Cauliflower is a perfect example. It’s an excellent source of bone-healthy nutrients, including a potent detoxifying phytochemical. And it’s also quite versatile. Today ...]]> Some of the foods that contain the best nutrients for your bones are surprisingly common. That’s why I like to re-discover the bone-healthy attributes of foods that are readily available and that can be used in creative ways to prepare delicious alkalizing dishes.

Cauliflower is a perfect example. It’s an excellent source of bone-healthy nutrients, including a potent detoxifying phytochemical. And it’s also quite versatile. Today I’m going to show you how you can use cauliflower to make alkalizing wheat-free bread.

But first, here’s why…

Crunchy Cauliflower is a Foundation Food

In the Save Our Bones Program, you’ll discover a lengthy list of Foundation Foods that offer many options for building your bones. Cauliflower is among those Foundation Foods.

“C” is for Cauliflower

Cauliflower offers a plentiful amount of Vitamin C, one of the Foundation Supplements in the Save Our Bones Program.

Vitamin C serves a dual purpose. It acts as an antioxidant as well as a vitamin. It stimulates the production of bone-building cells (osteoblasts) while suppressing the cells that destroy bone (osteoclasts). This is the mechanism behind the findings of a 2010 study, which showed that Vitamin C reduces fracture rates and increases bone mass.¹

Vitamin C is also vital to the production of collagen, a protein-based connective tissue in bones and cartilage. And Vitamin C is a very powerful antioxidant – it actually helps convert toxins into water-soluble substances that can be flushed out of the body.

In addition to Vitamin C, cauliflower also provides many other nutrients, including Foundation Supplements:

Vitamin K: Works with Vitamin D to regulate osteoclast production, and it activates a substance called osteocalcin, a calcium-binding protein that helps get calcium into your bones.

Folate*: A part of the B-complex family that helps your body utilize protein and convert homocysteine into other amino acids.

Choline*: Also in the B-complex family, choline is an essential component of the B vitamins.

B Vitamins (B1*, B2*, B3* B5*, and B6*): All act in synergy with each other in the bone-building process – isn’t it interesting that one food has so many of them?

Potassium: Plays triple-duty as an alkalizing mineral, nutrient, and electrolyte and is involved in muscle contractions and protein synthesis.

Manganese*: A trace mineral that plays a role in thyroxine production (thyroxine is the main hormone produced by the thyroid gland). It is also involved in the production of connective tissue in both cartilage and bone.

Magnesium*: More than half the body’s magnesium is found in the bones. This mineral is linked with calcium absorption and is involved in over 300 body processes.

*Foundation Supplement

Cauliflower also contains…

A Powerful Detoxifying Phytochemical

Cauliflower is a cruciferous vegetable, like kale and broccoli. And like other cruciferous vegetables, it’s a very good source of a detoxifying phytochemical called d-glucarate.

Your body has a natural system that regulates toxins. It holds on to some and lets others go. D-glucarate works with this system to stimulate the “letting go” mechanism so that toxins can be released and excreted from the body.

D-glucarate does this by suppressing an enzyme that triggers the “hold on” mechanism in the body. Thus, consuming d-glucarate helps cleanse the body of toxins.

Cleanse With Cauliflower

Because of its high nutrient content and the fact that it provides d-glucarate, cauliflower is one of the foods included in Rapid Cleanse, the 7-day Osteoporosis Drug Cleanse that is designed to rid your body of harmful toxins, including osteoporosis drugs.

Rapid Cleanse makes an excellent companion to the Save Our Bones Program. It is the only cleanse specifically designed to help build and nourish your bones, with easy step-by-step instructions and loads of delicious cleansing recipes.

In Just One Short Week You’ll Feel and Look Better the Ever!

Here are some of the benefits you can expect from Rapid Cleanse:

• A better understanding of how the body works and how to give it what it needs.
• Discover why your kidneys and liver are essential to the integrity of your bones how to ensure their proper function.
• Rapid Cleanse reveals the toxins that are in your everyday environment, so you can learn easy ways to avoid them.
• Discover how to breathe for optimal toxin cleansing.
• Greater energy levels as your body is no longer taxed from dealing with toxins and osteoporosis drugs that can linger in your bloodstream.
• Better quality of sleep.
• A healthier, younger-looking you!

And just think about this – unlike other cleanses, Rapid Cleanse takes only takes one week.

You can achieve these phenomenal results from simple steps such as eating key detoxifying foods like cauliflower.

The Easy-to-Make Bone-Healthy Cauliflower Bread

Now you may think there are only a couple of ways to eat cauliflower – raw with dip, perhaps, or steamed. But as I mentioned earlier, it can also be used to make a delicious and alkalizing bread.

Here’s an amazingly simple, versatile, bone-healthy recipe for cauliflower bread.

Enjoy!

References

¹ Gabbay, K. H. et al. “The Ascorbate Synthesis Pathway: Dual Role of Ascorbate in Bone Homeostasis.” The Journal of Biological Chemistry. April 21, 2010.

Today we’re going to delve into the world of your digestive system, and reveal two important yet often overlooked micronutrients and their role in your bone health.

As I write in the Save Our Bones Program, ...]]> Your body is quite astonishing, always working away on microscopic processes that are incredibly complex. Like miniature communities, the cells and micronutrients in your body work together to make big things happen.

Today we’re going to delve into the world of your digestive system, and reveal two important yet often overlooked micronutrients and their role in your bone health.

