excessive salt and sugar contribute to bone loss as well. It is important to eat Certified Organic foods without additives, pesticides, rBGH or gmo's. So eat organic foods, fresh whole and uncooked when possible, and be sure that meat is organic and not filled with hormones for quick growth. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dandelion: Speaking of boron, dandelion greens, supplements and shoots run a close second to cabbage, with 125 ppm. Dandelion also has more than 20,000 ppm of calcium, meaning that just ten grams (just under seven tablespoons) of dried dandelion shoots could provide more than 1 mg of born and 200 mgs of calcium. Dandelion is also a fair source of silicon, which some studies suggest also helps strengthen bone. Avocado: As one reputed vegetable source of vitamin D, avocados can help the body turn calcium into bone. I suggest mashing an avocado into organic yogurt so you get your calcium and some vitamin D at the same time. Avocadoes are also rich in heart healthy vitamin E. (Glycine max) and other beans) Vegetarian and Japanese women have a lower incidence of osteoporosis and fractures than Western women who eat traditional high protein diets. The reason, according to , M.D. of the University of Kentucky College of medicine in Lexington, appears to be that Western meat-eaters excrete more calcium in their urine. Beans are a good source of protein, but they cause less calcium loss in the urine than meat. In addition, non-gmo soybeans and other beans contain genistein, a plant estrogen (phytoestrogen) that acts like the female sex hormone in the body. I'd be willing to bet that a diet rich in beans would strengthen bone and prevent heart disease as well as or equally as well as, estrogen pills. Horsetail: French research suggests that "silicon" helps prevent osteoporosis and can be used to treat bone fractures. Horsetail is among the richest plant sources of this mineral, in the form of the compound monosilicic acid, which the body can readily use. Aging and low estrogen levels decrease the body's ability to absorb "silicon". Some people recommend up to nine 350 mg capsules daily. If you use horsetail tea, add a teaspoon of pure natural 'cane'(sucanat or turbinado) sugar to the water along with the dried herb. The unrefined sugar will pull more silicon out of the plant. Bring it to a boil, then let it simmer for about three hours. Strain out the leaves, then let the tea cool before drinking. I have nothing against calcium supplements but I firmly believe that everyone should get as much calcium as possible from their foods. It's not only possible to do this, it's better for your bones, because the mineral strength of bone depends on more than calcium. For calcium to actually strengthen bones, it must be combined with other nutrients as well. Phosphorus is important, but you also need magnesium, boron, zinc, vitamin D and vitamin A. You can get all of these nutrients in supplements, however I prefer to get them the way Nature intended— all packaged together in foods! Nutrition experts suggest that people at risk for osteoporosis limit their protein intake to no more than one gram of protein per kilogram of body weight, which translates into around two to three ounces of protein—on the order of one Amish chicken breast or one 's Lean beefburger (hormone and antibiotic-free-—daily for the average woman. www.laurasleanbeef.com Most Americans eat considerably more protein, running a risk of calcium loss even if they consume a lot of the mineral. Magnesium is extremely important for bone health, equally, if not more important than calcium! Sixty percent of our body's magnesium stores are contained in our BONES, particularly in the trabecular bone of the wrists, thighs, and vertebrae. It has been shown that women suffering from osteoporosis have lower levels of magnesium in their trabecular bone than healthy women. This is not surprising because magnesium is vital in metabolizing calcium and vitamin C and helps to convert Vitamin D to the active form necessary to ensure efficient calcium 'absorption'. Magnesium also activates the enzyme 'alkaline phosphatase'. This enzyme helps to form calcium 'crystals' in the bone and is often used as an indicator as to whether new bone is being formed. A study by Biolab in London compared different groups of women, some with osteoporosis, some postmenopausal but with no osteoporosis, and some women on HRT. They found that NONE of the women in any group had low levels of calcium.BUT the women with osteoporosis had low levels of other VITAL BONE NUTRIENTS INCLUDING MAGNESIUM AND ZINC, and of the 'enzyme' alkaline 'phosphatase', indicating poor bone renewal. A normal level of this' 'enzyme' is DEPENDENT on having enough magnesium in the body! Magnesium also PREVENTS the buildup of unwanted calcium DEPOSITS elsewhere in the body (i.e. joints,arteries etc). We need twice as much magnesium as calcium if the biochemistry of bone formation is to run smoothly. Most of us, in fact, are magnesium deficient rather than calcium deficient. Good sources of dietary magnesium are dark green vegetables, apples, seeds, raw nuts, and figs. The importance of magnesium in the bone-building process has been demonstrated. In one research project Two groups of women were monitored. One group took HRT plus