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	<title>Save Our Bones</title>
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	<description>Increase your bone density naturally without cost, pills, or pain.  The internet&#039;s #1 resource for natural osteoporosis treatment.</description>
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		<title>Canned Food Alert: Why Relying on Conventional Wisdom Can Damage Your Bone Health</title>
		<link>http://saveourbones.com/canned-food-bone-health/</link>
		<comments>http://saveourbones.com/canned-food-bone-health/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:56:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Vivian Goldschmidt, MA</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bone Loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[food]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://saveourbones.com/?p=4465</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is one of the foundations of the Save Our Bones Program, and many in our community have asked me if it is imperative to eat fresh produce. Of course it is best to eat fresh as often as possible because fresh foods are more ...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is one of the foundations of the Save Our Bones Program, and many in our community have asked me if it is imperative to eat fresh produce. Of course it is best to eat fresh as often as possible because fresh foods are more alkalizing than their processed counterparts. But realistically speaking, this can pose a challenge on some occasions.</p>
<p>So because you might have to rely on canned or frozen foods sometimes, in this article I want to give you up-to-date information on why you should avoid canned foods as much as possible, and help you find a healthier alternative.</p>
<h2>The Bisphenol A saga</h2>
<p>Recent studies show that more often than not, food cans are lined with a resin containing Bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic estrogen that was originally produced in the 1930’s. Nowadays BPA is also used to manufacture polycarbonate plastic, dental sealants, and can be found in many other consumer products.</p>
<p>The problem with BPA is that it breaks down easily, and therefore leaches into the food, posing a health risk that until recently has been only linked to clear plastic. Scientists have known for many years that the weak chemical bond between BPA molecules is easily disrupted by heat and acidic or alkaline conditions causing the release BPA into food or beverages in contact with it.</p>
<p>Tests of canned products conducted by Consumer Reports confirm that almost all of the 19 name-brand foods contained BPA, and more disturbingly, the findings also apply to cans labeled &#8220;BPA-free”.<sup>1</sup></p>
<p>This poses a health risk that goes well beyond clear plastics, and might explain why according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 95% of Americans tested had urinary BPA.<sup>2</sup></p>
<p>So how does BPA tie in to your bone health? You see, all chemicals acidify your blood pH and therefore cause calcium loss from the bones. Furthermore, your general health greatly affects your capacity to succeed when you follow a natural bone health program, so I’d like you to be aware of the fact that…</p>
<h2>BPA can cause a myriad of serious health issues</h2>
<p>The health effects of Bisphenol A should not be ignored, especially since BPA can alter the expression of hundreds of genes, affecting different tissues. Over 130 scientific studies link BPA exposure &#8211; even at well below the government set “acceptable” doses &#8211; to a vast array of health problems. Here’s a summary:</p>
<ol>
<li>Lower anti-oxidant enzyme levels: a noticeable decrease in antioxidant enzymes necessary to protect against free radical cellular damage.</li>
<li>Impaired immune function: studies conducted on mice show a reduction of various immune-related cells and antigen-specific antibody production.</li>
<li>Changes in brain chemistry and brain damage:  BPA affects receptors involved in regulating brain control systems that coordinate certain functions of the reproductive system. Even though BPA mimics the effect of estrogen in developing neurons, it can paradoxically also inhibit the activity of estrogen in certain areas of the brain, which could impair memory and learning capacity.</li>
<li>Behavioral changes: BPA has been linked to aggression, ADD and ADHD, altered socio-sexual and maternal behavior, and greater susceptibility to drug addiction.</li>
<li>Early-onset puberty: puberty age in females takes place earlier than normal.</li>
<li>Birth defects: BPA can cause an error in cell division called aneuploidy, an abnormality that causes almost 20% of birth defects, including Down’s Syndrome.</li>
<li>Breast and prostate cancer: BPA increases tissue growth in breasts, possibly increasing the chances of developing breast cancer, and causes several changes in the prostate, including cancer cell proliferation.</li>
<li>Reduction of male fertility: it causes a reduced sperm count and lower testosterone levels.</li>
<li>Diabetes and obesity:  Low-level chronic ingestion of BPA caused insulin resistance in adult mice, and insulin resistance might lead to Type II diabetes.  Studies also show an increased rate of postnatal growth in both males and females as a result of maternal BPA exposure, which is associated with obesity, insulin-resistant diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.</li>
</ol>
<h2>Relying on “official” data can be a huge mistake</h2>
<p>In view of these health issues, it is easy to understand why there was such ample media coverage on the use of BPA in baby bottles in the not so distant past. However, I can’t help but notice that the media focused exclusively on baby bottles and failed to mention other uses of BPA in the food industry, such as the ubiquitous BPA resin lining in canned foods.</p>
<p>The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established guidelines for daily safe exposure, set at 50 micrograms per kilogram of body weight. How reassuring it is to know the safe levels of BPA, right? After all, if this toxic product is regulated by a government agency, we have nothing to worry about because they have surely reviewed all the relevant information.</p>
<p>But the sad truth is that, as is the case with many “official” conclusions potentially affecting mammoth industry cartels, everyone would be better off without these guidelines. In the absence of what most consider a trustworthy source, people would rely on their own research and use third-party independent sources to obtain information and get to the bottom of a health issue.</p>
<p>And the BPA saga is yet one more example of the public’s blind trust in government agency opinions: according to Consumer Reports, the EPA’s “safe” level for Bisphenol A is based on outdated experiments from 30 years ago. And their guidelines have not changed since, in spite of a multitude of more recent laboratory studies.<sup>3</sup></p>
<p>But let’s not focus only on the USA, which could be lagging behind other countries on these issues. For example, Canada banned BPA baby bottles on April 2008, which on the surface sounds like a good thing. However, Health Canada &#8211; like agencies in other parts of the world &#8211; blatantly ignores a more significant source of BPA exposure to babies. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a private watchdog, just about all brands of liquid and powder canned baby formula made by international companies like Nestlé, Ross-Abbot, and Mead-Johnson are lined with BPA. To make matters worse, the EWG found higher levels of BPA in canned liquid formula than what could leach from baby bottles.<sup>4</sup></p>
<p>A few months after the ban, in October 2008, Health Canada made an official statement claiming that “bisphenol A exposure to newborns and infants is below levels that cause effects” and that the “general public need not be concerned”.<sup>5</sup></p>
<p>Now you might say that Canada is only one country of many, so what about the European Union? In October 2008, the European Commission and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded that there are no grounds to revise BPA’s Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI), which is the same as in the USA, because it is safe for consumers. However, the EFSA is scheduled to release another opinion on BPA by May 2010. Don’t hold your breath, because they are up against a giant and powerful industry.</p>
<h2>Independent scientists are fighting a lonely battle against the chemical industry and regulators that protect its interests</h2>
<p>So how can we reconcile statements issued by government agencies with the findings of independent scientists? Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple answer to this complex issue, in part because chemical manufacturers are willing to openly flex their muscles in order to protect their giant profits.</p>
