Osteoporosis – the truth behind the myth:
One of the most rapidly increasing diseases in the western world is osteoporosis. Osteo means bone & porous means thinning, thus it is a disease of thinning bones. As they become thin they weaken & become prone to fracture. The resulting fractures occur most commonly in the hips, lower back & wrist. Here are 7 commonly held beliefs about this condition:
1) More deaths result from osteoporosis than deaths from uterine & breast cancer combined.
2) Osteoporosis affects 50% of women over 60 years of age & 33% of men the same age.
3) Small framed post-menopausal women are especially at risk.
4) Osteoporosis (& therefore bone fracture) is almost inevitable if bone density is low.
5)) Osteoporosis is caused by a calcium deficiency.
6) This calcium deficiency is caused by a lack of dietary calcium, especially a lack of dairy foods.
7) Pregnant women, babies & growing children need more calcium, especially from dairy foods.
Read the truth behind these 7 myths.
1) More deaths result from osteoporosis than deaths from uterine & breast cancer combined.
The above statement is misleading. Deaths attributed to osteoporosis result from conditions like pneumonia, strokes, heart attacks & other complications after the person has broken their hip or suffered a collapsed lumbar vertebra& become bedridden. These people are mostly quite elderly, & are also suffering from many metabolic problems already, & are thus in quite poor health.
My mother suffered severe osteoporosis & lost many inches of height prior to her death at the age of 61. She also suffered from lung cancer, thyroid disease, bowel problems & severe anaemia. Her bone problems were not something in isolation. They were just one of a constellation of health problems brought about by many unhealthy lifestyle habits. I have never seen one patient with osteoporotic bone fracture who did NOT have other major health problems.
2) Osteoporosis affects 50% of women over 60 years of age & 33% of men of the same age.
Twenty five years ago, osteoporosis was defined as more than 50% of bone loss. It was well understood that bone loses density slightly as we age, which is called osteopenia. This is harmless & normal, just as we gradually lose skin collagen etc as we age. This does NOT lead to problems.
In the early 90's the definition was changed. Focusing on women only, anyone who had less than the bone density of that of a normal 30 year old female ( defined as “normal bone density”) was labelled pre-osteoporotic or osteoporotic & was targeted for treatment. The authors of these changes in definition admitted that they were “somewhat arbitrary”( WHO Technical Report series 843, 1994).
This change of definition meant that automatically huge numbers of women were now labelled with a problem & subject to medical intervention, ie drug treatment.
The studies which led to the broadening of the criteria for diagnosis were funded by 2 major drug companies, one of which was Merck ( Selling Sickness, page 143 by Roy Moynihan & Alan Cassels). Merck subsidised bone density testing machines throughout America & also produced the osteoporosis “wonder drug” Fosamax. Thus they encouraged doctors to routinely test for bone density with machines which they provided, & gifted doctors who then prescribed their drug called fosamax.
In America alone, women spent $1.7 billion on Fosamax in 2003. Tens of thousands of these women were healthy & asymptomatic but they had less bone mass than a normal 30 year old female.
Hence we have these figures widely publicised of 50% of women & 33% of men over 60 years of age suffering osteoporosis & in need of intervention. These drugs have major side-effects but the real concern is that the above mentioned studies, funded by profit-seeking drug companies, was conducted under the auspices of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Tragically, vested interests obscure the real truth behind many commonly-held beliefs, as is the case with osteoporosis. Marketing has now reached such sophistocated levels & the alliance between the Medical profession, the drug companies, the government & popular media is concerning even many within the hallowed halls of medicine.
The influence of the above groups prompted the British Medical Journal in 2002 to headline its cover story : “Who owns the FDA? The drug industry or the people?”.
Many doctors ( though still not enough) are speaking out against this obvious collusion including John McDougall, “Resisting the Broken Bone Businesses”- October 2004 Newsletter ( www.drmcdougall.com ), Joel Fuhrman ( www.drfuhrman.com ) & Professor T. Colin Campbell ( The China Study).