magnesium. The other took HRT alone. After nine months, the bone mineral density of the women taking magnesium had increased by 11 percent. The women taking only HRT showed NO INCREASE in bone density. After two years the magnesium takers were still improving their bone density!! Taken from "Natural Choices for Menopause" By Marilyn Glenville Ph.D. _________________ Vitamin D is essential for the intestinal absorption of many minerals, but particularly calcium and magnesium Vitamin D-- deficiency is associated with defective calcification of the bones and pathogenic calcification of the arteries. Synthetic vitamin D added to milk has the same effect as vitamin D deficiency — it causes abnormal calcification of the soft tissues, particularly the blood vessels, --contributing to arterial plaque resulting in arterial thrombosis. Vitamin D is derived mainly from fish oil and sunshine. You need at least 20 minutes of sun daily in order for your body to make sufficient quantities of vitamin D. Minimum exposure does not increase your skin cancer risks. Fish Oil is the oil extracted from the flesh of cold water fish. Good Examples of cold water fish are alaskan salmon, mackerel, tuna in water, sardines in water, herrings and anchovies. Fish oil is a rich source of the omega-3 essential fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Both EPA and DHA are normal constituents of body tissue. It is essential that EPA and DHA supplements include vitamin E to prevent rancidity, and that supplements be taken with additional vitamin E supplements to prevent oxidation in the body. In fact, some of the conflicting results of studies using fish oil may be due to the fact that in some cases, the supplements did not contain any vitamin E to protect them. Study results have been superior when EPA has been consumed with a vitamin E supplement. Per capsule, fish oil supplements generally contain between 180 and 400 mgs of EPA plus 120 to 300 mgs of DHA. Fish Oil should not be confused with cod liver oil which is the oil extracted from the 'liver' of the fish. Although cod liver oil contains EPA and DHA, large doses should be avoided,, because the oil contains large amounts of vitamins A and D, which, if ingested in very high amounts, could be toxic. Quality Norwegian Fish Oils are obtained from the Spectrum Naturals website. http://www.spectrumnaturals.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------Boron Rich Foods ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Plums [dried prunes] Quinces Strawberries Cabbage Dandelion [leaves] Apples Asparagus Celery and [roots] Figs Broccoli [leaves] Pears Beets Sour Cherries Red currants Cauliflower [florets] Apricots Radishes Black currants Celery [seeds] Brussels sprouts [leaves] Cowpeas Rutabaga [leaves] American persimmons Grapes Cucumbers Onions Alfalfa sprouts Black beans [fruits and seeds] Spinach Carrots Rutabaga [roots] Endive Peas [seeds] Broccoli [stems] Brussels sprouts [stems] Chinese cabbage Turnip [roots] Chicory [roots] Bell peppers Organic Soybeans Bananas Mangoes Cantaloupe Wheat [seeds Papaya Gooseberries Avocados Red raspberries Sesame seeds Blueberries Fruits, vegetables, tubers and legumes have a higher concentration of boron than grains. Boron rich foods will decrease the amount of calcium *excreted* by 40%. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SInce the body can only operate within a very narrow PH range balance between acidity and alkalinity, to neutralize the resulting acidity the body is required to mobilize Calcium from the bones. Once this is accomplished, the Calcium is lost in the urine, never to be returned to the bones!! Replace dairy milk with organic non-gmo SOY or RICE milk in cooking and on cereal. Eat lots of green vegetables, beans, broccoli, sesame seeds, oats, fruits, and Tofu for strong bones. There is three times as much Calcium in one serving of Spinach or Kale as there is in one glass of milk!Becky I read recipes the same way I read science fiction. I get to the end and I think, "Well, that's not going to happen." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 Boning Up on Calcium Aug 17, 2003 16:27 PDT Are you getting enough? Too much? The solution isn't as easy as gulping milk by the gallon or popping supplements by the handful. To call calcium the most hyped mineral in history would be an understatement.There are dozens of heavily advertised supplements on the market. On grocery store shelves, everything from orange juice to bread is fortified with it. Packages of antacids, such as Tums and Rolaids, brag about their calcium content. And no one hypes the health benefits of calcium more than the dairy industry. All these products purport to help prevent osteoporosis, the deterioration of bone mass due to calcium depletion, which afflicts 10 million Americans and causes 1.5 million fractures annually. The specter of spending our senior years stooped over like a question mark, slowly, carefully and painfully crossing the street with the aid of a cane or a walker, afraid of sustaining a serious or even fatal injury from a simple fall, is frightening indeed. It would seem, therefore, that we should all eat as many calcium-rich foods as possible and take calcium supplements to guard against this debilitating condition, right? Wrong! At least, not