<p>For example, University of Missouri-Columbia scientist Frederick Vom Saal and team published a study in 1997, showing evidence that minute amounts of BPA caused irreversible changes in the prostate of mice. Soon after, a representative of Dow Chemical Company, a major BPA manufacturer, showed up at their laboratory and disputed their findings. In Vom Saal’s own words to the EWG interviewer, the Dow scientist told the research team that “we want you to know how distressed we are by your research.&#8221; Vom Saal adds that &#8220;it was not a subtle threat&#8221;, and points to the huge BPA production in the US totaling 6 billion dollars each year. But after the surprise visit and other failed attempts to ridicule his work and block public speeches on the subject, Vom Saal continued his quest and published multiple studies on BPA’s deleterious health effects.</p>
<p>To the benefit of consumers, Vom Saal’s team is not the only one acknowledging the power of the industry they are up against. Washington State University reproductive scientist Patricia Hunt initiated studies on BPA because of a laboratory accident in 1998 that caused her to find greater abnormalities in rats who had accidentally consumed BPA than in the mutant study rats. Her findings stunned her, and she comments that “like most Americans, I thought, my government protects me from this kind of stuff,&#8221; and adds that &#8220;we&#8217;re up against big industry, and they&#8217;re running pretty effective damage control.&#8221;<sup>6</sup></p>
<h2>Use frozen instead of canned produce</h2>
<p>As I mentioned earlier, your best bet is to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, but frozen ones are a pretty good second choice. They are most often harvested when ripe, cooked for a short time in boiling water or steamed, and frozen right away. Of course, try to stay away as much as possible from canned foods.</p>
<p>And I’ll conclude with some ideas to make it even easier for you to increase your fruit and vegetable consumption:</p>
<ul>
<li>Keep a temptingly attractive bowl with fresh fruits or a variety of dried fruits on your kitchen counter.</li>
<li>Place a see-through bowl with cut-up vegetables on the top shelf of your refrigerator for between-meals snacking.</li>
<li>Make a delicious alkalizing dip for vegetables by mixing 1 cup plain yogurt with ¼ teaspoon dill weed, 1 crushed garlic clove, 2 finely minced green onions, 1 teaspoon honey, and a dash of black pepper.</li>
<li>Eat fruits for breakfast. You can make a smoothie or add your favorite fruits to a bowl granola.</li>
<li>Choose fruit for dessert or start your meal with a fruit.</li>
<li>Carry a small zip lock bag with dried fruits or finger veggies such as carrots, celery sticks, or cucumbers sliced lengthwise for on-the-go snacking.<br />
Till next time…</li>
</ul>
<h3>References</h3>
<p><sup>1</sup> Consumer Reports Magazine, December 2009.<br />
<sup>2</sup> Calafat A, Z Kuklenyik J, Reidy S, Caudill J, Ekong L, Needham. “Urinary Concentrations of Bisphenol A and 4-Nonylphenol in a Human Reference Population”. Environmental Health Perspectives. 113: 391-395 (2005).<br />
<sup>3</sup> Saal F, Hughes C, “An Extensive New Literature Concerning Low-Dose Effects of Bisphenol A Shows the Need for a New Risk Assessment”. 113:8. August 2005.<br />
<sup>4</sup> “BPA Levels in Canned Infant Formula Poses Higher Risk than Baby Bottles”. Environmental Working Group. December 5, 2007.<br />
<sup>5</sup> “Government of Canada Protects Families with Bisphenol A Regulation”. News Release. Health Canada [www.hc-sc.gc.ca] October 17, 2008.<br />
<sup>6</sup> Shannon E. “What the Chemical Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know”. Environmental Working Group. September 2008.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Buzz About Beer and Your Bone Health: My Take</title>
		<link>http://saveourbones.com/osteoporosis-beer-and-silicon/</link>
		<comments>http://saveourbones.com/osteoporosis-beer-and-silicon/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:37:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Vivian Goldschmidt, MA</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[beer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[silica]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[silicone]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://saveourbones.com/?p=4354</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Study toasts beer as being good for your bones
NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) &#8211; Beer drinkers now have a good excuse to order another round &#8212; the brew may help keep bones strong, a study has found.
<p>NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) &#8211; Beer drinkers now have a good excuse to order another ...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<blockquote>
<h2>Study toasts beer as being good for your bones</h2>
<h3>NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) &#8211; Beer drinkers now have a good excuse to order another round &#8212; the brew may help keep bones strong, a study has found.</h3>
<p>NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) &#8211; Beer drinkers now have a good excuse to order another round &#8212; the brew may help keep bones strong, a study has found.</p>
<p>Researchers from the Department of Food Science &#038; Technology at the University of California, have found beer is a rich source of silicon and may help prevent osteoporosis, as dietary silicon is a key ingredient for increasing bone mineral density.</p>
<p>These were the findings after researchers tested 100 commercial beers for silicon content and categorized the data according to beer style and source.</p>
<p>Previous research has suggested beer contained silicon but little was known about how silicon levels varied with the different types of beer and malting processes.</p>
<p>&#8220;We have examined a wide range of beer styles for their silicon content and have also studied the impact of raw materials and the brewing process on the quantities of silicon that enter wort and beer,&#8221; researcher Charles Bamforth said in a statement.</p>
<p>The study, published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, found the beers&#8217; silicon content ranged from 6.4 milligrams per liter to 56.5 mg per liter. The average person&#8217;s silicon intake each day is between 20 and 50 mgs.</p>
<p>The researchers found there was little change in the silicon content of barley during the malting process as most of the silicon in barley is in the husk, which is not affected greatly during malting.</p>
<p>They found pale ales showed the highest silicon content while non-alcoholic beers, light lagers and wheat beers had the least silicon.</p>
<p>&#8220;Beers containing high levels of malted barley and hops are richest in silicon,&#8221; said Bamforth.</p>
<p>&#8220;Wheat contains less silicon than barley because it is the husk of the barley that is rich in this element.&#8221;</p>
<p>But Bamforth told reporters that the results shouldn&#8217;t be taken too serious. The study examined the beers but it did not look at bone mineral density or analyze patients&#8217; data.</p>
<p>&#8220;I would first consider flavor and whether you like it or not,&#8221; he told science and technology magazine Discover. &#8220;Choose the beer you enjoy, for goodness sake.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Source: <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6180B120100209">Reuters</a></strong>
</p></blockquote>
<h2>My Take</h2>
<p>It turns out that beer has significant levels of the most bioavailable form of silicon, orthosilicic acid (OSA).  And silicon may have a positive effect on connective tissue such as collagen and on growth and mineralization of bone, the latter especially in men and premenopausal women.<sup>1</sup> </p>
<p>Silicon is involved in bone growth processes by affecting bone collagen turnover and bone matrix proteins such as osteopontin. The latter is a glycoprotein that plays an important role in bone remodeling, wound healing, and certain types of cell-mediated immune responses.<sup>2</sup></p>
<p>Have scientists found the pot of gold at the end of the bone-health rainbow? You’ll get the answer when we analyze this study with a fine-toothed comb.</p>
<h2>Potential bone health benefits of beer are brewing up a storm</h2>
<p>You see, even though dietary intake of silicone has been linked to greater bone mineral density, the devil is in the details: the study that created the “buzz” about beer and bone health doesn’t correlate beer drinking as beneficial to osteoporosis.</p>
<p>Conducted by the Department of Food Science &#038; Technology at the University of California, Davis, Bamworth and Casey, the study authors, reveal that the barley husk is the principal contributor to silicon in beer.<sup>3</sup>  Also, after testing 100 beers for their silicon content, they observed that the pale colored malts retain the highest levels of silicon because they are more impervious to heat stress during the malting process.</p>
<h2>Silicon is present in many alkalizing foods</h2>
<p><img src="http://saveourbones.com/wp-content/themes/saveourbones/images/silicon-vegetables.gif" alt="silicon and bones" style="float:right" />Call me a party pooper, but I must tell you that beer is neither the best nor the only source of bone-friendly silicon. You see, beer is an acidifying drink because it contains alcohol. Granted, beer has lower alcohol levels than wine, vodka, whiskey, and other drinks, but it is still acidic and it can therefore draw calcium from your bones to correct the low pH. But that doesn’t mean that if you care about your bones you can’t enjoy an occasional beer; you can have it in the right balance, as is the case with any acidifying food or drink.</p>