Nutrient Absorption

As I write in the Save Our Bones Program, it’s vital to take in all the nutrients your body needs to build bone. You can find the full list of nutrients along with their dosages and the foods that contain the highest levels in chapters 10 and 11 of the Program. But all of these nutrients are useless if they are not absorbed.

Nutrient absorption begins in the gut. As we age, digestion may become less efficient, often because of underlying health issues associated with aging.

A study published in the Journal of Nutrition indicates that micronutrient absorption is ultimately dependent on health, not age:

“It was assumed by many basic investigators and geriatricians that malabsorption of both macronutrients and micronutrients was a common problem among elderly persons. We now know that this is not the case; elderly persons who malabsorb macronutrients do so because of disease, not because of age.”¹

So take heart – aging does not necessarily mean you won’t absorb nutrients. For people of all ages, optimal health = optimal digestion.

Getting Your Body Ready to Absorb Nutrients

If you do any gardening, you know that the soil has to be prepared before you can plant anything if you expect the garden to flourish. The body is not unlike a garden in this respect. You need to set the stage for bone-healthy vitamins and minerals to be taken up and distributed where they are needed.

It Starts on a Microscopic Level…

Like so many aspects of health, getting your body for optimal health starts with the foods you eat. It turns out there’s a substance in certain foods that has been scientifically shown to strengthen your bones. Introducing…

Fructooligosaccharides, the Tiny Nutrients with the Big Name

Fructooligosaccharides, abbreviated FOS, are actually a type of naturally-occurring sugar molecule. Amazingly, they survive the digestion process because the body can’t break them down. So they end up in the gut intact where they provide food for the healthy bacteria in the intestines.

Substances that stimulate and feed good bacteria are called prebiotics. FOS are a kind of prebiotic, and there are two kinds of FOS that are particularly healthful: inulin and oligofructose.

Both inulin and oligofructose stimulate Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli, bacteria the are essential for digestive health and strong bones. When inulin and/or oligofructose nourish these health-promoting bacteria, they strengthen them and give them an edge over not-so-healthy microbes that are also present in the gut (such as Candida and bacteria that produce toxins and pathogens).

The concept is really quite simple – the bacteria that “win” are the strongest, and to be strong, they need to be well-nourished. Inulin and oligofructose provide this nourishment.

Inulin, Oligofructose, and Your Bones

Inulin and oligofructose are known in the scientific community as “fructans.” This has to do with their molecular structure.
A fascinating study shows that these two fructans promote bone health by enhancing calcium and magnesium absorption.

“Scientific studies have suggested that fructans stimulate the growth of healthful bacteria in the large intestine in a way that increases the body’s absorption of minerals, including the calcium and magnesium important for bone growth.”²

This is not the only study that shows how inulin and oligofructose are good for your bones. According to a report published in the Journal of Nutrition:

“It has been shown in over 10 studies that inulin and oligofructose increase both the absorption and the deposition of calcium in the bones of rats and humans. … There are promising indications that inulin and oligofructose may contribute to the prevention of osteoporosis.”³

In addition, inulin and oligofructose…

Promote Bone Remodeling and Resorption

As “Savers” know, remodeling is the process by which your body sheds old bone and replenishes it with new, healthy bone. This process is vital to bone strength and integrity.

“Both experimental and human data already support the hypothesis that the beneficial effects of inulin-type fructans target not only the mineral absorption phase but also other aspects of bone health, especially bone mineralization, bone density, and bone accretion and resorption, i.e., bone turnover.”⁴

Where to Obtain Inulin and Oligofructose

You may be wondering now about the sources of inulin and oligofructose. The good news is that when you follow the Save Our Bones Program, you’re ahead of the game. You see, many Foundation Foods described in the Program contain both inulin and oligofructose.

Foods that Contain Inulin and Oligofructose

Several foods are particularly high in inulin and oligofructose, and most of them, as I mentioned earlier, are Foundation Foods in the Save Our Bones Program.

• Onions*
• Bananas*
• Garlic
• Asparagus*
• Tomatoes*
• Barley*
• Chicory
• Artichoke*
• Leeks

*Foundation Food

In the Save Our Bones Recipe Sampler, you’ll find all kinds of ways to prepare and serve these foods, and more!

Prebiotics Team Up with Probiotics to Boost Bone Health

As I mentioned above, prebiotics feed and nourish the good bacteria, or probiotics, in your gut. So if prebiotics are essential, then it stands to reason that probiotics are, too. Nourishing a healthy colony of probiotics is a big part of maintaining both your overall health and the health of your bones.

Unfortunately, widely-prescribed antibiotics kill off many of these friendly bacteria. While antibiotics are necessary in certain situations, the medical community has over-prescribed them to the point that many disease-causing bacteria have learned resistance to various antibiotics. And of course, antibiotics decimate the probiotics in your gut.

The overuse of antibiotics is a serious problem. Dr. Scott Mumby addresses this problem and offers practical, insightful solutions in his book, How to Survive in a World Without Antibiotics.

Here are some of the stunning (and sometimes disturbing) facts you’ll discover in Dr. Mumby’s book:

• New strains of deadly, antibiotic-resistant bacteria are emerging at an alarming rate.
• Old diseases like tuberculosis, once easily controlled with antibiotics, are returning with a vengeance.
• Good news: we have a rich heritage of natural antibiotics just waiting to be rediscovered.
• The real cause of disease has less to do with pathogenic bacteria than you may think.
• How bacteria learn antibiotic resistance.
• How you can be proactive in preparing for a “world without antibiotics”.
• Dr. Mumby has put it all together in a comprehensive, scientifically-backed report that lists many viable alternatives to antibiotics.

