Myths About Osteoporosis! Is it a normal aging process? No! What? Let’s look more closely:

Susan Brown, PhD, a bone health nutritionist and educator, explains myths surrounding osteoporosis.  We’ll look at the most common ones here and you can read further to protect yourself.

Myth #1: Osteoporosis is a function of aging

“Most individuals do lose bone mass as they age. But simply losing bone does not equal osteoporosis. The remaining bone of a healthy aging woman is strong and capable of constant self-repair. This bone, though lower in mass, should be able to withstand the stresses and strains of daily activity.

In osteoporosis, bone loss goes beyond that of normal aging. It is a condition in which bone becomes excessively fragile due to a loss of both mineral and protein matrix. . . when the body attempts to compensate for factors interfering with its normal biochemical balance. Some of these factors include poor nutrition, lack of sunlight exposure and low vitamin D levels, high caffeine intake, lack of exercise, inflammation, an acid-forming diet, the use of various prescription medications, and chronic stress.

Myth #2: Osteoporosis is caused by low calcium intake

Living mature bone is about 60 percent calcium compounds and about 40 percent collagen (a fibrous protein). Notice that the calcium is in combination with many other minerals and needs specific co-actors to be healthy.  These include magnesium (malate form), Vitamin D3, Vitamin K2, zinc, copper, manganese, boron, potassium, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and strontium.   Calcium alone is not the answer.

Myth #3: Once bone loss occurs, it is impossible to rebuild bone.

Bone is dynamic, living tissue that constantly repairs itself. Similar to the cells of our skin, bits of old, worn-out bone are replaced by fresh new bone regularly. Tiny microfractures occur daily and are healed through a several-week process of bone repair. When full fractures occur, our bones spontaneously heal and generate new bone. Equally, we have a capacity to rebuild lost bone mass.  Bone can be rebuilt with the normalization of proper nutrition and supplementation plus regular physical activity.

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