3) Small framed post- menopausal women are more at risk IN WESTERN COUNTRIES. In Japan, China, Africa & South America, post-menopausal women of small stature no not have increased risk.
In fact, osteoporosis is rare in most of these countries. Why, you might ask?
Read on!
4) Osteoporosis ( & then bone fracture) is almost inevitable if bone density is low.
Low bone density does NOT mean you are osteoporotic or in imminent danger of breaking your bones!
In the above regions, studies have shown that women there have similar or even lower bone densities than their western counterparts but they do not break their bones. Study after study has shown that bone density is a poor predictor of bone fracture. There are many other factors involved.
Dr Richard Mazess, a radiologist from the University of Wisconsin studied the bone mineral content & density of 188 males (aged between 5 & 99) & 164 females (5-95) in rural Ecuador ( Vilcabambans). He found that the natives, a small people by our standards, had LESS bone density than western counterparts but NO deformity, shrinkage or fracture of their bones was observed. He stated : “ factors other than reduced bone mass may be etiologic (causative) in diseases of skeletal aging” ( American Journal of Radiology: April 1978). These people would have been labelled as osteoporotic in western societies & medicated with drugs & calcium tablets.
The University of Sydney Osteoporosis Study Group stated “ The measurement of bone density is NOT a useful screening test for the identification of women at high risk of fracture”
The Effective Health Care Bulletin UK stated : Given the current evidence, it would be inadvisable to establish routine bone screening programs for menopausal women.”
Because your bones become somewhat thin DOES NOT mean you are destined to suffer from pain, disability or fractures.
I have many patients whose bone mass density is lower than an average 30 year olds but whose health is now excellent & who take no medication whatsoever.
5) Osteoporosis is caused by a calcium deficiency.
Osteoporosis is not caused by a calcium deficiency. We are told by the authorities to consume 1200-1500 mgs of calcium per day. The Bantu Africans consume the lowest levels of calcium ( 175-475 mgs per day ) in the world & have the lowest rates of osteoporosis in the world! Why don't their bones fracture? Because osteoporotic bone fractures are the result of many factors, which will be discussed later.
The Japanese have one of the lowest rates of calcium intake in the world & the rate of osteoporosis is less than 50% of that found in the USA & Australia.The Japanese have one of the longest life spans in the world.
Anthropologist Stanley Garn studied bone loss over a 50 year period in North & Central America & failed to find a link between calcium intake & bone loss.
Conversely the countries with the highest intakes of calcium in the world, namely the USA , the UK , Australia , Canada & New Zealand, have the highest rates of osteoporosis in the world, as well as all other diseases!
Just recently, the biggest study ever conducted of calcium supplements led the principal researcher, Dr Norman Lasser to state : “ not as ringing an endorsement of calcium as one might like” ( New England Journal of Medicine: Jan 2006). Interestingly, the study did show one strong correlation- those on calcium supplements had 17% more kidney stones!
Disappointingly, the researchers concluded by stating that for women at increased risk of bone fracture ( through the very dubious analysis of bone density only), increased calcium was not the answer BUT MORE OSTEOPOROSIS DRUGS WERE!!
6) This calcium deficiency is caused by a lack of dietary calcium, especially dairy foods.
Increased calcium is NOT the answer, especially through dairy foods. There is that much evidence implicating dairy foods with various diseases & many books have been written about the dangers of dairy. Robert Cohen has a web site which deals specifically with the problems of dairy & the pervasive influence of the dairy industries world wide on media, governments & the medical profession. Refer to www notmilk.com
The problem with calcium is rarely to do with dietary intake & all to do with calcium loss via the urine. This is called calcium excretion. When excretion exceeds intake, then calcium is resorbed from hard tissues like bone & deposited in soft tissue like kidneys, arteries & on the outside of bone ( spurs or osteophytes). Blood calcium must be maintained so it comes from the bones , if too much is being excreted. When too much calcium is excreted this leads to what is called negative calcium balance.
