Sometimes my research reveals some startling truths. In the case of today’s topic, I can say that this genetic phenomenon has been one of the most positive and exciting revelations I’ve ever discovered with regards to bone health. And your doctor probably doesn’t even know about it.
After being diagnosed with osteoporosis, I quickly realized that it can be easily reversed without drugs, even if osteoporosis (or osteopenia) runs in your family.
Today we’ll delve into the fascinating realm of genetics and learn more about the recent ground-breaking research on this topic that gives yet more ammunition to reverse and prevent osteoporosis.
Nobel Prize-Winning Genetic Research
Back in 1985, a remarkable scientist, Elizabeth Blackburn, and her assistant, Carol Greider (both at UC Berkeley at the time) discovered a brand-new enzyme they named telomerase. This amazing and somewhat enigmatic enzyme lengthens key genetic components known as telomeres.
Blackburn’s and Greider’s discovery led to their winning the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2009. Blackburn and her colleagues continue to research this fascinating field, branching into new realms including the risk of disease and the science of aging.
What The Telomere Tells Us
These bits of DNA called telomeres are attached to all 46 chromosomes in every cell of your body. They act as a sort of hourglass to determine your rate of aging…and remarkably, their activity can sometimes run in reverse.
Each time your cells replicate themselves in the renewal process, the telomeres, activated by telomerase, tend to shorten slightly. Research suggests that the presence of telomerase prevents and decreases telomere shortening. This is significant, because longer telomeres (and by extension, higher levels of telomerase) are associated with longer, healthier lives most likely due to the avoidance of chronic modern “diseases”.
What Telomere Length Means For Your Bones
A 2007 study reveals the correlation between telomere length and osteoporosis. Scientists studied leukocyte telomere length in 2,150 women between the ages of 18 and 79. The researchers made proper adjustments for various factors such as age, hormone replacement therapy, smoking, etc., and made this shocking conclusion:
“Clinical osteoporosis was associated with shorter telomeres, suggesting that telomere length can be used as a marker of bone aging,” and “Shortened leukocyte telomere length is independently associated with a decrease in BMD [bone mineral density] and the presence of osteoporosis in women.” 1
The association between telomere length and osteoporosis is so evident that the scientists suggested telomere length as a way to determine the presence of osteoporosis. Amazing!
Can Telomeres Be Lengthened?
The good news is, research shows us some definite things you can do that will help prevent your telomeres from shortening (and lengthening those that have shortened already). The jury is still out regarding whether telomere length is the driving force behind younger bones, or if it is a consequence of it. Either way, this genetic component must be addressed if you want to turn back the clock on your bones.
The secret is to keep your levels of the crucial enzyme, telomerase, high enough to rebuild the telomeres and prevent them from shortening. Here are some ways you can do that.
- Eat an alkalizing diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, as described in the Osteoporosis Reversal Program.
- Engage actively in stress relief. It’s been shown that stress not only decreases bone density; it affects telomere length as well. (More on this topic in a moment)
- Avoid sugary sodas. There are already plenty of reasons to do so, but now research has found a direct link between drinking soda and telomere length. The study involved 5,309 participants, aged 20 to 65.
After adjustment for sociodemographic and health-related characteristics, sugar-sweetened soda consumption was associated with shorter telomeres,” researchers concluded. “Regular consumption of sugar-sweetened sodas might influence metabolic disease development through accelerated cell aging.” 2
- Get plenty of Omega-3 fatty acids, which is emphasized in the Osteoporosis Reversal Program. Higher levels of Omega-3s help maintain telomere length, and also increase the likelihood that they will lengthen. 3
- Eat foods rich in antioxidants, many of which are Foundation Foods in the Osteoporosis Reversal Program. Vitamins C, a Foundation Supplement, is particularly effective at protecting telomeres from oxidative damage. 4 Foundation Foods high in Vitamin C include:
Citrus fruits
Strawberries
Raspberries
Cantaloupe
Tomatoes
Bell peppers
ParsleyAccording to the same study, Vitamin E is also a key vitamin/antioxidant that protects telomeres against free radical damage.
- Vitamin D, which is best derived from sunlight, is also related to longer telomeres.
Notably, researchers found that getting the above nutrients from taking multivitamins did help lengthen telomeres, but “…higher intakes of vitamins C and E from foods were each associated with longer telomeres, even after adjustment for multivitamin use.”4 One of the researchers, Dr. Christine G. Parks, noted that “eating a diet rich in those nutrients may be better” than relying on multivitamins.
This aligns perfectly with the Osteoporosis Reversal Program approach, which focuses on whole foods as the most bioavailable source of bone-rejuvenating Foundation Supplements.
And there’s more you can do to lengthen telomeres, something really easy, as you’ll discover next, because…
Exercise Plays A Vital Role To Lengthen Telomeres
Blackburn and her colleagues conducted a study on 63 postmenopausal women, and found that exercise offsets the telomere-shortening effects of stress.5 In fact, exercise actually increases telomerase levels according to their research.
Specifically, researchers in the above study found that the benefits of exercise kicked in after participants engaged in 42 minutes of vigorous exercise for three days, which averages out to 14 minutes per day.
Amazingly, this is really close to the amount of time you’d be exercising when you follow the Densercise™ Epidensity Training System (15 minutes, three times a week). And as the name implies, the genetic component is incorporated into the program.
You see, you’re not stuck with the bones you inherited or the bones you have now. You can do something to influence which genes are expressed and take control of the future of your bone health.
If I were to list the benefits of exercise, it would take many pages – volumes, even! And now, you can add lengthening and maintaining telomeres to that list of benefits.
If you haven’t already, now’s the time to get started. Winter is coming here in the Northern Hemisphere, when you may get stuck inside due to inclement weather. Densercise™ can be done indoors or out, so your bones don’t have to wait for spring.