without knowing what we are doing. Studies have shown that those who ingest large quantities of calcium can also be among the most at risk to develop osteoporosis. The reason for this is that the amount of calcium we ingest does not necessarily translate into the amount of calcium we absorb. At least as important as the amount of calcium in our diet is the type of calcium we eat, and what we eat with it. Certain cofactors in proper proportion are absolutely necessary for the body to absorb calcium, while other substances inhibit the body's ability to do so. The amount of gastric hydrochloric acid and the acidity (pH level) of our bodies is also of fundamental importance. Even our hormonal balance plays a key role in calcium metabolism. Without taking all these factors into account, blithely loading up on calcium can actually result in a net *deficiency* of the mineral. The bones: our blood's *calcium bank* Bone cells are the body's savings account of calcium. When blood levels of calcium rise above normal,the excess is stored in the bones. Conversely, when calcium levels in the bloodstream dip, the body turns to its bone bank to balance the deficit. Our *serum* calcium level is affected by many factors, many of which are not directly related to the amount of calcium in our diets. For example, stress can reduce free calcium by disrupting hormone balance.Stress stimulates the production of the hormone cortisol, which in turn increases levels of the steroid hormone aldosterone, a key regulator of mineral balance in the body. Chronic stress can reduce blood calcium levels, requiring the body to continually make withdrawals from the bone bank. The dairy myth--- There is no question that we need an adequate dietary intake of calcium. But how much is adequate? What are the best sources? And what factors are necessary to absorb and utilize this calcium and to maintain proper levels of calcium in both our bones and our bloodstreams? People equate calcium with dairy, and dairy products contribute 75% of the calcium in American diets. Milk is a $19 billion industry in the United States, and the Dairy Council spends hundreds of millions of dollars in advertising and marketing every year. The Got Milk ad campaign is among the most successful in advertising history. However, scientists long have challenged the assumption that dairy consumption equals strong bones. Now, thanks to new studies, their argument is gaining momentum. It's easy to understand why the dairy industry touts milk as the perfect calcium conveyor. An eight-ounce glass packs 300 mg of calcium along with significant amounts of vitamins A and D, magnesium and phosphorus all cofactors for bone health. Cheese and yogurt are similarly endowed. But not everyone swallows the idea that a diet chock-full of dairy is the best way to bank calcium. The dairy industry's armor was badly pierced five years ago by a Harvard Nurses' Health study published in the American Journal of Public Health. Researchers examined the diets of 77,761 women during a 12-year period. What they found was that drinking milk did not protect the participants against bone breaks. In fact, those who drank the most milk (three or more glasses a day) had more fractures than those who barely touched the stuff (less than one glass per week). I'm not surprised that people who consume a lot of dairy don't necessarily have better bones, says Diane Feskanich, lead author of the study and an epidemiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Feskanich is still monitoring the nurses to see how they're faring, and she hopes to publish more data sometime this year. We updated the analysis and found the same results: We don't see fewer hip fractures with higher milk consumption, she says. There is definitely a link between Dairy consumption and osteoporosis. What the Nurses' Health study showed is that, as a preventative strategy against osteoporosis, eating dairy products is no better than a placebo, says Neal Barnard, M.D., president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a nonprofit organization that promotes vegetarianism and opposes milk consumption. The dairy industry is built on convincing people that it works. A more recent strike against the dairy industry came in the form of a scientific review published last September in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Researchers at the University of Alabama gathered all of the credible clinical evidence they could find on bone health and dairy-rich diets. After an exhaustive review of nearly five dozen studies, they concluded that there is no solid body of evidence to support eating dairy foods. If dairy foods are so loaded with calcium, why are they not protective of bones? One reason is dairy products' relatively high protein and salt content. The body utilizes calcium to metabolize both protein and salt. Approximately 1 mg of calcium is needed to process 1 g of protein, and Americans routinely eat 65 to 100 g or more of protein each day. The authors of the study found that some dairy foods, such as cottage and processed cheeses, are so high in protein and sodium, which also acidifies the blood, that the combination could actually negate the food's calcium benefits. That discovery doesn't surprise Loren Cordain, Ph.D., an evolutionary biologist at