Says Dr T. Colin Campbell, author of the largest epidemiological health study ever conducted: ”people need less calcium than we think. In China , with less than half the average calcium intake of that in America , there is basically no osteoporosis.”
In western countries the dairy industry spends millions of dollars each year in efforts to brainwash the public into believing that we need dairy foods to keep us healthy & to keep our bones strong. Milkstache ads by paid celebrities enjoin us to drink that milk, otherwise our bones will suffer. It seems no-one has told the Chinese, Japanese or Bantu Africans!
7) Pregnant women, growing children & babies need more calcium, especially from dairy foods.
The Dangers of Dairy.
If you want healthy bones for life & indeed excellent health for life for you & your family, indeed if you want to bring up exceptionally healthy children, then do not include dairy foods as a major part of your family's diet. On occasions, no problem, but as an everyday habit it presents major health problems.
From my extensive research over the past 25 years, there is one major food group which is consistently associated with disease & illness & that is dairy foods. To list all the problems linked to dairy would require a whole book. Suffice to say this: do your own reading. Read independent researchers like Dr McDougall ( website quoted earlier); Professor T. Colin Campbell ( The china Study); Dr Fuhrman ( “Eat to Live” & his latest book, “Disease Proof Your Child”; Dr Dean Ornish (“ Eat More, Weigh Less”); Dr Neal Barnard (“ Food for Life”) & many others. They have no vested interests for or against any food group- they are merely interested in the truth.
Health for Life means Healthy Bones for Life: 8 Steps
1) Consume fruits & fresh vegetables ( salads & lightly cooked) liberally & daily. You do not necessarily need to become vegetarian, but it is critical to eat much more of these plant-based foods than is advised by dieticians & government health departments.
Fruits & vegetables are alkaline & are the most important foods to provide nutrients to support your immune system. They are protective foods. Enjoy the different colours & eat them raw, lightly cooked, juiced & in soups. Include potatoes, sweet potato, pumpkin & avocados. Potatoes are a very healthy food despite being much maligned because of its high GI level (Glycemic Index).
Osteoporosis is the result of an acid condition where too few of these alkaline forming fruits & vege's are consumed.
2) Minimise animal foods like meat, chicken, fish, eggs & of course dairy foods. If you do want to eat meats, then small quantities 2-3 times a week for otherwise healthy people, ambushed on the plate by fresh vegetables, would be the recommended limit.
The western diet is centred around animal foods, refined, processed carbohydrates & anti-nutritive social stimulants like tea, coffee, alcohol & tobacco. These combinations, plus lack of adequate exercise, are the main cause of osteoporosis. In fact, the more animal protein eaten, the more acid the body becomes & the more calcium is excreted to buffer this acid condition. This is why vegetarians have much lower rates of osteoporosis than non-vegeatarians.
3) Get active!
This is critical for bone health particularly. There are 2 types of activity- aerobic & anaerobic (resistance), for purposes of bone health.
I recommend regular walking as the best aerobic activity known to man. Walk for 4-6 times a week, 30-60 minutes per session. Briskly if possible but slowly if you are unfit, very overweight or lacking your usual energy. If you are exhausted for whatever reason, do not walk or exercise at all, rather rest.
Walk uphills, downhills ( they have different physiological benefits) & move your arms in a natural manner, as this helps keep the neck, shoulder & inter-scapular muscles toned & relaxed.
There are other forms of aerobic activity like running ( not on concrete), rowing, swimming, bike riding, rebounding & others & they are all good & beneficial. Running can be a problem but if that is what you love then preferably run on grass & stop should your knees, ankles or hips ( the weight bearing joints) start to hurt.
Anaerobic or resistance exercise helps strengthen the bones by strengthening the muscles & their tendons & ligaments. This form of exercise is a very powerful anti-dote to premature ageing & cannot be recommended highly enough. The popular form of resistance exercise is weight training. This can be performed by men & women of any age.