If you’d like more information on How to Survive in a World Without Antibiotics and to order Dr. Mumby’s book, please click here →

Stay healthy!

References

¹ Russel, Robert M. “Factors in Aging that Effect [sic] the Bioavailability of Nutrients.” Journal of Nutrition. April 1, 2001. Vol. 131 no. 4 13595-13615. Web. http://jn.nutrition.org/content/131/4/1359S.long
² Roberfriod, Marcel B. “Inulin-Type Fructans: Functional Food Ingredients.” Journal of Nutrition. November 2007. Vol. 137 no. 11 24935-25025. Web. http://jn.nutrition.org/content/137/11/2493S.full
³ Niness, Kathy R. “Inulin and Oligofructose: What Are They?” Journal of Nutrition. July 1, 1999. Vol. 129 no. 7 14025-1406s. Web. http://jn.nutrition.org/content/129/7/1402S.full
⁴ Coxam V. “Inulin-type fructans and bone health: state of the art and perspectives in the management of osteoporosis.” Br J Nutr. 2005;93: Suppl 1:S111–23.

But it’s not all bad. There’s also some encouraging news showing that a growing number of osteoporosis “patients” are making independent decisions about their bone health.

So let’s get started with the bad, the sneaky, and the good.

So today I am going to share with you three easy things you can ...]]> If you braved a long and cold winter this past year, I’m sure you’re looking forward to the warm sun-filled days of summer. Chances are that as you put away your winter clothes and get your bathing suits out, you’ll notice that it’s a good time to get in shape for the coming season.

So today I am going to share with you three easy things you can do to prep your body and your bones for summer so you’ll feel and look your best. Let’s get started!

#1 – Get Your Skin Ready

How many times has this happened to you? It’s the first warm and sunny day of summer, and you stay outside a little too long and get a sunburn. Ouch! While moderate sun exposure is good – even essential – for your bones, sunburns are never a good idea.

Believe it or not, proper nutrition can make a big difference. Eating the right foods can protect your skin against sunburn and nourish your bones. And one compound found in abundance in colorful vegetables can do that and more.

Beta-Carotene: the “Sunscreen” Nutrient

Beta-carotene is a carotenoid, an important antioxidant that gives foods like carrots and bell peppers their bright yellow and orange colors. It’s also present in many dark green vegetables.

While no nutrient can give you complete protection from burning, beta-carotene is a great way to get your skin ready for the amount of sun exposure that can benefit your bones.

What’s the Best Way to Get More Beta-Carotene?

A meta-analysis of multiple beta-carotene studies shows that “beta-carotene supplementation protects against sunburn…protection required a minimum of 10 weeks of supplementation with a mean increase of the protective effect of 0.5 standard deviations with every additional month of supplementation. Thus, dietary supplementation of humans with beta-carotene provides protection against sunburn in a time-dependent manner.”¹

The key lies in taking supplements or eating foods rich in beta-carotene consistently for a period of 10 weeks, and avoiding synthetic beta-carotene. These are foods with high beta-carotene content:

• Carrots (naturally!)
• Watermelon
• Cantaloupe
• Sweet potatoes
• Kale
• Spinach
• Mustard Greens
• Turnip Greens
• Collard Greens
• Butternut Squash
• Apricots

Five servings daily of these and other foods high in beta-carotene for 10 weeks can help get your skin ready to take on healthy summer sun exposure.

More than Just a Skin Protectant

Beta-carotene does more than just protect your skin – it beautifies it, too. In fact, research has shown that beta-carotene can actually give your skin the look of a “tan.” Lead researcher Dr. Ian Stephen, from the School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus says this:

“Most people think the best way to improve skin colour is to get a suntan, but our research shows that eating lots of fruit and vegetables is actually more effective.”²

So when you eat 5 servings daily of some of those healthful foods mentioned above, you’re not only helping your bones; you’re letting your beautiful diet show through your glowing skin!

#2 – Get Well Hydrated

The importance of drinking plenty of pure water cannot be overemphasized. I’ve written a great deal about the importance of water to your bone health. In fact, I devoted an entire week to this crucial subject! That’s because water is vital to the health of your bones and your whole body. How do you know if you’re getting enough?

Again with the Skin…

Your bones may be crying out for water, but the main indication may be on your skin. In fact, your skin is an excellent indicator of your state of hydration. This is because, when the body is deprived of water, it must ration it out among the body’s various systems.

The liver, kidneys, blood, brain, and digestive system take precedence – they get the available water first. Then what’s left (if any) goes to other body organs and systems, like the skin. If your body is rationing water, then, you’re going to start seeing it on the outside.

Medical professionals use this simple test to see if you’re dehydrated, and you can do it too: pinch up the skin on the back of your hand. Pull it upwards and then let it go. Does your skin snap back rapidly, or is it sluggish? Does it maintain the pinched shape? If the skin drops slowly or stays in the pinched-up shape, then you may be dehydrated.

So your skin, once again, is letting you know that something’s amiss in your body.

Your Bones Need Water

Drinking pure, distilled water helps create an alkaline environment in the body, and water is necessary to carry and deliver crucial nutrients, like calcium, to your bones. Water is involved in every cellular process, so it plays a vital role in bone remodeling.

