Bone Health

by D.M. Murdock

It has been said that healthy bones are the first step towards living a long and productive life. How do we keep our bones healthy? How can we prevent bone diseases such as osteoporosis?

Most people know about the role of calcium in bone health, but there are many other factors. Possibly the most important overlooked element in bone health is the role of vitamin D, even though a vitamin D deficiency has been known for decades to be the cause of the debilitating bone disease rickets. To prevent rickets is why vitamin D is added to milk. Unfortunately, the amount of vitamin D we get from drinking milk is generally not enough to ensure proper bone health. Although we can produce vitamin D if we get enough sunlight, the most reliable source of vitamin D is cod liver oil.

Even in sunny places, modern man does not produce enough vitamin D, as has been demonstrated through blood testing. One reason is that in some cultures we are "bath happy," which means we bathe frequently, removing oils from our skin that are necessary for the production of vitamin D through sunlight. Also, many people today are concerned about the harmful effects of the sun on their skin. It is pretty clear from observation of people who work in the sun, such as farmers, that the sun ages our skin, as it tans hides. However, it is also believed that a large amount of sunlight and the subsequent vitamin D produced by it can prevent diseases such as prostate cancer.

Some studies suggest that consuming large amounts of protein causes osteoporosis, a condition whereby the bone mass is compromised and holes appear. Although other suggestions have been posited, it is likely not the protein itself, which is simply a combination of beneficial amino acids, but the high amounts of the mineral phosphorus that are found in the animal proteins. While phosphorus is also needed for proper bone growth, it is essentially antagonistic to calcium, and too much of it will bind to calcium and remove it from our bodies. This fact is extremely important to remember, because the very popular sodas contain large amounts of phosphoric acid, linked to osteoporosis and other bone ailments. In effect, it is not only the sugar but also the phosphorus in sodas that rots bones.

The strict vegetarian or vegan is likely to be deficient in vitamin D as well, as he or she consumes neither milk nor cod liver oil. Unfortunately for the benevolent ideology behind much vegetarianism, veganism is not recommended for most people. The strong potential for a vitamin D deficiency is by itself reason enough not to omit all animal products from your diet. One plant substitute that seems to have significant quantities of vitamin D is the tremella mushroom, used for centuries in China for weight control, skin and bone health, and brain, kidney and lung support.1 Another good source of vitamin D and other nutrients necessary for proper bone health is butter oil, made from raw, organic butter. Butter oil and cod liver oil were used by the dentist and lay anthropologist Dr. Weston Price to treat teeth and bone disorders. Another, vegetarian source of some vitamin D is the sweet herb fenugreek, which likely contains the vitamin in too small quantities but which could be helpful to health in other ways as well.

If you enjoy spinach, be aware that it can adversely affect bone health because it contains oxalic acid, which removes calcium from your blood and bones. This fact can be tested by whether or not you experience tooth pain after eating spinach. It may not be necessary to avoid eating spinach entirely, but consuming large amounts of it is probably not a good idea.

Various micronutrients, such as copper, have also been associated with bone health. It is likely that there are more nutrients yet to be discovered that should be included in our diets in order to achieve bone health. Since most multivitamin and mineral supplements are not utilized properly, if at all, we need to make certain that our diets are optimal, especially since previously unknown but healthful chemicals and compounds are being discovered on a regular basis. In this regard, and as concerns megaminerals such as calcium and magnesium, it is best to obtain nutrients from whole food sources, rather than supplements. Supplementing with calcium and magnesium, for example, can be not only a waste of money but also very tricky, and can lead to an increase in health problems. It is widely believed that the ratio of calcium to magnesium should be 2:1; however, other researchers have claimed that proper health can be achieved with something on the order of 1:1 ratio. For these reasons, again, it is wise to make sure the diet is optimal, rather than relying on supplements.

Another well known factor in proper bone health is moderate weight-bearing exercise on a regular basis. It need not be fancy; simple walking will be beneficial to some degree or another. Lifting light weights will also prevent much bone degeneration. Even stretching exercises such as hatha yoga can help keep your all-important spine in order, so that you will not experience too much of the height shrinkage and hunching associated with aging.

One very good product that may be of help to protecting and healing bones is Sea Vegg. SeaVegg contains a wide variety of minerals, microminerals and other nutrients and growth factors that may be very useful in achieving good health in general but also bone health.

Note: The video below was not created by D.M. Murdock/Acharya S and does not necessarily represent her views.