<p>But the really good news is that highly bioavailable silicon is also found in many alkalizing foods such as beets, pumpkin, carrots, onions, cherries, apples, oranges, and raisins. </p>
<p>The highest levels of silicon are in the skin of cucumbers, bell peppers, and tomatoes.  Here&#8217;s one of my favorite silicon rich recipes:</p>
<div class="box blue">
<h2>Better than Beer Salad</h2>
<p><em>Serves 6</em></p>
<ul>
<li>2 cucumbers, diced</li>
<li>6 tomatoes, diced</li>
<li>4 green onions, finely chopped</li>
<li>2 radishes, finely diced</li>
<li>1 red bell pepper, seeded and finely diced</li>
<li>1 teaspoon lemon rind</li>
<li>1  tablespoon fresh lemon juice</li>
<li>1 teaspoon parsley</li>
<li>2 tablespoons olive oil</li>
<li>Black pepper and sea salt to taste</li>
<li>12 Kalamata olives for garnish</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Combine all ingredients in a large serving bowl and garnish with olives.</em>
</div>
<h2>Take the bone health benefits of beer with a grain of &#8220;hop&#8221;</h2>
<p>As with any other acidifying food or drink, you can still enjoy a “cold one” making sure that it is in the right acid/alkaline proportion.</p>
<p>Also try to eat some cucumbers, bell peppers, and tomatoes to nourish your bones with the most absorbable source of silicon and other bone-smart nutrients.</p>
<p>Now you know what the “buzz” is all about…</p>
<p>Cheers, and please leave your comments below.</p>
<h3>References</h3>
<p><sup>1</sup> Jugdaohsingh R, Tucker KL, Qiao N, Cupples LA, Kiel DP, Powell JJ. “Dietary silicon intake is positively associated with bone mineral density in men and premenopausal women of the Framingham Offspring cohort.” Journal of Bone Mineral Research.;19(2):297-307. (2004).</p>
<p><sup>2</sup> Forrest H. Nielsen and Rhonda Poellot. “Dietary Silicon Affects Bone Turnover Differently in Ovariectomized and Sham-Operated Growing Rats”. The Journal of Trace Elements in Experimental Medicine. 17:137–149 (2004).</p>
<p><sup>3</sup> Troy R. Casey and Charles W. Bamforth. &#8220;Silicon in Beer and Brewing.&#8221;.Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. February 2010.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>96</slash:comments>
		</item>
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		<title>12 Dangerous and Hidden Food Ingredients in Seemingly Healthy Foods</title>
		<link>http://saveourbones.com/12-dangerous-ingredients/</link>
		<comments>http://saveourbones.com/12-dangerous-ingredients/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:16:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Vivian Goldschmidt, MA</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[general]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ph]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://saveourbones.com/?p=4152</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Would you eat your favorite breakfast cereal if you knew that it contained Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT), a product also used in jet fuel and embalming fluid? Can you imagine grilling your low fat veggie burger if you found out that its main ingredient is Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)?</p>
<p>Watch out, because foods ...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Would you eat your favorite breakfast cereal if you knew that it contained Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT), a product also used in jet fuel and embalming fluid? Can you imagine grilling your low fat veggie burger if you found out that its main ingredient is Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)?</p>
<p>Watch out, because foods that are considered “healthy” and labeled as “natural” contain many harmful chemicals used as food preservatives and flavor enhancers &#8211; and these chemicals are often disguised under unrecognizable names.</p>
<p>Today, I’ll expose the hidden dangerous food additives that are lurking in so-called “healthy” foods, how you can easily spot them and the simple and delicious alternatives that won’t sabotage your bone and overall health.</p>
<h2>Unhealthy processed foods greatly outnumber unadulterated healthy foods</h2>
<p>In the last 100 years the food industry has advanced by leaps and bounds. Today, more than three quarters of supermarket shelves are stocked with packaged and processed foods. These boxed, canned, and frozen concoctions in most cases only require boiling or microwaving to become edible.</p>
<p>In total, there are more than 3,000 food chemicals purposely added to our food supply, yet avoiding them is a lot easier and more economical than you might think.</p>
<p>You probably already know this, but the rule of thumb is that the best foods to conquer osteoporosis and to stay healthy are unprocessed natural foods. That’s because man-made chemicals acidify your body pH which in turn accelerates bone loss.</p>
<h2>Back to basics is best for your bone health</h2>
<p>We can all agree that scientific progress is a good thing, especially when it comes to innovations that make our life easier and more enjoyable. But advances in the food industry are hindering our efforts to stay healthy because thousands of chemicals have entered the food supply.</p>
<p>At the beginning of the food processing revolution, which began soon after World War II, manufacturers did not bother to hide the newly added synthetically made food additives. After all, the perception was that as women joined the workforce, their available time for cooking would be greatly diminished, and that most everyone would quickly adopt the newly invented convenience foods. So like a tsunami thunderously ravaging the shoreline, the convenience food industry has flooded grocery stores with their processed products.</p>
<p>As a result, foods have become so industrially processed that in some cases they could be easily labeled as “edible food-like substances” – a synthetic man-made product – rather than actual nourishing food.</p>
<p>Adding insult to injury, many staple foods such as potatoes and corn &#8211; often used as basic ingredients in a host of products – have their genetic makeup purposely tampered with and may be dangerous to your health.</p>
<h2>Convenience foods hurt more than help</h2>
<p>Ample research on the evolutionary process of humans and their nutritional requirements point to the clear fact that while our nutrition has radically changed since Paleolithic times, our biology really hasn’t. But along came agriculture and later on the Industrial Revolution and with it, man-made chemicals made their way into our dining rooms.</p>
<p>Fortunately, as is the case with most deceptions, educated consumers are now seeking alternatives to these chemical laden products in turn forcing food producers to get creative&#8230; That is why more often than not, food chemicals are renamed with less “synthetic names” than their older original ones.</p>
<p>I want you to be aware of this very important health issue, so we’ll explore together the 12 most dangerous commonly used food additives that can sabotage both your bone health and your general health. One important comment here: remember that ingredients on product packaging are listed according to quantity; the ingredient making up the largest quantity is listed first, and so on.</p>
<p>So now…</p>
<h2>Let’s analyze a “healthy” breakfast cereal</h2>
<p>Antioxidants protect cells from oxidative damage and some of them are proven potent bone protectors as well. So isn’t it a great idea to have your morning breakfast cereal with healthy antioxidants? Not so fast… Let’s take a look at the ingredients of Kellogg&#8217;s® Smart Start® Strong Heart Antioxidants:</p>
<blockquote><p>Rice, whole grain wheat, sugar, oat clusters, sugar, toasted oats [rolled oats, sugar, canola oil with tbhq and citric acid to preserve freshness, molasses, honey, bht for freshness, soy lecithin], wheat flakes, crisp rice [rice, sugar, malt, salt], corn syrup, polydextrose, honey, cinnamon, BHT [preservative], artificial vanilla flavor, high fructose corn syrup, salt, honey, malt flavoring, alpha tocopherol acetate [vitamin E], niacinamide, zinc oxide, reduced iron, sodium ascorbate and ascorbic acid (vitamin C), calcium pantothenate, Yellow #5, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), riboflavin (vitamin B2), thiamin hydrochloride (vitamin B1), BHT (preservative), vitamin A palmitate, folic acid, beta carotene (a source of vitamin A), vitamin B12 and vitamin D.</p></blockquote>
<h3>Worst offenders:</h3>
<p><strong>BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene):</strong> this common additive used to prevent oxidation in a wide variety of foods and cosmetics is listed by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) in 2005 as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen” on the basis of experimental findings in animals. It is also used in jet fuels, rubber petroleum products, transformer oil and embalming fluid. As if this were not enough, the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) warns that BHT should not be allowed to enter the environment, can cause liver damage, and is harmful to aquatic organisms.</p>