#3 – Get Inspired to Look and Feel Your Best by Slimming Down

Wearing less clothing during the hot summer season is actually a good thing – it helps you achieve that healthy sun exposure mentioned above. After all, the more skin you expose to the sun, the better the benefits. But excess weight can make you uncomfortable about wearing more revealing clothing, thereby depriving you of that healthy sunlight.

But Won’t Excess Weight Help my Bones?

There’s a common misconception that excess weight will help build your bones. After all, isn’t it “weight-bearing exercise” that helps build bone? Yes, weight-bearing exercise is key to increasing bone density, but that weight needs to come from the action of gravity on your moving body, or from moderate exercise weights. If that weight comes from excess body fat, it actually harms your bones by increasing bone loss.

A study led by Harvard Medical School radiologist and assistant professor Dr. Miriam Bredella shows the connection between being overweight and having low bone density. Excess weight in the abdominal area – belly fat – is a particular culprit in stealing bone density. In the study, high levels of deep abdominal fat were directly correlated with lower bone mineral density. Interestingly, the subcutaneous fat – superficial fat or fat that’s just under your skin – was not shown to have the same negative effect on bone mineral density.³

Given that information about superficial fat, it’s important to remember that this isn’t about achieving a certain look. It’s not a competition. We are not all built the same, and how boring things would be if we all had the same body type and size! The key is to be the optimal weight for you.

Need Some Inspiration?

Maybe you’ve already “been there and done that” with weight loss. That’s understandable, given all the various “diet plans” out there. Each one guarantees weight loss, but they fail to answer this crucial question: what causes overeating?

Without answering this question, it’s impossible to get to the heart of the issue. That’s why so many diet plans just don’t work. They’re all about following a certain diet of deprivation for a period of time, then you “go off” your diet and you’re back on the track to weight gain again.

Learning the principle behind what causes weight gain can help you gain control of what you eat. The video below introduces Fast Track to Weight Loss, a program that does just that. Here are some of the thing’s you’ll learn:

• Why you crave certain foods, especially at night
• What foods you can “overeat” that will actually help you lose weight
• The role of nutrients in weight loss

The video will take you to an introduction and explanation of the weight loss system, which is contained on five CDs.

Please click here if you’d like to view this insightful video about Fast Track to Weight Loss →

Unfortunately, you can’t stop or rewind the video; but you can click on the link again and start over.

I hope you’ll enjoy this summer as the very healthiest you!

References

¹ Kopcke, W. and Krutmann, J. “Protection from sunburn with beta-Carotene—a meta-analysis.” Photochemistry and Photobiology. 2008 April. 84(2):284-8.

³ Bredella, Torriani, et al. “Musculoskeletal (Metabolic Conditions and  Osteoporosis) Detrimental Effects of Visceral Obesity on Bone Health.” Radiological Society of North America. Presented on November 30th, 2010.

There’s a crunchy and alkalizing little vegetable that’s a bone health treasure trove, containing no less than nine Foundation Supplements, yet it’s often overlooked. It also happens to be at its best ...]]> After an unusually long winter, spring is finally here. And as the weather warms up, it’s a great time to look for the season’s freshest produce that can also help you build your bones.

There’s a crunchy and alkalizing little vegetable that’s a bone health treasure trove, containing no less than nine Foundation Supplements, yet it’s often overlooked. It also happens to be at its best this time of year.

The Radish: A Good Source of Vitamin C… and Much More…

The alkalizing radish is a member of the mustard family, and it comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. The most common variety is bright red-and-white, but all varieties contain Vitamin C, a Foundation Supplement.

In fact, there are 8.6 mg of this bone smart vitamin and antioxidant in a half-cup serving of raw radishes. If you’ve been following the Save Our Bones Program, you’re familiar with the importance of antioxidants in bone health. And no less important is the fact that Vitamin C is essential for the production of collagen and bone formation.

It’s Impressive How Much Nutritional Power is Packed Into These Little Veggies!

Below is the list of other Foundation Supplements found in radishes:

• Vitamin K is a bone health superstar. Researchers were amazed to find out that Vitamin K is crucial in maintaining healthy bones. They discovered that Vitamin K is essential to the formation of new bone, playing a complex role in the process.
• Magnesium is crucial to more than 300 body processes, and it’s vital for calcium absorption.
• Calcium is “the” bone-health mineral, and while it’s not the only one, there’s no denying its importance. If you’re looking for a plant-based source of this mineral, radishes are a crisp, colorful option!
• Zinc is often overlooked with regard to bone health. But it actually helps regulate bone turnover, or remodeling. Studies have shown that individuals with osteoporosis often have low levels of zinc.
• Folate, Niacin (B3), Pyridoxine, and Riboflavin, all of which are B vitamins that act synergistically with each other and with Vitamin B12.
• Flavonoid antioxidants, such as beta carotene, zeaxanthin and lutein.

Who knew that little radish on the side of your plate had so much to offer?

Not Among the Dirty Dozen

There’s another important characteristic of radishes: they are not on the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” list. So it’s not likely that they are contaminated with pesticides. Whether you get the conventional or organic kind, select smooth-skinned and firm bulbs with vibrant leaves (if still attached).

A Different Way to Enjoy Radishes

There is more to the radish than just a crunchy salad addition. For an interesting antipasto dish, try this delicious and easy to prepare recipe.

Enjoy!

But then I began to wonder – why did it take so long for this information to surface? After all, I ...]]> When I read a brand new study just published last week in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, it was like a breath of fresh air. “At last! Mainstream scientists are telling the truth about this toxic and dangerous osteoporosis drug”, I thought to myself.