Colorado State University in Fort . [see Cordain's story, A Diet Solution Based on Evolution, March 2002.] Cordain is one of a growing number of theorists who believe that the crux of Americans' high rate of osteoporosis is not a lack of calcium but our Western diet: heavy on acid-inducing proteins and light on alkaline-enhancing fruits and vegetables. What we're seeing is a calcium imbalance, says Cordain. It's not about how much comes in, it's about how much is *going out*. Americans have the highest rates of osteoporosis-related fractures in the world, yet we eat more dairy products than almost any other country. The data sticks out like a sore thumb. Indeed, the facts are confounding. People in North America and northern European nations consume two to three times as much calcium as their Asian counterparts, yet break two to three times as many bones. The United States has one of the world's highest recommended daily allowances for calcium, and it keeps creeping higher. According to the National Academy of Sciences, which sets the RDA, daily calcium recommendations start at 1,300 mg for adolescents ages 9 to 18, then lower to 1,000 mg for adults ages 19 to 50, and, finally, rise again to 1,200 mg for people 51 and older. Reaching the RDA for calcium is virtually impossible unless you're eating tons of dairy products, which is precisely the point, says Cordain. Cordain likes to refer back to the diets of hunter-gatherers for dietary guidance. He points out that milk is a recent phenomena and that if what dairy advocates say is true, then everyone living before the age of milk should have had osteoporosis. We don't find that at all, he says. What we do find are robust, fracture-resistant bones. Holistic nutritionists also point out the unnatural aspect of what was touted by the dairy industry as nature's most perfect food: No other mammal drinks milk from its mother after it is weaned, and no other species drinks the milk of another species. Feskanich is also skeptical of the RDA for calcium. Upping the calcium requirements doesn't seem to be helping prevent hip fractures in America, she says. It's almost as though we keep raising it in hopes that it will have some effect, and it just doesn't work. So what does all this mean to someone who wants to eat a bone-healthy diet? The science may be complicated, but the dietary advice is not. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables If you find it hard to believe that eating green vegetables is a superior way to get adequate calcium, consider the diet of dairy cows. These animals maintain their own huge bone structures and produce calcium-rich milk from a diet of grass. While it's true that, cup for cup, most vegetables have less calcium than milk, the body is able to absorb more of the mineral when it comes from a veggie source, explains Barnard, because it doesn't come packaged with protein and refined salt. In fact, the body absorbs more calcium from kale and broccoli than from milk. A 1997 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that as participants upped their fruit and vegetable intake from 3.6 to 9.5 servings a day, their calcium loss declined 30%. A minimum of five servings of fruits and vegetables a day is important for bone health because it creates a more alkaline environment, and less calcium is lost in the urine, Weaver says. Among the richest sources of plant-based calcium are dark, leafy greens, such as brussels sprouts, mustard greens, broccoli, turnip greens and kale. But be aware: Not all calcium-rich veggies translate that calcium into bone. For example, spinach and sweet potatoes are loaded with calcium but are reluctant to deposit it as they travel through the body; both are high in oxalate and phytate, two compounds that inhibit calcium absorption. (Cooking eliminates the oxalate problem.) Don't depend on fortified foods - When deciding where your calcium should come from, fortified foods belong at the bottom of your list. The vitamins and minerals added to processed foods are necessarily the cheapest available, and their sources and forms are uncertain. Foods that are artificially pumped full of calcium shouldn't replace natural sources. There are so many beneficial factors in food that haven't even been identified; you really need to go to foods first, says dietician Lola O'Rourke, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. Watch your salt intake- A high-sodium diet drags calcium from bones to aid digestion. Every day, the typical American eats 3 to 4 g of sodium, equaling a daily calcium loss of up to 80 mg. By reducing your daily sodium intake by 1 g, you'll save 1% of your skeletal mass each year. Be sure to use natural sea salt containing at least 2% trace minerals. And do your best to avoid sinfully salty snacks, such as potato chips and microwave popcorn. Give high-sodium, processed foods, such as frozen dinners, the boot, too. Trim protein Eating just one meat-free meal a day can reduce your protein intake by 40 g, meaning that 40 mg of calcium will stay in your bones, where it belongs. Plant-based proteins have the added advantage of containing fiber, an adequate supply of which is essential for proper digestive functioning. Calcium is absorbed from the small intestine into the bloodstream, and the health of the small intestine