<p><strong>High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS):</strong> Loaded with “unbound” fructose and glucose molecules, studies have shown that the reactive carbonyl molecules can cause tissue damage that may lead to obesity, diabetes, and also heart disease. So much for this “Strong Heart Antioxidants” cereal recipe!  HFCS is made from genetically modified corn and processed with genetically modified enzymes. To make matters worse, studies have recently revealed that nearly half of tested samples of HFCS contained mercury.</p>
<p><strong>Yellow #5:</strong>  Almost all colorants approved for use in food are derived from coal tar and may contain up tp 10ppm of lead and arsenic. Also, and not surprisingly, most coal tar colors could potentially cause cancer.</p>
<h3>Healthy replacements</h3>
<p>I love starting my day with an antioxidant-rich breakfast complete with natural granola and fresh fruits sprinkled with slivered almonds, flax, and pumpkin seeds for extra crunch. Try it with your favorite milk substitute, and if you have a sweet tooth, use a little honey. I’m quite sure you’ll love it too.  There are also many tasty varieties of boxed cereals that truly contain all-natural ingredients &#8211; just read the label and avoid synthetic ingredients including the ones listed above.</p>
<h2>Are you ready for lunch?</h2>
<p>You know that you can never go wrong with a salad to start your lunch with, so you pick your favorite bone-healthy alkalizing vegetables and all you have to do is pour some delicious dressing. Add a few crispy nuts and seeds and voila! You’ve got yourself a healthy lunch. But your choice of salad dressing can ruin your intentions… Let’s take a look at one of the most popular salad dressings, Kraft’s Creamy Italian dressing:</p>
<blockquote><p>Water, soybean oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, contains less than 2% of garlic*, xanthan gum, citric acid, propylene glycol alginate, onions*, polysorbate 60, spice, red bell peppers*, garlic, phosphoric acid, parsley*, vitamin E, natural flavor. *dried</p></blockquote>
<h3>Worst offenders:</h3>
<p><strong>Soybean oil:</strong>  More than half of all soybeans crops grown in the US are genetically-modified (GMO) representing a meteoric rise since 1996, when only 7% were GMO soybeans. Genetically modified crops not only pose environmental dangers. There is a growing concern (and mounting scientific evidence) that genetic engineering of food plant seeds may have an unexpected and negative impact on human health.</p>
<p><strong>Propylene glycol alginate (E405):</strong>  this food thickener, stabilizer, and emulsifier is derived from alginic acid esterified and combined with propylene glycol. Bear in mind that even though propylene glycol is used as a food additive, it has many industrial uses including automotive antifreezes and airport runway de-icers.</p>
<p><strong>Polysorbate 60:</strong>  short for polyoxyethylene-(20)- sorbitan monostearate this emulsifier is widely used in the food industry. Made of made of corn, palm oil and petroleum, this gooey mix can’t spoil, so it often replaces dairy products in baked goods and other liquid products.</p>
<h3>Healthy replacements</h3>
<p>While some commercially made salad dressings really may have natural ingredients (make sure you read the labels), try to stick to basics and use olive oil with lemon juice as often as possible. Olive oil, is in fact a fruit juice and contains long chain unsaturated fatty acids that alkalize your body’s pH.  You can also make your own salad dressing at home using wholesome natural ingredients.</p>
<h2>An afternoon snack to energize your day</h2>
<p>A couple of hours after lunch, you might crave a little pick-me-up snack. A few pretzels might just hit the spot, right? But not so fast… Take a look at the list of ingredients in a bag of fat free Rold Gold® Pretzels, the number one brand in the US:</p>
<h3>Worst offenders:</h3>
<p><strong>Enriched flour:</strong> these pretzels are made with enriched flour. But don’t let the attractive description mislead you: like most highly processed foods, enriched flour is devoid of nutrients and more often than not it is also bleached. Since the wheat germ and bran are removed from this type of flour, the body treats it as a refined starch.</p>
<p>But it doesn’t end here. The “enrichment” itself is made using toxic ingredients. For example, iron is added back into enriched flour.  Unfortunately, food makers use a metallic form of iron that your body can barely absorb and should not be ingested.  Watch the shocking video below:</p>
<div align="center"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/V265pGgsBnM&#038;hl=en_US&#038;fs=1&#038;"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/V265pGgsBnM&#038;hl=en_US&#038;fs=1&#038;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div>
<h3>Healthy Replacements</h3>
<p>It has fortunately become quite easy to replace enriched flour with healthy alternatives, especially with whole wheat flour. But don’t forget that there are other options that can add variety to your meals such as rye, quinoa, millet, and brown rice flour and sprouted grain products.</p>
<p>I like to snack on alkalizing fruits, whether dried or fresh, and sometimes add a few nuts such as almonds or walnuts and some sesame seeds that are naturally high in calcium. Dried fruits mixed with nuts are easy to carry around so you can have a bone-healthy snack anytime of the day.</p>
<h2>It’s time for dinner now</h2>
<p>As the day is winding down, you are looking forward to a nutritious and substantial dinner. You might choose what you think is a healthier lower fat alternative to beef, such as the Morningstar Farms® Grillers® Vegan Veggie Burgers. Take a look at the ingredients: </p>
<blockquote><p>Water, textured soy protein concentrate, corn oil, contains two percent or less of autolyzed yeast extract, vegetable gum, natural flavors from vegetable sources, maltodextrin, soy fiber, salt, carrageenan, potato starch, onion powder, caramel color, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, konjac flour, sunflower oil, sesame seed oil, soy sauce (water, soybeans, wheat, salt), concentrated onion juice, ascorbic acid, vinegar powder, citric acid, aspartic acid, modified corn starch, malic acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, wheat flour, soy lecithin.</p></blockquote>
<h3>Worst Offenders:</h3>
<p><strong>Textured soy protein concentrate, carrageenan, maltodextrin, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, modified cornstarch:</strong> All of these are basically different names to hide ingredients that either contain Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) or form MSG during processing.</p>
<p>It is very important for your bone health and your overall health that you avoid these acidifying chemicals that can cause a variety of undesirable side effects, besides accelerate your bone loss. MSG and its related products have been linked skin rashes, nausea, migraine headaches, heart irregularities, and even seizures.</p>
<h3>Healthy Replacements:</h3>
<p>If you are following the Save Our Bones Program you know that you have a very wide choice of foods to create delicious and bone-smart meals. The Program reveals an easy to follow pH balanced nutrition plan among many other things, and the best part is that you are in complete control of the huge number of combinations possible from the alkalizing and acidifying lists.</p>
<p>While beef is acidifying, you can build your dinner around a beef hamburger instead of the chemical meat replacement example above. I recommend you combine it with bone-healthy alkalizing vegetables and other alkalizing foods to balance your dinner.</p>
<p>If you opt not have meat, the good news is that many grocery stores carry all natural vegetable imitation meat patties &#8211; just make sure they don&#8217;t contain the aforementioned ingredients.</p>
<h2>Your health is in your hands</h2>
<p>As you can see, it is easy to make the healthy food choices that will bring back or retain your bone density and your general health. I hope that after you read this article you will pay even more attention to the ingredient labels in the foods you buy. This may sound daunting, but it’s really a lot easier than it sounds.</p>
<p>Simply try to eat foods in the most unadulterated “original” format as often as possible.  And here’s a shortcut, any food packaging that has a long list of ingredients with names that sound like they’re from a distant planet is not the kind of food you want to eat.  For strong and healthy bones, eat foods with a short and easy to recognize list of ingredients.</p>
<p>Do you have any thoughts on this?  Share them with our community by leaving your comment below.</p>
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		<title>Debunking the Milk Myth: Why Milk is Bad for You and Your Bones</title>
		<link>http://saveourbones.com/osteoporosis-milk-myth/</link>