But then I began to wonder – why did it take so long for this information to surface? After all, I wrote about these very same issues six years ago in the Save Our Bones Program.

I knew there had to be good reasons for the delay in getting this crucial information out. And after a bit of detective work, I found out why. Today, you will too. But first…

The Study

For this study,¹ 40 postmenopausal women were divided into 2 groups of 20 each. One group received a zoledronic acid (Reclast) injection. The other group received a placebo – a solution of harmless saline solution. Then the researchers tested for changes in the participants’ levels of a particular protein that regulates bone resorption.

The protein is called sclerostin, and it is crucial to the proper bone remodeling that takes place in your body every day. Simply put, bone remodeling involves the shedding of old bone cells, followed by new bone cell formation.

Sclerostin is produced by osteocytes, cells that are found in mature bone. It plays a relevant role in the remodeling process, since among other functions, it stops the production of new bone by osteoblasts.

Participants on Reclast Showed a Marked Increase in Sclerostin Levels

What does this mean?

As I’ve been saying all along, this means that Reclast (zoledronic acid) stops new bone formation, just like the rest of the bisphosphonates. The new study now pinpoints the main reason why: by increasing the levels of sclerostin. (Remember, these results can be applied to any bisphosphonate, because that’s exactly what zoledronic acid is.)

Quoting the study’s lead researcher:

“ ‘The key to effectively treating osteoporosis lies in increasing bone mass,” said the study’s lead author, Antonino Catalano, MD, PhD, of the University of Messina in Italy. ‘Zoledronic acid halts bone loss, but it also signals the body to stop forming new bone mass. The drug may need to be combined with other treatments to add bone mass.’ ”¹

Notice how the researcher avoids the “new” problems with his discovery. Instead of saying that bisphosphonates are useless, he came up with the ridiculous recommendation of combining zoledronic acid with other drug “treatments” (more on this later).

Fortunately, this is not breaking news for the Save Our Bones Community. “Savers” know that the process of bone remodeling is absolutely crucial to bone health. I’ve written about the importance of bone remodeling from the get-go – it’s one of the foundational elements of Save Our Bones Program. In fact, I devote an entire chapter in the Program to this vital process of bone breakdown, followed by bone renewal.

Inhibiting Bone Loss Also Inhibits New Bone Formation

That’s exactly what I wrote in the Save Our Bones Program six years ago. Quoting the Program, here’s one example of many:

“Bisphosphonates attach themselves to the bone matrix, altering its normal function by affecting the normal replacement of old bone with new bone. Indeed, bone loss can be reduced; but at what price? A very high price, because what the makers of these prescription drugs don’t mention is that, as explained in Chapter 3, inhibiting bone loss also inhibits new bone formation. Bones remain thick, but old bone is more prone to fractures than less dense yet
more flexible newer bone.”

So you see, losing bone regularly is important to bone health. Unless you shed the worn out bone cells, the remodeling process comes to a halt. That is why the Save Our Bones Program emphasizes tensile strength and flexibility over density and hardness.

Getting rid of osteoporosis and improving your bone health is really simple if you work with your body’s natural processes. But the drug companies don’t like the simplicity of this concept. They’d rather complicate things so uninformed “patients” will think that they must take osteoporosis drugs to build their bones.

Get Ready for the Toxic Osteoporosis Drug Cocktail

In discussing the results of the above-referenced study, head researcher Catalano encouraged scientists to look out for “…an opportunity to increase bone mass by combining zoledronic acid with a drug that suppresses the resulting sclerostin’s effect.”¹

Just what we don’t need – another osteoporosis drug!

Catalano’s suggestion is to prescribe zoledronic acid as a treatment for osteoporosis, while at the same time, preventing the damaging effects the drug causes when it increases levels of sclerostin. In other words, the “solution”, according to him, is to prescribe a sclerostin-inhibiting drug along with the zoledronic acid!

An Interesting Coincidence?

Researches at Amgen, Prolia’s manufacturer, are currently working on a drug (romosozumab) that blocks sclerostin. Romosozumab has recently failed to show that it can help with fracture healing. So what better than using the same sclerotin-blocking drug along with bisphosphonates in a pathetic attempt to correct the damage caused by bisphosphonates?

If osteoporosis “patients” are given Reclast (zoledronic acid) in combination with romosozumab, we can conjecture that the outcome will involve a deviant, drug-induced version of bone remodeling. With sclerostin inhibited, will bones grow unnaturally dense or even grow spurs or perhaps other abnormalities? We can’t say for sure, but given osteoporosis drugs’ dubious and damaging past, who would want to be the guinea pig?

Old Drugs Mean New Search for Profits

Another odd coincidence is the sudden scramble for new and different osteoporosis drugs, such as romosozumab. But most likely, it’s not a coincidence. Why? Because the patents of many bisphosphonates are about to expire. Big Pharma now has a good reason to come out with new osteoporosis drugs in their rush to keep its monopoly on prescription osteoporosis treatments.

And guess which drug is on the patent expiration list? If you guessed Reclast, you’re right.

You see, when drug patents expire, sales decline, because Big Pharma loses its exclusive rights to market the patented brand-name drug. Then, as if by magic, the suppressed negative information on soon-to-expire drugs becomes available.