directly affects the amount of calcium we absorb from our food. Shun soda- Last year, scientists at Harvard found that teens quaffing soft drinks were three times more likely to break a bone than those who didn't partake. The risk of injury jumped to five times more likely for girl athletes. Some researchers point to phosphoric acid as the culprit since it's thought to hamper calcium absorption. Get plenty of vitamin D- Vitamin D must be present in sufficient quantity for your body to absorb calcium from the intestines into the bloodstream. Be sure to get outside and get adequate sunlight our bodies synthesize vitamin D through the action of ultraviolet radiation on sterols (fat-like substances) in the skin. You can also add vitamin D-rich organic egg yolks and fish oil to your diet. For adults, the recommended daily allowance for vitamin D is 400 to 600 IU. Many seniors, especially those who are housebound, suffer from a vitamin D deficiency. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends up to 800 IU per day for the elderly. Make sure you get your fill, but don't get carried away. Exercise - Bone density rises and falls according to the demands placed upon it, so physical activity has lifelong implications for skeletal health. Adults who were physically active during childhood have better bone density than those who were couch potatoes. A recent study by scientists at Pennsylvania State University found that exercise during the crucial bone-building years is the best predictor of a woman's adult bone health. Researchers tracked the diets and exercise habits of 81 girls from age 12 to 18. Those girls who saw the greatest bone gains as adults were those who exercised the most during their teens, not those who consumed the most calcium. So, boost your bone density by hitting the pavement or the gym. Experts agree that 30 minutes of weight-bearing exercise, such as walking or jogging, three times a week is all it takes to see results. Strength training is also an excellent way to keep bones strong. Either way, it is never too late to start. In studies that examined physical activity among the elderly, exercise reduced the risk of bone-breaking falls by 25%. Exercise gives your bones a reason to live, says Barnard. Check your stomach acidity Calcium cannot be digested without sufficient stomach acid. It is estimated that by age 50, most Americans have lost 50% of their acid- producing stomach cells to protein overload, parasites, poisonous substances in food and other factors. Under the best of circumstances, only about 30% of the calcium we ingest is absorbed; without sufficient hydrochloric acid in our stomachs, this figure can drop as low as 4%. This is also why antacids, which claim to be a calcium source, actually work "against" calcium absorption. Ironically, many people take these products because they suffer from heartburn, which they attribute to excess stomach acid. Yet, according to gastroenterologist Stuppy, M.D., the vast majority of his mature patients suffer from too little stomach acid, which can produce the same "symptoms" as excess acid. Dr. Stuppy warns especially against taking acid blockers such as Pepcid AC. For patients with chronic digestive problems, stomach pH can be easily measured during routine tests. One more way to help your stomach is to chew your food well: Food that is thoroughly masticated generally requires less stomach acid to digest. Supplement only with professional advice When it comes to obtaining calcium from food, the options are plentiful. However, long-term calcium supplementation, particularly without the other factors necessary for bone health, is not likely to stave off osteoporosis. And without the advice of a qualified holistic nutritionist or naturopathic doctor, it is possible to do more harm than good. The amount of bone-density increase you get from supplementation is dubious, says Feskanich. One theory is that it works initially and then plateaus. And there's the issue of consuming too much. Regularly ingesting calcium in excess of 2,000 mg a day may cause constipation, kidney stones or other problems. Borkin, N.M.D., often puts his patients on a calcium supplement or, more accurately, supplements. He recommends rotating the form of calcium, however, between calcium citrate (one of the easiest forms to absorb), calcium ascorbate and calcium gluconate. He also makes sure his patients supplement the necessary cofactors in proper proportion, including vitamin D and phosphorus. The relationship between calcium and magnesium is a good example of the complexities of calcium supplementation. Magnesium has an inverse relationship with calcium. Both compete for the same receptor sites in cells, but a proper balance of both is necessary for health. The ratio can vary considerably from patient to patient. The body can't absorb more than 500 mg of calcium at a time, so supplements are best taken in small doses throughout the day. Calcium can interfere with some medications, including antibiotics. So if you're taking a prescription drug, consult your health-care practitioner before adding a calcium supplement. Contaminants, such as aluminum and lead, are also a concern with some calcium supplements (such as Tums). To find out if a supplement has aluminum, check the list of ingredients on the