		<comments>http://saveourbones.com/osteoporosis-milk-myth/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Jan 2010 04:48:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Vivian Goldschmidt, MA</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Calcium]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[milk]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://saveourbones.com/?p=4022</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Did you know that in Medieval England parents would tie rabbits&#8217; feet around their babies’ necks to ward off illness? Doctors would also spit on wounds because saliva was believed to have healing properties.</p>
<p>Indeed, history is replete with unfounded health beliefs, and to everyone’s detriment, the milk myth is among ...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Did you know that in Medieval England parents would tie rabbits&#8217; feet around their babies’ necks to ward off illness? Doctors would also spit on wounds because saliva was believed to have healing properties.</p>
<p>Indeed, history is replete with unfounded health beliefs, and to everyone’s detriment, the milk myth is among the most tenacious.</p>
<p>Milk is much more than just a drink; it’s a cultural phenomenon that can be traced back thousands of years ago. And still today, the milk myth resonates loud and clear: in 2001, the average American child consumed 104 quarts of cow’s milk.</p>
<h2>Milk depletes the calcium from your bones</h2>
<p>The milk myth has spread around the world based on the flawed belief that this protein and calcium-rich drink is essential to support good overall health and bone health in particular at any age. It is easy to understand that the confusion about milk&#8217;s imaginary benefits stems from the fact that it contains calcium – around 300 mg per cup.</p>
<p>But many scientific studies have shown an assortment of detrimental health effects directly linked to milk consumption. And the most surprising link is that not only do we barely absorb the calcium in cow’s milk (especially if pasteurized), but to make matters worse, it actually increases calcium loss from the bones. What an irony this is!</p>
<p>Here’s how it happens. Like all animal protein, milk acidifies the body pH which in turn triggers a biological correction. You see, calcium is an excellent acid neutralizer and the biggest storage of calcium in the body is – you guessed it… in the bones. So the very same calcium that our bones need to stay strong is utilized to neutralize the acidifying effect of milk. Once calcium is pulled out of the bones, it leaves the body via the urine, so that the surprising net result after this is an actual calcium deficit.</p>
<p>Knowing this, you’ll understand why statistics show that countries with the lowest consumption of dairy products also have the lowest fracture incidence in their population (there’s more on this later).</p>
<p>But the sad truth is that most mainstream health practitioners ignore these proven facts.  I know it firsthand because when I was diagnosed with osteoporosis, my doctor recommended that I drink lots of milk in addition to taking Fosamax.</p>
<p>Fortunately, I did neither, because I knew that…</p>
<h2>Cow’s milk is custom-designed for calves</h2>
<p>Thanks to our creative ingenuity and perhaps related to our ancient survival needs, we adopted the dubious habit of drinking another species’ milk. Nobody can dispute that cow’s milk is an excellent food source for calves. Weighing around 100 pounds at birth, a calf typically gains approximately eight times its weight by the time it is weaned. But unlike humans, once calves are weaned, they never drink milk again. And the same applies to every mammalian species on this planet.</p>
<p>Also, each mammalian species has its own “designer” milk, and cow’s milk is no exception. For example, cow’s milk contains on average three times the amount of protein than human milk which creates metabolic disturbances in humans that have detrimental bone health consequences.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s important to bear in mind that mother’s milk is excellent nourishment for human babies, but its composition is very different from cow’s milk. </p>
<h2>Scientific studies show that milk increases fracture risk</h2>
<p>Many scientific studies contradict the conventional wisdom that milk and dairy consumption help reduce osteoporotic fractures. Surprisingly, studies demonstrating that milk and dairy products actually fail to protect bones from fractures outnumber studies that prove otherwise. Even drinking milk from a young age does not protect against future fracture risk but actually increases it. Shattering the “savings account” calcium theory, Cumming and Klineberg report their study findings as follows:</p>
<blockquote><p>
 “Consumption of dairy products, particularly at age 20 years, was associated with an increased risk of hip fracture in old age. (“Case-Control Study of Risk Factors for Hip Fractures in the Elderly”. American Journal of Epidemiology. Vol. 139, No. 5, 1994).
</p></blockquote>
<p>And the 12 year long Harvard Nurses&#8217; Health Study found that those who consumed the most calcium from dairy foods broke more bones than those who rarely drank milk. This is a broad study based on 77,761 women aged 34 through 59 years of age.</p>
<p>In the authors’ own words:</p>
<blockquote><p>
“These data do not support the hypothesis that higher consumption of milk or other food sources of calcium by adult women protects against hip or forearm fractures.”  (Source: Feskanich D, Willett WC, Stampfer MJ, Colditz GA. Milk, dietary calcium, and bone fractures in women: a 12-year prospective study. American Journal of Public Health. 1997).
</p></blockquote>
<h2>Shocking statistics ignored by mainstream medicine</h2>
<p>In the <a href="http://saveourbones.com/get-started" target="_blank">Save Our Bones Program</a> one of the topics I discuss is the complete disregard of scientific evidence that discredits milk and dairy products as the best source of calcium.</p>
<p>One exception is Amy Lanou Ph.D., nutrition director for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in Washington, D.C., who states that:</p>
<blockquote><p>
“The countries with the highest rates of osteoporosis are the ones where people drink the most milk and have the most calcium in their diets. The connection between calcium consumption and bone health is actually very weak, and the connection between dairy consumption and bone health is almost nonexistent.”
</p></blockquote>
<p>Surprised? You shouldn’t be, because as I mentioned earlier in this article…</p>
<h2>Milk is an acidifying animal protein</h2>
<p>Like any other animal derived protein-rich food, milk has a positive potential renal acid load (PRAL) which triggers a protective biological reaction to neutralize all the damaging acidic protein before it reaches the kidneys.</p>
<p>The body is designed for survival, so it sacrifices bone density to protect the kidneys and urinary tract because the latter are essential to survival. And the most readily available source of acid neutralizer is in the bones. So even though milk contains calcium, it ends up sapping your bones of that crucial mineral. But that’s not all because…</p>
<h2>Today’s milk is a processed food</h2>
<p>Until the end of the 19th century in Europe and the beginning of the 20th century in the US, milk was consumed unpasteurized or raw. Later on, homogenization became the industry’s standard. These processes further alter milk’s chemistry and actually increase its detrimental acidifying effects.</p>
<p>Raw milk advocates claim that if cow’s milk is left “as is” it is a healthy and wholesome drink. It is true that raw milk is less acidifying than processed milk and that pasteurization and homogenization may cause a long list of digestive and other health problems, but I still don’t recommend drinking any kind of cow’s milk.</p>
<p>Nowadays, milking cows are given antibiotics and most are also injected with a genetically engineered form of bovine growth hormone (rBGH). A man-made or synthetic hormone used to artificially increase milk production,  rBGH also increases blood levels of the insulin-growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in those who drink it. And higher levels of IGF-1 are linked to several cancers.</p>
<p>This should not be ignored, especially in view of recent information by Samuel Epstein, MD, Professor of Environmental Medicine at the University of Illinois School of Public Health, and Chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition. In an article titled “Monsanto&#8217;s Hormonal Milk Poses Serious Risks of Breast Cancer, Besides Other Cancers” (http://www.preventcancer.com/press/releases/july8_98.htm, June 21, 1998) Dr. Epstein concludes that:</p>
<blockquote><p>
&#8220;Drinking rBGH milk would thus be expected to significantly increase IGF-1 blood levels and consequently to increase risks of developing breast cancer and promoting its invasiveness.&#8221;
</p></blockquote>
<p>Even though organic milk is from cows that are not given antibiotics or rBHG, if you truly care about your bone health and your overall health, you should…</p>
<h2>Avoid drinking cow’s milk</h2>
<p>As I explain in the <a href="http://saveourbones.com/get-started" target="_blank">Save Our Bones Program</a> and contrary to mainstream recommendations, drinking milk and eating lots of dairy products are not the answer to reversing osteoporosis. And while in the Save Our Bones Program no food is completely off limits, I strongly recommend that you explore the different milk substitute options that I will list for you here.</p>