The Medical Establishment’s Mentality

It seems as though mainstream science and, by extension, the Medical Establishment, are operating on “auto pilot” – Big Pharma’s mindset is always piloting the healthcare plane! They only think in terms of treating every health condition with drugs, and because this mentality is so deeply entrenched in “Modern Medicine,” it’s not likely to change any time soon.

The Save Our Bones Mentality

Thankfully, the Save Our Bones community is way ahead of the times. Its mentality is entirely opposite from that of Mainstream Medicine. Because this is the basic approach of the Save Our Bones Program: osteoporosis is not a disease, and drugs are not necessary to treat it. Instead, osteoporosis is the body’s response to an unbalanced environment in the body, which is easily corrected with the right diet, exercises, and lifestyle changes.

When you nurture a healthy, balanced body environment, your bones respond positively, just as they responded negatively to the unbalanced environment by developing osteoporosis.

Drugs Have No Place in Osteoporosis Management

All of this confirms that if you’ve never taken osteoporosis drugs (or if you’ve ditched them), you can be proud of yourself, because you’ve made the right decision. If you’re still not sure about stopping the osteoporosis drugs, rest assured that more and more negative information on those drugs will continue to come out over time. This is particularly true when the patents are about to expire!

I hope that if you’re still doubting whether to stop the osteoporosis drugs, this study on Reclast and the subsequent explanation of how Big Pharma really works will give you the confidence to stop them once and for all.

Till next time,

References

¹ Catalano, Antonio, MD, PhD, et al. “Zoledronic Acid Acutely Increases Sclerostin Serum Levels in Women with Postmenopausal Osteoporosis.” The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. doi:10. 1210/jc.2012-4039. April 17, 2013. Web. http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/early/2013/04/17/jc.2012-4039.abstract?sid=d4c7c0aa-eb9d-4599-88c8-a7887c9385b6

Today, you’ll find out if you’ve been taking them, and if so, what you should take ...]]> Could you be taking two supplements that are harming your bones? You might think there’s no way; but think again. Shockingly, these two supplements are considered to be essential for bone health – even by the Medical Establishment – and doctors routinely recommend and prescribe them to their osteoporosis and osteopenia patients.

Today, you’ll find out if you’ve been taking them, and if so, what you should take instead.

Formula Matters

The supplements in question are actually crucial to the health of your bones. However, the difference is in their formulas. These two superstars of the osteoporosis world work synergistically with each other, so it’s vital that both of them are taken in a form your body can use. And while they may need no introduction in name, we do need to introduce the formulaic differences among supplements of…

Vitamin D and Calcium

If you were prescribed Vitamin D and/or calcium by your doctor, then chances are you were given the wrong formula. Here’s why:

Mainstream Medicine’s Blunder #1: Vitamin D

When doctors prescribe Vitamin D – usually after blood tests show a deficiency – it’s almost invariably D2, also called ergocalciferol. And when Vitamin D is added to foods to “fortify” them (such as cow’s milk, for example), it’s always D2. But all Vitamin D is not the same.

Vitamin D2 is far less effective than Vitamin D3. It’s not absorbed well by the body, but Mainstream Medicine continues to treat Vitamins D2 and D3 interchangeably. This study from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition couldn’t be more clear in its conclusion about the inferiority of Vitamin D2:

“Despite an emerging body of evidence suggesting several plausible explanations for the greater bioefficacy of vitamin D3, the form of vitamin D used in major preparations of prescriptions in North America is vitamin D2. … Vitamin D2, or ergocalciferol, should not be regarded as a nutrient suitable for supplementation or fortification.”¹

In the above study, it was revealed that D2 and D3 do not follow the same metabolic pathway as previously thought. In addition, D2 was shown to be quite unstable, and prone to toxic contamination due to the way it’s manufactured. “Vitamin D2 is synthetically produced from irradiation of ergosterol derived from the mold ergot”¹ the authors state in the study. (Yuck.) In contrast, “vitamin D3 is manufactured in a similar manner to that which occurs naturally in human and animal skin.”¹

How Vitamin D is Supposed to Work

Interestingly, Vitamin D is also a hormone. So it has some interesting regulatory roles in the body as well. It regulates the calcium and phosphorous in bone remodeling, and helps maintain blood calcium levels. In addition, Vitamin D stimulates calcium absorption in the intestine.

In the liver, your body forms a precursor to Vitamin D. This precursor reacts to sunlight to form Vitamin D3 in the skin. The D3 is then further processed in the liver and kidneys to form a hormone.

This is yet another reason why it makes sense that Vitamin D3, derived from natural sources, is the supplement of choice.

Mainstream Medicine’s Blunder #2: Calcium

Typically, doctors will tell those with low bone density to “take calcium” or “drink milk.” But they make no distinction between the organic forms of this mineral and the inorganic. And chances are, prescribed calcium is inorganic. Now, don’t get me wrong. The body can effectively utilize small doses of inorganic calcium, but when doctors prescribe or recommend calcium, the dosage is typically around 1,000 mg a day.

The most common calcium supplements are made of carbonate, citrate (which is easier to digest than carbonate), dolomite, di-calcium phosphate, tri-calcium phosphate, coral, oyster shell or bone meal, and all variations of amino-acid chelated calcium (which are the most bioavailable of all the above forms of calcium). While they may have different names, they all have one thing in common: they are all inorganic.

This kind of calcium is not easily bioavailable, especially in large quantities, which most likely explains it’s association with increased risk of heart attack.