label. (Tums Contains Aluminum) Avoid supplements made with bone meal, dolomite or oyster shells, as they often contain lead. Remember, ingesting more calcium is not necessarily the key to preventing osteoporosis. But getting the right calcium may be just what your body needs. Guthrie's health and medical writing has appeared in Self, Yoga Journal, Health and on WebMD. Men and calcium: A cautionary note Calcium is usually talked about in connection with women and osteoporosis (80% of osteoporosis sufferers are women), but more than a dozen studies show a link between a high-calcium diet and prostate cancer. In one of the largest, scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health studied the diets of 20,885 male physicians to tease out the relationship between dairy products and prostate cancer risk. Their results, published in the October 2001 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that men who consumed more than 600 mg of calcium per day had a 32% increased risk of prostate cancer compared with those who took in less than 150 mg per day. The authors concluded high calcium intake, mainly from dairy products, may increase prostate cancer risk -- by lowering concentrations of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, a hormone thought to protect against prostate cancer. For each additional 500 mg of calcium from dairy products per day, researchers saw a 16% jump in the men's prostate cancer risk. There's a general message that the more calcium the better, says June Chan, the study's lead author. That's not necessarily the case, especially for men. Even more surprising were results from a 1998 study that traced the health of 50,000 men. The researchers found that those men who were avid calcium consumers (more than 2,000 mg per day) had a nearly fourfold increase in the incidence of prostate cancer over their calcium-shirking counterparts (500 mg or less a day). Should men swear off calcium-rich foods? Chan says no. She suggests that men are safe to stay within their RDA of 1,200 mg and can avoid going overboard by taking a hard look at how much calcium they take in daily,-- adding up the calcium they consume from dairy products, fortified foods and multivitamins. Don't forget to tally the calcium in antacids; Chan suspects that an overdependence on the stomach- soothers may be to blame for men's megadoses. Other experts aren't so willing to rely on the RDA. Chan's advice is flat out wrong, says Neal Barnard, M.D. He feels that medical researchers, like Chan, are simply afraid to take a stand against the dairy industry. I understand that people hate to make a recommendation against a product that we've known and loved, but enough is enough, says Barnard. We can't cut the risk of prostate cancer to zero, but there are things that help. I think men would be well-advised not to drink cow's milk. Why We Need Calcium There's no doubt that calcium is crucial to good health. It is the most abundant mineral in our bodies, making up 1.5% to 2% of our weight. Ninety-nine percent of this is stored in our bones and teeth; our bones consist of about 70% calcium salts by weight. Calcium makes our bones strong and rigid by forming part of the substance that cements together the walls of adjacent cells. But calcium does more than maintain our skeletal structure. It is essential for the normal functioning of all body cells, acting as a mediator for many vital cell functions. While our bones contain 99% of our calcium, the remaining 1% of free calcium circulating in our soft tissues, bloodstream and extracellular fluid also performs some crucial functions. For example, without calcium, blood will not clot. Calcium also regulates muscles' contractility and the beating of our heart. It regulates neurotransmitters at synaptic junctions, where nerve impulses are passed from one neuron to another, and calcium disregulation can cause mental and emotional problems. The body carefully regulates these calcium levels, keeping them within the range of 50 to 65 mg per liter of extracellular fluid. More or less than this can quickly lead to serious and even life- threatening conditions. Becky I read recipes the same way I read science fiction. I get to the end and I think, "Well, that's not going to happen." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 Organic calcium (in the files under organic supplements) easy to make also... best and easiest calcium to get into your system. along with the Schulze's female formula in the files.. (, I'll send you some when I get it made this week).. Suzi Reilly <setlikeflint@...> wrote: I have osteopenia - what can I do besides calcium to turn this around? Thanks. mary For the Lord God helps Me; therefore have I not been ashamed or confounded. Therefore have I set My face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. Isa 50:7 __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 I think that on any given subject-and this one certianly proves it-there are two or more complete opposite 'proofs' or opinions. I think it is for each of us to test and discover what is best for each of us. The 'real' truth could be a combination of all. Ginnybellpepperboy <cweeks@...