<p>But first, I’d like to clarify that unsweetened fermented or cultured dairy products such as yogurt, kefir, and sour cream are acid neutral. Yogurt in particular is chock-full of beneficial qualities. As is the case with milk, organic yogurt does not have rBGH, but even several of the most well-known yogurt brands have stopped using the bovine growth hormone (rBGH).  You should call your favorite yogurt company to confirm. One more clarification: when I say unsweetened I mean without sugar or any artificial sweetener. However, you can add honey or stevia, a zero calorie plant-derived sweetener that is delicious and alkalizing as well.  I like to carry around stevia packets in my purse so that I&#8217;m always able to sweeten food or drinks when I&#8217;m on the go.</p>
<h2>The best milk substitutes</h2>
<p>My favorite milk substitute is unsweetened almond milk, not only because it is alkalizing (as almonds are), but also because it&#8217;s delicious and tastes very similar to milk.  I even cook with it!</p>
<p>If almond milk is hard to get, you can also try rice or soy milk.  I strongly suggest consuming only organic soy milk to insure it’s not made with genetically modified soy. There is also some controversy about  unfermented soy products, so try to use it in moderation.</p>
<div class="featured widget">
<strong>Vivian Recommends:</strong><br />
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<a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=173472&#038;u=398904&#038;m=22169&#038;urllink=herbalremedies.com/no-calorie-sweetener-vanilla-stevia.html&#038;afftrack=" target="_blank">Stevia Extract Packets &#8211; French Vanilla, NOW Foods &#8211; 100 Packets</a>
</div>
<p>And remember, if you ever hear someone ask “Got milk?” smile and think to yourself “No, because I know better!”</p>
<p>As always, I&#8217;d love to hear your thoughts.  Share them with me and the rest of our community by leaving a comment below.</p>
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		<title>The Forteo Mystery: What You Should Know About This Puzzling Drug</title>
		<link>http://saveourbones.com/forteo/</link>
		<comments>http://saveourbones.com/forteo/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:05:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Vivian Goldschmidt, MA</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Drugs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[forteo]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://saveourbones.com/?p=3979</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Pharmaceutical companies are constantly trying to outdo each other and to come up with new patentable drugs for diseases that already have existing drug treatments.. A good example of this is teriparatide, or Forteo in the US (Forsteo abroad),  a new class of osteoporosis drug known as anabolic agents. ...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Pharmaceutical companies are constantly trying to outdo each other and to come up with new patentable drugs for diseases that already have existing drug treatments.. A good example of this is teriparatide, or Forteo in the US (Forsteo abroad),  a new class of osteoporosis drug known as anabolic agents.  This daily injectable drug was approved by the FDA in 2002.</p>
<p>Forteo is an incomplete synthetic or man-made form of the human parathyroid hormone (PTH). You see, human PTH has 84 amino acid residues but teriparatide has only 34. Teriparatide has become the osteoporosis drug of choice mainly for patients who can’t tolerate bisphosphonates, have failed to improve with bisphosphonate therapy, or suffer from extreme bone loss.</p>
<p>As touted in the drug’s insert, Forteo “increases bone mineral density and bone strength.”</p>
<h2>Many unanswered questions</h2>
<p>But the puzzling catch with Forteo is that the way in which it works remains a mystery. This is openly acknowledged by its maker, pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Company. As explained in the drug’s brochure, “the role of PTH in control of bone mass is still not really understood” and that “intermittent spikes of PTH, such as given by daily injection, will cause more increase in bone formation than in bone resorption… This has been shown in rats.”</p>
<p>Unfortunately, what has also been shown in rats is the development of osteosarcoma, a lethal bone cancer caused by an abnormal proliferation of osteoblasts or bone-forming cells. Below, I quote again from Eli Lilly’s pamphlet (http://pi.lilly.com/us/forteo-medguide.pdf):</p>
<p>“During the drug testing process, the medicine in Forteo caused some rats to develop a bone cancer called osteosarcoma. In people, osteosarcoma is a serious but rare cancer. Osteosarcoma has been reported rarely in people who took Forteo. It is not known if people who take Forteo have a higher chance of getting osteosarcoma.”</p>
<p>Because of this serious side effect risk, Forteo is prescribed for a maximum of two years.  This is as close as one can get to playing Russian roulette! Who would trade a potential fracture for the awful risk of acquiring a lethal cancer? And as if this were not enough, teriparatide has a long list of nasty side effects such as joint and chest pain, muscle pain and weakness, esophageal problems, nausea, and vomiting. Plus having to inject oneself subcutaneously each and every day is most certainly no picnic.</p>
<h2>Exorbitant price tag leads to exorbitant profits</h2>
<p>The unanswered questions don’t seem to hamper Forteo’s skyrocketing success. According to drug-industry analysts, an estimated 600,000 prescriptions were written in 2005, which generated more than $350 million in revenues. And in 2008, Eli Lilly reported $778 million in sales.  (http://newsroom.lilly.com/ReleaseDetail.cfm?releaseid=362195).</p>
<p>Indeed, the future looks bright for Forteo. As predicted by Pharmacor’s June 2009 osteoporosis report, by 2018 Forteo sales may reach close to the $2 billion mark. </p>
<p>One easy way to explain these numbers is Forteo’s exorbitant price tag. It costs nearly eight times as much as bisphosphonates, running up a tab of about $6,700 a year.  That’s a pretty high cost for a drug whose mechanism is not even remotely understood!</p>
<h2>Doctors ignore ignorance?</h2>
<p>Another puzzling aspect of this drug is that while doctors openly admit their ignorance regarding how it works, they choose to prescribe it anyway.</p>
<p>Dr. Roberto Pacifici, head of the division of endocrinology at Emory University School of Medicine, comments that “…how intermittent treatment (with teriparatide) works has remained a mystery&#8221;. (http://whsc.emory.edu/home/news/releases/2009/09/bone-building-hormone.html).</p>
<p>This is clearly a rather unusual and perplexing situation to say the least.</p>
<p>And it sounds like a job for Agent 4T0&#8230;</p>
<h2>Mission: Impossible</h2>
<p>Remember the TV series with this name? I used to be a big fan of Mission: Impossible. Each episode began with secret recorded instructions to the brave agents describing a very complex and often dangerous mission. The agents could decide whether to accept the mission or not. Of course, the fearless members of the Impossible Mission Force (IMF) never walked away and in the end, always succeeded.  But here&#8217;s what happens when a reluctant osteoporosis drug is the agent chosen for the mission&#8230;  Read my Mission: Impossible spoof below:</p>
<blockquote><p>
“Good morning, Mr. Paratide. Your mission, should you decide to accept it, comes from the top boss, Big P.”</p>
<p>“You can call me Terry… What is my mission?”</p>
<p>“First, from now on your new name is Agent 4T0. Your mission is to strengthen this patient&#8217;s bones and report back to us detailing exactly what you did.  And you have to report back to us fast, 4T0. Time is running out.”</p>
<p>“Well, I may be able to strengthen the bones, but I have no idea of what I&#8217;m doing!  Big P knows that we&#8217;ve been trying to find out without success. I need written instructions!”</p>
<p>“You’re the ACTIVE INGREDIENT, for crying out loud! Plus Big P has given you a team of helpers…”</p>
<p>“What… you mean the Inactive Ingredients? I don’t see how glacial acetic acid, sodium acetate, mannitol, metacresol, and hydrochloric acid can help me. They’re INACTIVE, remember?”</p>
<p>“Stop acting like a coward, 4T0. Here’s a little secret for you: metacresol is highly flammable and poisonous – even lethal in the right dose. It can help you solve this mystery if anyone gets in your way.  So get creative and solve it once and for all.”</p>
<p>“I’m not a fighter! I’m just a synthetic wannabe, I don’t know what to say…”</p>
<p>“Remember our motto: Ignorance is Strength. You don’t have to know anything… nobody has to know anything… that’s our strength, 4T0. Big P’s survival depends on ignorance. Just invent something and Big P will make sure that everyone will take our word for it.”</p>
<p>&#8220;Yes, I know that&#8217;s the way we&#8217;ve been operating in the past, but now people are waking up real fast…Why me, why me?”</p>
<p>&#8220;This tape will self-destruct in five seconds.”</p>
<p>“Oh, nooooooo!”