Calcium Carbonate is an Industrial Mineral

Calcium carbonate is also widely used as an industrial mineral. Some interesting information from the Industrial Minerals Association of North America shows just how “industrial” calcium carbonate really is. It’s produced from marble, quarry rocks, or by mixing carbon dioxide with a solution of calcium hydroxide. It’s more compact than chalk, making it even harder for your body to break down and use. In fact, here are some of the ways calcium carbonate used in industry:

• To make the rough surface on sandpaper
• It’s pressed into chalk (in school, you were writing on the chalkboard with the same stuff in the average calcium supplement!)
• Used as a filler in paper, plastics, paints – it’s particularly effective as a coating pigment.
• Used as a filler in adhesives and sealants
• It’s an ingredient in cement and mortar
• Calcium carbonate is used to make steel and glass

Needless to say, this is not something we should put into our bodies!

A note about eggshells – they are not an organic form of calcium; they are 95% calcium carbonate.

In the Save Our Bones Program, I only recommend…

Organic Calcium

This means calcium derived from living plant sources. Our bodies are designed to consume plant foods like fruits and vegetables; they’re not designed to digest rocks. That’s why our bodies can only effectively process organic forms of calcium derived from foods we eat. That’s why organic calcium is more bioavailable. It’s that simple.

In fact, this is the case with all minerals, not just Vitamin D and calcium. An organic source is always more bioavailable than an inorganic one. Think about it – would you rather get your iron from a metal nail or from eating spinach?

Finding a good source of organic calcium can be tricky, I’ve found…

A Highly Bioavailable Organic Calcium Supplement

Not too long ago, I received a product sample of an organic, whole-food calcium supplement made with Algaecal®, which is calcium derived from a marine algae, and it’s called TrueOsteo™. And soon after, I wrote a post about it.

In case you missed it, you’ll be glad to know that TrueOsteo™ also includes crucial Foundation Supplements such as magnesium, Vitamin K2, Vitamin D3, and other bone-smart trace minerals.

And what makes TrueOsteo™ different from other organic calcium supplements is that it contains valuable extracts from fruits and plants:

• Amla fruit extract: also known as Indian gooseberry, this is a rich source of organic Vitamin C, which is a Foundation Supplement that helps build collagen – one of its many bone-related functions. Amla fruit extract is also a potent anti-inflammatory and can help with digestion, aiding the proper digestion and absorption of bone-healthy nutrients.
• Cilantro leaf extract and Chlorella algae: together, these two botanicals can help you detoxify your body and protect you from the buildup of unwanted heavy metals like mercury.
• Ashwagandha: studies have shown that the ashwaganda plant extract Sensoril® reduces the levels of cortisol in the body by double digits, helping protect your bones from the damaging effects of the stress hormone cortisol.² And since the extract balances cortisol levels, if your cortisol levels are normal, Sensoril® won’t cause them to drop.

You may already know this from previous posts, but it bears repeating. Because I was so impressed with TrueOsteo’s ingredient combination, I contacted the manufacturer and arranged for an exclusive 20% off coupon just for Save Our Bones community members.

In addition, TrueOsteo offers a one-year, money-back guarantee. So you can return any remaining bottles of the supplement any time over the next year, and you’ll receive a full refund.

Please note that TrueOsteo only ships to the U.S., Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. My apologies to you if you live in other areas of the world.

If you’d like to order TrueOsteo™ at 20% off, click the link below and enter the coupon code SAVEOURBONES at the checkout page.

Get TrueOsteo today →

Exclusive 20% OFF TrueOsteo Coupon Code for Save Our Bones Readers!

Use coupon code: SAVEOURBONES at checkout to get 20% off your order!

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Till next time,

References

¹ Houghton, Lisa A. and Vieth, Reinhold. “The case against ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) as a vitamin supplement.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. October 2006. vol. 84 no. 4, 694-697. Web. http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/84/4/694.full

² Biswajit A, PhD et al. “A Standardized Whitania Somnifera Extract Significantly Reduces Stress-Related Parameters in Chronically Stressed Humans: A Double-blind Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study. Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association. (JANA) Vol. 11, No 1, 2008.

You see, while this was a monumental discovery that ...]]> Not too long ago, the concept of hand-washing to prevent the communication of disease was laughed at. No one knew that germs existed – people couldn’t see them, so they couldn’t believe they existed. Later, microscopic disease-causing microbes like bacteria and viruses were discovered, and the face of medicine changed forever… but not always in a good way.

You see, while this was a monumental discovery that gave rise to the “germ theory,” it put all “germs” on the bad list. Medical science took the concept of hand-washing into overkill territory, sterilizing everything and always looking for a microbe to kill when there is a health problem.

Delving into the realm of the microscopic once again, another scientific discovery has been made that is just as monumental. In fact, this discovery also has the potential to change the way we view disease on a fundamental level. This research takes some of those germs off the bad list and places them squarely in the spotlight – the good spotlight!

Mainstream Science (Finally) Gets a Clue from Nature

It looks like mainstream science might be heading in the right direction – at least as far as this new discovery is involved. For once it’s a product of nature, not a synthetic chemical that is being lauded as the latest bone-builder. And this product of nature has been in existence for thousands of years, and it’s already inside your own body and in your environment. Quite simply, it’s the friendly bacteria known as probiotics.

Probiotics can have an amazing effect on the body, but their effect on bone health is just coming to light. And these friendly flora work amazingly fast – in fact, a recent study showed bone-building results in just 4 weeks (more on this later).