> wrote: Hi,On Friday, my sister mentioned that women on raw food diets were at a higher risk of osteoporosis. Today, via the Glenbrook Farms newsletter, Susun Weed, a well known herbalist, wrote the following:"To extract minerals from fruits and vegetables, I cook them for long periods of time, or until there is color and texture change, evidence that the cell walls have been broken. Kale cooked for an hour delivers far more mineral to your bones than lightly steamed kale. Fresh juices contain virtually no minerals. Cooking maximizes the nutrients available to us, especially the minerals." I would be interested in hearing from knowledgeable raw foodists if osteoporosis is in fact a problem they need to watch out for and if so, what they do to prevent it. Two such remarks in one week makes me take note! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 that is okay too. Reilly <setlikeflint@...> wrote: Thanks. I have been using calcium citrate with magnesium. mary Suzi Senior Moderator What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered. http://suziesgoats.wholefoodfarmacy.com/ Celebrate 's 10th Birthday! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 From: Reilly <setlikeflint@...> I have osteopenia - what can I do besides calcium to turn this around? Thanks. ======================================= , Not saying this will work for you, but this is what worked for me. I used to drink 3 big glasses of milk a day, plus I ate ice cream, cheese, etc. I eliminated pretty much all dairy (I eat cheese now just a couple times a month). I used to eat meat every single day. I eliminated pretty much all meat (I eat it a couple times a month). Meat is acid-forming in your body, and your body uses calcium to neutralize all that acid (it gets this calcium from your teeth and bones). I added a lot of calcium-rich veggies to my diet. I eliminated my calcium pills because I am now getting enough calcium in my diet. Taking calcium pills may cause a chemical imbalance within the minerals of the body. Especially the balance between phosphorus and calcium. With calcium-rich foods, you get all the micronutrients and macronutrients that are all naturally found in fruits and veggies, and your body knows exactly what to do with food. I also added nutrient-dense whole-food supplements. I also added red yeast rice supplements, which have been shown to build bone. (there are 2 types of red yeast rice – one is good for lowering cholesterol, one is good for bones – make sure you get the one that is “bone active”.) And my bone improvement didn’t happen overnight. It was about 3 years before I got the good report on my bone scan that went from osteopenia, to “bones of a 25 year old”. So, since I’m 59, I’m very happy! Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2005 Report Share Posted March 27, 2005 Things we should know: http://www.midwestarthritis.com/html/osteo_facts.htm Hugs, Jacy ~Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most. jacymail@...IM: jacygal - ICQ: 96949087www.geocities.com/mtn_rose Want a signature like this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2005 Report Share Posted March 27, 2005 It is well known that sunshine converts cholesterol derivatives in the skin to Vitamin D. This can explain the higher bone density during the summer. Tony >>> Subject: Osteoporosis perspect1111 Hi folks: Here are three, superficially contradictory, facts upon which you might wish to ponder. A) Spinal bone density is 8.4% higher in August than in February. [PMID: 11994336] >>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 15, 2005 Report Share Posted October 15, 2005 astrosue@... wrote: >How is acid blood measured? >Sue > > ======================== HI Sue, You don't actually test the blood, although they can but that involves an invasive procedure. Actually one can quite accurately measure the acidity of the body through testing of the saliva and/or urine. These both are very good indicators of how acidic ones body really is. Saliva probably being the best indicator. If a person is eating a fair to a lot of acid forming foods their saliva, urine and hence blood will be fairly acidic. If a person is eating a diet of raw living foods without any acid forming foods their saliva and urine and hence their blood will be much more alkaline. There is a very fine line in our blood on what is too much acidic or too much alkaline. However, as our body is an acid producing organism by nature the more alkaline we eat the more we neutralize the acidity produced through all of our various bodly processes. Even thinking produces an acidity that the body needs to neutralize and this is accomplished through our diet. Breathing, heart beat, peristalic actions of the intestines, blood flow, everything that goes on in our body produces acid. This is known as metabolic waste. Every cell in our body produces waste materials that are acidic just by doing what they do. All of this needs to be neutralized or kept in a very specific range or we end up dead. Hope I didn't bore you. -- Peace be with you, Sue. Don " Quai " Eitner " Spirit sleeps in the mineral, breathes in the vegetable, dreams in the animal and wakes in man. " Nearly all men die of their remedies, and not of their illnesses. ~Jean Baptiste Molière, Le Malade Imaginaire The obstacle is the path. ~Zen Proverb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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