</p></blockquote>
<p>So there you have it.</p>
<p>Were you prescribed Forteo?  Even if you weren&#8217;t, please share your experiences, thoughts, and comments with the community below.</p>
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		<title>Vitamin K: Your Osteoporosis Knight in Shining Armor</title>
		<link>http://saveourbones.com/vitamin-k-osteoporosis/</link>
		<comments>http://saveourbones.com/vitamin-k-osteoporosis/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:01:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Vivian Goldschmidt, MA</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[supplements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vitamin k]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://saveourbones.com/?p=3941</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>If you’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia, it is more than likely that your doctor prescribed an osteoporosis drug such as Fosamax followed by the proverbial calcium recommendation.</p>
<p>That’s exactly what happened to me after I was diagnosed with osteoporosis.  My doctor also advised me to “drink plenty of ...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia, it is more than likely that your doctor prescribed an osteoporosis drug such as Fosamax followed by the proverbial calcium recommendation.</p>
<p>That’s exactly what happened to me after I was diagnosed with osteoporosis.  My doctor also advised me to “drink plenty of milk”.  Luckily, I did not follow his flawed advice and instead, I embarked on my own quest to conquer osteoporosis which culminated in the Save Our Bones Program.</p>
<p>Today, I want to share with you yet another piece of valuable information about a little-known bone health gem. It is vitamin K, best known for its blood clotting functions.  In fact, vitamin K gets its name from the first letter of the German word “koagulation.”</p>
<p>If you are taking anticoagulant drugs, your doctor will most probably let you know that vitamin K counteracts the intended effects of your prescription and that you need to discuss with him or her your vitamin K intake. Otherwise, vitamin K is widely ignored by mainstream medicine, even though it is essential to your bone-building capacity.</p>
<h2>Vitamin K helps your bones</h2>
<p>Vitamin K is related to osteocalcin, also called bone Gla protein, which is a calcium-binding protein synthesized by osteoblasts or bone-building cells. It also works synergistically with vitamin D to regulate the production of osteoclasts, cells that remove old bone so that new bone can be deposited in its place.</p>
<p>In Chapter 3 of The Bone Health Revolution I write that bones are made up of 65% mineralized collagen and 35% collagen matrix made of minerals and other nutrients. The most prevalent mineral in bones is calcium.  The calcium-binding capacity of osteocalcin is activated when it is chemically altered through a vitamin K-dependent process known as carboxylation.</p>
<h2>Bone health benefits of Vitamin K stun researchers</h2>
<p>Many scientific studies confirm Vitamin K’s positive effects on bone-building processes. One good example is an article published in the European Journal of Pharmacology by Akiyama and team. The researchers actually identified a process where a form of vitamin K2, a menaquinone known as MK-4, inhibits the formation of osteoclasts (Effect of vitamin K2 [menatetrenone] on osteoclast-like cell formation in mouse bone marrow cultures. 1994).</p>
<p>Interestingly, bisphosphonate drugs attempt to perform a similar function, but fail miserably at matching the well-coordinated performance of vitamin K. Because bisphosphonate drugs damage and distort osteoclasts, while vitamin K helps coordinate the right amount of osteoclast production with other bone cells so as to achieve the appropriate balance.</p>
<p>You see, bisphosphonates are synthetic drugs deprived of a biological role in bone metabolism unlike vitamins and other natural elements. How sad that this crucial distinction is ignored by mainstream medicine!</p>
<p>Another study on vitamin K and fracture prevention had such unexpected positive results that even its lead author, Dr. Angela Cheung, touted it “surprising”. (Vitamin K Supplementation in Postmenopausal Women with Osteopenia [ECKO Trial]: A Randomized Controlled Trial. 2008). Published in the journal PLoS Medicine, the study involved 440 postmenopausal women diagnosed with osteopenia.</p>
<p>Half of the participants were given a vitamin K1 supplement and the other half took a placebo for two years, with 261 continuing for two more years. While bone density scans showed equal bone loss in both groups, over the four year study period more than double the women who took the placebo suffered fractures compared to the group that took the vitamin K. But unfortunately…</p>
<h2>Mainstream medicine is curiously skeptical of vitamin K’s bone health benefits</h2>
<p>Typical of the complete disregard for natural health solutions in mainstream medicine and despite her excellent study results, Dr. Cheung is skeptical. She writes that it is “premature” to recommend vitamin K to osteoporosis patients. And Dr. Roberto Pacifici, director of the division of endocrinology at Emory University in Atlanta, commented on the same study in a WebMD interview that he was unimpressed with the results and that &#8220;people should not go out and buy vitamin K because of this study.&#8221;  But why not?  Especially since&#8230;</p>
<h2>A myriad of other scientific studies also support the use of vitamin K for bone health</h2>
<p>It seems that most doctors have conveniently forgotten about the Nurses&#8217; Health Study that followed 72,327 registered nurses for ten years. This is one of the largest research projects showing that nurses with the lowest vitamin K intake had a 30% higher risk of hip fracture than those with the highest vitamin K intake (Feskanich D. et al. “Vitamin K intake and hip fractures in women: a prospective study”. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1999). The median vitamin K consumption for this study was 169 micrograms per day, all derived from foods sources rather than from supplements. Diane Feskanich writes that this “…suggests the need for a higher vitamin K requirement than the current recommended dietary allowance…”</p>
<p>Just because doctors turn their back on such an excellent bone health vitamin, it doesn’t mean that you should too. So am giving you the&#8230;</p>
<h2>Best sources of Vitamin K</h2>
<p>All varieties of vitamin K are fat-soluble and belong to a chemical category called naphthoquinones, but there are two basic types of vitamin K.  Phylloquinones, or vitamin K1 which is made by plants and menaquinones or vitamin K2 synthesized by intestinal bacteria.</p>
<p>Unlike vitamin K1, vitamin K2 does not concentrate in the liver. The body stores only limited amounts of vitamin K in the liver, so it is important to have enough bio-available K2 in the body.</p>
<p><img src="http://saveourbones.com/wp-content/themes/saveourbones/images/greens.gif" alt="vitamin k" style="float:right;border:0" />The richest dietary sources of K1 are green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, Brussels sprouts, green beans, asparagus, and broccoli. Green peas, romaine lettuce, and bell peppers are some of the less concentrated but still very good sources of this vitamin. Even spices such as fresh parsley, oregano, thyme, basil, black and cayenne pepper are rich in vitamin K1.</p>
<p>Even though it is fat-soluble, there is no documented toxicity with high doses of vitamin K, with the exception of synthetic K3 or menadione, which I do not recommend.</p>
<p>The Adequate Intake (AI) for vitamin K for adult women is 90 micrograms and 120 micrograms for men. To give you an idea of what a low level this is, one cup of boiled spinach has 889 micrograms of vitamin K1.</p>
<p>If you are following the Save Our Bones Program it is really easy for you to get enough vitamin K1. However, for maximum bone-building benefits I recommend you add a K2 supplement to your dietary intake.</p>
<p>The best natural source of vitamin K2 is derived from fermenting a unique form of soy known in Japan as natto. One capsule a day of this vitamin K2 has 50 micrograms, and it is best absorbed when taken with food. If you are on anticoagulant medication, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t be able to supplement vitamin K, but you should consult with your doctor.</p>
<div class="featured widget">
<strong>Vivian Recommends:</strong><br />
<a target='new' href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=fK2L4fH4jMc&#038;offerid=116038.17875&#038;type=2&#038;subid=0" >VITAMIN K-2 (MENAQ7)-50 mcg-30-Softgels</a><IMG border=0 width=1 height=1 src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=fK2L4fH4jMc&#038;bids=116038.17875&#038;type=2&#038;subid=0" >
</div>
<p>Are you already taking a vitamin K supplement?  Will you start now?  Share your thoughts with us by leaving a comment below.</p>
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		<title>Happy New Year: Your 2010 Bone Health Resolution</title>
		<link>http://saveourbones.com/happy-new-year-2010/</link>
		<comments>http://saveourbones.com/happy-new-year-2010/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 31 Dec 2009 21:14:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Vivian Goldschmidt, MA</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://saveourbones.com/?p=3770</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>I hope you are having a fantastic holiday season and that you are as upbeat about welcoming 2010 and the new decade as I am. </p>
<p>This past year has been incredible not only because the Save Our Bones community has grown by leaps and bounds but also because our information ...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I hope you are having a fantastic holiday season and that you are as upbeat about welcoming 2010 and the new decade as I am. </p>
<p>This past year has been incredible not only because the Save Our Bones community has grown by leaps and bounds but also because our information regarding osteoporosis truth is spreading.  Slowly but surely, the truth will prevail&#8230; it always does.</p>