Probiotics: the Anti-Antibiotic

The word “probiotic” is a combination of the Latin word pro (meaning “for”) and the Greek word for life, bios. Unlike antibiotics, which kill off large numbers of beneficial living organisms, probiotics promote and add to the numbers of living microbes in your system. Why would you want to increase the number of germs in your body?

Because Some Germs are Good for You

That’s right. “Savers” are surely well aware that some germs – specifically, certain bacteria – are actually good for you. In fact, research is indicating that these tiny organisms are not only good for you, but essential. This is the scientific breakthrough that has the potential to change how we view health care and medicine forever.

Sometimes referred to as “gut flora” or “good bacteria,” probiotics reside in your gut and play important roles in your health, and that includes the health of your bones. Here are some of the things that probiotics do:

• Synthesize Vitamins K, B9 (folic acid), and B12 – Foundation Supplements
• Reduce inflammation
• Help detoxify the body
• Promote healthy digestion
• Guard against disease-causing bacteria (pathogens)
• Boost the immune system
• Strengthen your bones (more on this below!)

The Study: Probiotics Increase Bone Density in Mice

Researchers at Michigan State University (MSU) conducted an intriguing study on bone density. They fed male mice a probiotic supplement (specifically, Lactobacillus reuteri – more on that below) that is a known inflammation reducer. Why would scientists use an anti-inflammatory in this experiment on bone density? Lead author of the study and professor at MSU, Laura McCabe, explains:

“We know that inflammation in the gut can cause bone loss, though it’s unclear exactly why,” she says. “The neat thing we found is that a probiotic can enhance bone density.”¹

This professor is echoing what we’ve been saying at Save Our Bones for some time: inflammation hurts your bones, which is why the Save Our Bones Program puts such an emphasis on antioxidant-rich foods and supplements that reduce inflammation.

Inflammation is part of the body’s healing process, but when it becomes chronic – especially in response to infection – it can be harmful. The MSU researchers noted that osteoporosis is not just a condition that affects postmenopausal women; people with inflammatory bowel disease or Type I diabetes, for example, are also at risk for developing osteoporosis, they said.

Meanwhile, Back in the Lab…

The mice in the study were fed the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri. This detail is important, because this particular bacterium has evolved along with humans after thousands of years of ingestion in fermented foods, scientists say. Therefore, its presence is essential and its absence harmful.

After 4 weeks, the femurs of the mice (all males in this study) showed significant increase in density.¹ These same researchers also pointed out that mice are not people, of course; but this fascinating look into the role of an ancient bacterium in promoting bone health definitely needs to be investigated further. This is fertile ground for research and discovery!

One Thing we Can Say for Certain is That We Shouldn’t Destroy our Gut Flora

As research moves forward into more astonishing news about the importance of healthy bacteria in the gut, medical treatment may begin to move away from the germ-killing sterilization so common today and into a more probiotic, life-friendly realm.

In fact, research is showing more and more that our bowels are like our immune system’s command center. When our bowels are unhealthy, the whole body – including the bones – suffers.

Doctor Keith Scott-Mumby Puts it All Together

This is the kind of vital information that Dr. Keith Scott-Mumby reveals in his latest book, Fire in the Belly. The book underscores the destructive force of inflammation, showing how it is the number one destroyer of tissue and organs. And more than 95% of the body’s inflammatory processes take place in the gut, where it’s warm and dark and perfect for microbes to thrive.

Dr. Mumby delves into breakthrough territory, revealing the remarkable genetic connection between our intestinal flora and our human genes. Remember how the MSU researchers conjectured that one strain (at least) of human gut bacteria had evolved along with humans? Fire in the Belly reveals that the microbes’ genes actually communicate with our human cells, telling them what to do. So when these microbes set up an inflammatory response to anything from heavy metals to foods you’re allergic to, they communicate that inflammatory response to all your other cells.

Dr. Mumby also shows how the bowels really do act as a command center, actually exhibiting an ability to “think.” Scientists are discovering that our bowels are far more complex than we ever realized before; it’s almost as if we have a second brain in our bellies! In fact, over 90% of our serotonin is in the gut. So it makes sense that our moods are affected by all this inflammation, too.
You may be wondering…

What Else is in This Book?

Fire in the Belly is chock-full information that has the potential to change the way we approach medicine and health. Here are some of the things you’ll learn:

• Key symptoms that point to chronic inflammation
• Why the symptoms are so diverse and confusing that most doctors miss the diagnosis
• Why tiny variants in genes play such a major part in creating “fire in the belly”
• How to quiet down inflammation using proper nutrients
• How to rebuild a friendly colony of healthful bacteria, even after you damaged it with antibiotics and unwise eating habits

Healthy Gut = Healthy Bones

Putting it all together, we can take the research from the MSU study about probiotics and bone density and Dr. Mumby’s research and recent book, and combine it with the knowledge that inflammation hurts bones. And from this we can draw a healthful conclusion: a healthy gut keeps inflammation at bay, and low inflammation is vital for healthy bones.

That’s why I want to share Dr. Mumby’s book with you today. Finally, someone has the “guts” to come forward with the crucial information!

You can learn more about Fire in the Belly, including how to purchase your copy at a discount along with a free bonus by clicking here →

Stay healthy!

References

¹ McCabe, Laura, et al. “Probiotic use decreases intestinal inflammation and increases bone density in healthy male but not female mice.” Journal of Cellular Physiology. DOI: 10.1002/jcp.24340. Web. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jcp.24340/abstract