If going to a gym is not your style, then engage in gardening where you lift, pull, carry & dig. This is in itself a form of resistance exercise & is wonderful for the body & the mind.
If this is not to your liking, then do vigorous, regular housework which also involves using your muscles against resistance.
The point is we have to use our muscles & by employing our muscles we strengthen our bones!
4) NO NOT SMOKE! Smoking reduces the effectiveness of cells called osteoblasts & increases calcium excretion via the urine. Osteoblasts build new bone.
5) Avoid tea, coffee, soft drinks & refined carbohydrates. Caffeine & other methyl-xanthine compounds in tea & coffee cause a strong acidic effect which facilitates bone mineral resorption. In other words, minerals like calcium are taken from the bone into the blood (resorbed).
Soft drinks are also highly acidic (phosphoric acid) as are processed carbohydrates. Processed carbs come from sugar, white flour, corn starch including high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) & other sugar derivatives like dextrose, maltose etc. The average western person consumes health-destroying quantities of these high calorie, low nutrient pseudo foods, which play havoc with many bodily processes. Insulin metabolism becomes adversely affected & this then greatly contributes to Metabolic Syndrome or Syndrome X, diabetes, behavioural disorders, poor dentition & bone growth & of course obesity.
Remember these foods were once called treats & were eaten occasionally. Now they are consumed by many people everyday.
Children particularly are at high risk from these refined carbs. The sit-snack-suck brigade (& this can mean anyone not just children) combine the deadly habits of watching TV or playing electronics & eating & drinking non-foods.
Make sure you get your kids out of the sit-snack-suck habit, & yourself if necessary.
Treats are OK if eaten as an occasional indulgence.
6) Avoid alcohol. Alcohol also inhibits the development of new bone formation.
7) Get adequate sunshine! The sun provides Vitamin D for the body & it is a known & established fact that many elderly people & young females are deficient in Vitamin D. To build strong bones we require Vitamin D. Without it, bones suffer, as does general health. Rickets is a bone disease caused by severe vitamin D deficiency.
8) Avoid drugs as much as is humanly possible. There are so many drugs which, through one mechanism or another, leach calcium from the bones-anti-epileptics, laxatives, antacids, the contraceptive pill etc but the worst ones are corticosteroids.
Bones are living tissue. They need nothing special in order to keep strong & healthy.
Follow the above recommendations & you will be rewarded with exceptional health & strong bones that last a lifetime.
LIVE BLOOD ANALYSIS.
I am pleased to say that I am now offering live blood analysis at our Health for Life centre. From a tiny drop of blood taken painlessly from the finger or ear lobe, we can view the makeup of the blood under dark field microscopy which is magnified onto a TV monitor for you to see.
This allows us to view your living blood – the red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, chilomicrons etc. Red blood cells are the vehicles for oxygen delivery to the cells & carbon dioxide to the lungs for removal. The integrity of the membrane around the cell is critical & this can be viewed on the monitor.
White blood cells are our immune defence & consist of a number of different types. Variations in both red & white blood cells along with platelets can be observed, along with nutritional parameters such as iron, folate (B9), B12, essential fatty acids, anti-oxidants, digestive enzymes & gut permeability.
It is amazing to see the blood improve in a few short weeks when nutritional changes are implemented. The patient not only feels better but can literally see the improvement.
I invite you to make an appointment & experience this form of technology which combines beautifully with nutritional & life-style support. You will not be disappointed. To see your blood change for the better by making some simple nutritional steps is very exciting.
For practitioners who wish to refer their patients for this analysis I send a report (hard copy or e-mail) direct to the practitioner anywhere in the world.
Quoting wisdom: “ Diseases can be our spiritual flat tyres-disruptions in our daily lives that seem to be disasters at the time but end by redirecting our lives in a meaningful way.”
Dr Bernie Siegel
Prescriptions for Living.
Wishing you health, peace & happiness,
Greg Fitzgerald.