<p>And you, my dear friend, are an instrumental part of this.</p>
<p>Together we are opening the door for revolutionary yet safe and effective bone health solutions. Knowing this, it&#8217;s no coincidence that The New York Times published an article titled <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/24/health/24brod.html?_r=1&#038;adxnnl=1&#038;ref=health&#038;adxnnlx=1259126316-eLhV00z+9pSNjxm1Y2lHxw" target="_blank">&#8220;Exploring a Low Acid Diet for Bone Health&#8221;</a>. </p>
<p>Sounds familiar? It seems that even this world-class newspaper is catching up with our bone health revolution. You can read the article here:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/24/health/24brod.html?_r=1&#038;adxnnl=1&#038;ref=health&#038;adxnnlx=1259126316-eLhV00z+9pSNjxm1Y2lHxw" target="_blank">New York Times Article</a></p>
<p>Without a doubt, this article is a breath of fresh air, but let&#8217;s not fool ourselves&#8230; there is still a lot more to do&#8230;and I can&#8217;t wait to start the New Year and continue our quest with you on my side!</p>
<p>It&#8217;s always great to to kick off the New Year with a healthy dose of inspiration.  A close friend of mine shared this video with me, and now I&#8217;d like to share it with you in hopes that it will inspire you even more, as we herald the year 2010.</p>
<p>You can watch it here:</p>
<p><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Yv8LoBULIHA&#038;hl=en_US&#038;fs=1&#038;"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Yv8LoBULIHA&#038;hl=en_US&#038;fs=1&#038;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p>
<p>The New Year is also a time for reflection and growth, much like starting a new chapter in the book of our lives. And that, of course, includes our bone health. So let me know what your New Year bone health resolution is by leaving a comment below. Mine is to continue my mission of truth and natural solutions with unyielding efforts so the Save Our Bones community can continue to grow to insure that our voices will be heard.</p>
<p>So I wish you all a wonderful, exciting, and healthy New Year, and I&#8217;ll leave you till the next time with this great and very appropriate quote by Dr. Martin H. Fischer:</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;Truth is rarely written in ink; it lives in Nature.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>Please don&#8217;t forget to leave your 2010 bone health resolution below. It means a lot to me.</p>
<p>With blessings for a happy and healthy New Year,</p>
<p><img src="http://saveourbones.com/wp-content/themes/saveourbones/images/sig-vivian.gif" alt="Vivian Goldschmidt" style="" /></p>
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		<title>Merry Christmas!</title>
		<link>http://saveourbones.com/merry-christmas/</link>
		<comments>http://saveourbones.com/merry-christmas/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 25 Dec 2009 00:48:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Vivian Goldschmidt, MA</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://saveourbones.com/?p=3746</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Wishing you and your entire family a Merry Christmas and happy holidays full of joy and good health.</p>
<p></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Wishing you and your entire family a Merry Christmas and happy holidays full of joy and good health.</p>
<p><img src="http://saveourbones.com/wp-content/themes/saveourbones/images/sig.gif" alt="Vivian Goldschmidt" style="" /></p>
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		<title>Use Houseplants to Prevent Bone Loss</title>
		<link>http://saveourbones.com/houseplants-to-prevent-bone-loss/</link>
		<comments>http://saveourbones.com/houseplants-to-prevent-bone-loss/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:20:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Vivian Goldschmidt, MA</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bone Loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[houseplants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tip]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://saveourbones.com/?p=3625</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>My osteoporosis adventures are fascinating, with unexpected twists and turns that I am able to share with you right here on this blog. For example, while working on the Save Our Bones Program, I found a breakthrough bone cell study funded by no less than the NASA Space Agency.</p>
Plants: Nature’s ...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>My osteoporosis adventures are fascinating, with unexpected twists and turns that I am able to share with you right here on this blog. For example, while working on the Save Our Bones Program, I found a breakthrough bone cell study funded by no less than the NASA Space Agency.</p>
<h2>Plants: Nature’s air filters</h2>
<p>Today I want to share with you another breakthrough NASA discovery that you can easily implement to improve your bone health. It has to do with specific plants that are particularly effective at removing indoor toxins.</p>
<p>All plants take in CO2 (carbon dioxide) and release oxygen. This is important to your health in general and also to your bone health. I explain in the <a href="http://saveourbones.com/get-started/" target="_blank">Save Our Bones Program</a> (Chapter 10 of The Bone Health Revolution) that exposure to CO2 increases bone loss and that opening windows at home to prevent CO2 accumulation is an important Bone Health Action Step.</p>
<p>But the NASA study titled “Foliage Plants for Removing Indoor Air Pollutants from Energy Efficient Homes” by Dr. B.C. Wolverton, Anne Johnson, and Keith Bounds goes further.</p>
<p>The researchers spent two years testing 19 different house plants for their ability to remove the three most commonly found indoor pollutants: benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene.</p>
<h2>Dangerous bone-thinning chemicals may be lurking inside your home</h2>
<p>The above chemicals acidify your body pH and cause calcium to leech out of your bones and into your blood stream. And because this toxic trio emanates mostly from products used in home construction and decoration, it is more than likely that you are exposed to them.</p>
<p>Let’s take a closer look at the source of the three indoor pollutants that can rob your bones of their density and cause other undesirable health symptoms.</p>
<p><strong>Benzene:</strong> it is used as a solvent and is present in oils, paints, dyes, plastics, rubber, detergents, tobacco smoke and synthetic fibers.</p>
<p><strong>Formaldehyde:</strong> it is found in practically all indoor environments because it emanates from urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI), particle board or pressed wood products used in furniture manufacturing, adhesive binders in floor coverings, carpet backings, and many household cleaners. Heating and cooking fuels like natural gas, kerosene, and cigarette smoke are also a source of formaldehyde.</p>
<p><strong>Trichloroethylene:</strong> Trichloroethylene is mostly used in metal degreasing and dry cleaning, as well as in paints, lacquers, varnishes and adhesives.</p>
<h2>Pick your bone-smart plants</h2>
<p>Fortunately for us, the NASA researchers found that many house plants are very effective in  actually removing these harmful chemicals from indoor environments.</p>
<p>Here is a list of Nature’s most efficient air cleaning plants that will not only insure you don’t breathe in chemicals that acidify your body and sabotage your bone health, but will also beautify your home. Best of all, they are all easily available at any nursery and do very well indoors. </p>
<p><img src="http://saveourbones.com/wp-content/themes/saveourbones/images/vivian-golden-pothos.jpg" alt="Vivian and her Golden Pothos plant" style="float:right;border:10px solid #FFE0B7;padding-left:15px" /><strong>The best plants that remove formaldehyde:</strong></p>
<p>Azalea, Philodendron, Spider plant, Golden Pothos, Bamboo palm, Corn plant, Chrysanthemum, Mother-in-law’s tongue.</p>
<p><strong>The best plants that remove benzene:</strong></p>
<p>English Ivy, Dracaena marginata, Janet Craig, Warneck Dracaena, Chrysanthemum, Gerbera Daisy, Peace lily.</p>
<p><strong>The best plants that remove trichloroethylene:</strong></p>
<p>Gerbera Daisy, Chrysanthemum, Peace lily, Warneck Dracaena, Dracaena marginata.	</p>
<p>According to the NASA study, one plant should be used for every 100 to 120 square feet of living space, and the plants should be in at least six inch containers with nothing covering the potting soil.  Make sure that the plants you choose are safe for pets. </p>
<h2>A quick and easy solution at your reach</h2>
<p>As with all the Bone Health Action Steps in the <a href="http://saveourbones.com/get-started/" target="_blank">Save Our Bones Program</a>, this is one more easy solution to take control of your bone health.</p>
<p>So from Save Our Bones Mission Control, over and out.</p>
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		<title>Happy Channukah!</title>
		<link>http://saveourbones.com/happy-channukah/</link>
		<comments>http://saveourbones.com/happy-channukah/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 13 Dec 2009 01:56:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Vivian Goldschmidt, MA</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://saveourbones.com/?p=3617</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Happy Channukah to everybody in the Save Our Bones Community who&#8217;s celebrating the &#8220;Festival of Lights&#8221; this week.</p>
<p>May your lives be lit with joy, health and happiness always,</p>
<p></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Happy Channukah to everybody in the Save Our Bones Community who&#8217;s celebrating the &#8220;Festival of Lights&#8221; this week.</p>
<p>May your lives be lit with joy, health and happiness always,</p>
<p><img src="http://saveourbones.com/wp-content/themes/saveourbones/images/sig.gif" alt="Vivian Goldschmidt" style="" /></p>
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