There’s no need to put it off any longer. It’s time to get moving and start building younger bones!
Till next time,
References
1 Valdes, A.M., et al. “Telomere length in leukocytes correlates with bone mineral density and is shorter in women with osteoporosis.” Osteoporosis Int. 2007. 18:1203-1210. PDF.
2 Leung, Cindy W. “Soda and Cell Aging: Associations Between Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption and Leukocyte Telomere Length in Healthy Adults From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys.” American Journal of Public Health. June 21, 2014 (published online October 16, 2014). doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302151 Web. https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2014.302151?journalCode=ajph
3 Farzaneh-Far, Ramin, MD, et al. “Association of Marine Omega-3 Fatty Acid Levels With Telomeric Aging in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease.” The Journal of the American Medical Association. Jan 20, 2010; 303(3): 250. doi:10.1001/jama.2009.2008 Web. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2819264/
4 Xu, Qun, et al. “Multivitamin use and telomere length in women.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. June 2009. Vol. 89 No. 6 1857-1863. Web. https://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/89/6/1857.full
5 Puterman, Eli, et al. “The Power of Exercise: Buffering the Effect of Chronic Stress on Telomere Length.” Plose One. May 26, 2010. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0010837. Web. https://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0010837#pone-0010837-g002
There is a new test for your bones, which is given by the pharmacists – Vivian do you know much about it? I have your book, & I have not had a bone density in two years, I was just wondering if I should have this new test for the bones, which is not expensive, & the medical aid pays for it.
Thanks so much for all your research. You are incredible.
Joy
Would like to hear of new bone test mentioned in recent “comment”.
Hello Vivian I found your webpage very usefull and full of information. I want you to give me an advise my mom is being told that she has high calcium and that she has a hormone eating her bone, I don’t really have the details all I know is that the doctor give her two option for the problem either she takes a drug treatment or they make a surgery to remove the hormone that is eating the bone, she has not been diagnose with osteoporosis, but I know she has a bone problem since she is always saying that her leg bones hurts. She will have an appointment with a specialist to verify if she has osteoporosis and based on that he will recommend one of the options that I mention at the beginning and I want to know if the surgery will be her best option. Thank you.
Thanks for all your information. Keep the e-mails coming.
You’re welcome, Pat!
It doesn’t take long to print out the Densercise Exercises and I find it more convenient than using the computer.
Hope in the near future we can get DVDs or hard cover book for your Densercize program. I wanted to try Dr Al Sears telomeres
but found it too expensive.
I got Supplement from Dr. Al Sears and I testing it, I havnt finish the first bottle, a little bit expensive but if for our health, cost is not the problem as long at it works, to lengthen the telomeres and live strong, healthy and vibrant life.
Elsie, I encourage you to eat some of the delicious foods mentioned in this post as well!
That’s great news! Do you have any more details about the product to lengthen telomeres? Are they healthy for us?
….Some health food stores sell a product to help lengthen telomeres but it is expensive. I first heard about it from Dr. Oz (don’t watch him now though). It is now a word that is “out there” as a timeline to how long you will live???? Thanks for sharing how nutrition helps keep them longer.
THANKS
Dear Vivian, Thanks for all of your hard work. Your website and book help to keep motivated. Do you sell Densercize in a DVD format???
Do you have DVD’s and the Densercise excercise book hard copy if so can you let me know the prices.
Many thanks
You are welcome, Susan! And no, Densercise is not available in DVD format at this time.
Interesting article. Thanks for the info Vivian. I was wondering if you could tell us followers how your bone denstiy is doing? What is your score now and are you having to work hard at keeping it at bay or has it become just a natural state of health for you.
Hi Linda,
My initial score was -2.84, and it improved 20% in less than a year, to -2.29.
If you want to read about this further, you can find this information at https://saveourbones.com/program, under the heading “My bone density score improved by 20% without ever taking any drugs!”
I have not done another bone density test after that, and if you read the Osteoporosis Reversal Program, you will know why! 😉
Hi Vivian,
While ‘it improved 20% in less than a year, to -2.29’ does sound impressive, it is still a bad score, It’d keep you in the Osteoporosis category. I wonder why you think this is such a big deal to boost about. I hesitate to order your program just because of this sentence.
Me too Rose, but trying to follow SAB program to not take Biphosphonates. I think to really show your readers that all this works for BONE STRENGTH, Vivian, you would want to prove that your BM Density is improving to normal ?, in addition to preventing fracture. Fracture statistics not really reliable, as everyone that has Osteoporosis does not fall or have the same stresses on bones that give the Fracture. Thanks for your comments.
Me too Rose, but trying to follow SOB program to not take Biphosphonates. I think to really show your readers that all this works for BONE STRENGTH, Vivian, you would want to prove that your BM Density is improving to normal ?, in addition to preventing fracture. Fracture statistics not really reliable, as everyone that has Osteoporosis does not fall or have the same stresses on bones that give the Fracture. Thanks for your comments.
Several online entries of Holosync being a scam. It was listed under “stress relief”.
Further to my previous comment concerning my allergy to nickel, I would add that I am also allergic to steroids as I had to have 2 hip replacements due to avascular necrosis – a double whammy.
Thankyou Vivian, that was a very heartening read, it really gives me hope, I exercise 40 minutes at a time 3 days a week, with lots of little extra bits here & there. I have been on your diet now for 1 1/2 years, so hoping everything has improved, I know I feel great even if I look skinny now.
Good for you, Pearl! Given your excellent routine, chances are your bones are thriving. Keep up the good work!
Perhaps a study should be made about allergies. I am allergic to nickel, which can be found in a number of foods as avoiding nickel as much as possible can play an important part in your health.