Save Our Bones Bulletin: Cosmetics And Blood Toxins; Prescription Drug Use On The Rise, Including Osteoporosis Drugs; Alendronate Tablets Recalled; And More!

This past month has seen some intriguing (and disturbing) new developments and revelations in the world of osteoporosis. From new research on toxins in cosmetics to an osteoporosis drug recall, it’s been an interesting month to say the least.

Today we’ll look at these issues and more, so let’s get right to it!

1. New Research Reveals Toxin Build-Up Greatly Reduced When Stopping Cosmetic Use

It’s becoming more and more known that cosmetics can contain toxic ingredients, and that these toxins can be persistent in the body. Just how persistent they can be was revealed when scientists at the University of California Berkeley conducted a study on how long these chemicals remain in the body. What they found was startling.

Relevant Excerpt:

“…personal care products, including makeup, perfume, hair products and sunscreen, are made with chemicals such as phthalates, parabens, triclosan and oxybenzone, which have been shown to disrupt the body’s endocrince system… These disruptions can cause hormone imbalances and neurobehavorial problems, obesity, diabetes and cancer.

Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, sought to study how long these chemicals remain in the body. Working with a local health clinic, they asked a group of 100 girls to stop using their personal care products for three days, Medical Daily reported. …

The team found that the product break led to a significant decrease in levels of the endocrine-disrupting chemicals. In urine samples taken before and after the trial, they observed a 45 percent decrease in propyl parabens (found in cosmetics), 44 percent decrease in methyl parabens (found in cosmetics), 36 percent drop in benzophenone-3 (found in sunscreen) and triclosan (found in antibacterial soaps), and a 27 percent drop in diethyl phthalate (found in perfume).”¹

One of the researchers, Maritza Cardenas, said notably:

“Seeing the drop in chemical levels after just three days shows that simple actions can be taken, such as choosing products with fewer chemicals, and make a difference.”¹

This comment sums up the spirit of the Osteoporosis Reversal Program very well. It’s all about taking simple steps to make big changes for the better, and in the case of this study, the results of one small thing – giving up cosmetics – were extremely significant. For levels of endocrine-disrupting chemicals to drop that much after just three days’ cessation should serve as a wake-up call not only for teen girls, but also for anyone wishing to reverse bone loss. That’s because these chemicals also damage your bones.

Not only are they acidifying; but they alter normal bone remodeling at a cellular level by disrupting communication between cells… including bone cells. Additionally, these synthetic substances cause significant stress on the body’s own detoxification process, taxing the kidneys and liver and setting the stage for imbalance, organ damage, and systemic acidosis.

Yet simple steps – eating more organic fruits and vegetables, for example, or switching from synthetic to natural cosmetics – can change the balance significantly in favor of your whole body, including your bone health.

2. Drug Overload: Women Overmedicated For Osteoporosis And Record-Breaking Numbers Of Americans Take Prescription Drugs

It’s an alarming and sad trend. The American obsession with prescription drugs is worsening, and researchers from the University of California, Davis Medical Center discovered how this trend is affecting women with osteoporosis and osteopenia.

Relevant Excerpt:

“The researchers set out to estimate the frequency of osteoporosis overtreatment in a regional health center by examining 6150 women’s electronic health records. All of the women were aged 40 to 85 years and received DXA testing. …

Over the 6-year observation period, the researchers learned that 1912 women (about 31%) received new osteoporosis drug treatment, but only 1 in 5 of the total population studied had 1 or more osteoporosis risk factors.

Around three-quarters of the 2016 women with main-site osteoporosis received new drug therapy, as well as almost half of those with non-main-site osteoporosis. Another 16% with isolated osteopenia but no osteoporosis received a prescription.

In other words, patients started to receive prescriptions for drugs even though their readings from various anatomic sites are not typically used for diagnosing osteoporosis.”²

This sad state of affairs is symptomatic of a larger problem. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, prescription drug spending has risen about eight percent since 2014, and is estimated to keep rising.

Relevant Excerpt:

“Spending on prescription drugs is projected to have risen to $457 billion in 2015 and will likely continue to grow as a percentage of overall healthcare spending, a U.S. government health agency said on Tuesday. …

The agency forecast that total drug spending will grow to $535 billion in 2018 and represent about 16.8 percent of all healthcare spending. The figures are based in part on National Health Expenditure Accounts estimates from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services.”³

Considering the dangerous and even deadly nature of prescription drugs, this is disturbing news indeed. The typical protocol of Western medicine – test, diagnose, prescribe – has gotten out of control. Over-busy doctors simply don’t have time to keep up with the latest research or explore health conditions in depth, and they are not generally trained in nutrition or alternative treatments. So this dangerous trend continues.

And of course, the financial interests of Big Pharma play into this dynamic.

Thankfully, though, Savers know a better way, and are well aware that dependence on prescription drugs is not inevitable. You’re free to choose whether or not to take any drug, and to seek alternative methods of treatment.
Speaking of the dangerous nature of drugs…

3. Drug Manufacturer Sun Pharma Recalls Alendronate Tablets

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. sent out an urgent recall letter to its buyers last month, alerting them to excessive levels of an “unknown impurity” in their generic alendronate (Fosamax) tablets.

Relevant Excerpt:

“During the analysis of 3 month long term stability testing, it was noticed that observed levels of highest unknown impurity was exceeding specification limit.

These lots were distributed during September 2015 to November 2015.

Immediately examine your inventory and quarantine subject lots to this recall. Please stop distributing these lots immediately.”⁴

Aside from the drug’s intrinsic toxic nature, one of the most unsettling issues about this recall is the length of time these tainted pills may have been on the market. It’s impossible to say at this point how many and in what way individual lives were affected by these contaminated drugs, and we may never know.

Another disturbing point from the recall: Sun Pharma notes that levels of the “unknown impurity” exceeded a “specification limit.” That means that normally, certain specified amounts of this poison (and undoubtedly others) are allowed in the drug.

Of course, this is not the first recall in the realm of prescription drugs, and it’s not likely to be the last, because the bottom line is, these medications are toxic in nature. This is no secret to Savers and they are well aware that osteoporosis drugs are acidifying and ultimately damage bone.

The Osteoporosis Reversal Program Offers An Alternative, Scientifically-Backed Approach

The Medical Establishment, caught up in the test-diagnose-prescribe cycle, will view your choice to avoid osteoporosis drugs as ignorance. But nothing could be further from the truth! In fact, just the opposite is true.

The Osteoporosis Reversal Program is about empowerment through knowledge. The Program is backed by mainstream scientific studies and evidence-based data, and is the result of many years of research.

Giving up the prescription drug model and choosing alternative approaches for your bone health indicates not ignorance, but enlightenment. When you choose to take “the road less traveled” by following the Osteoporosis Reversal Program, you’re undertaking a safe, effective, scientifically-backed approach to healthier bones.

The Program gives you the tools you need to avoid osteoporosis drugs, and to be proactive about rejuvenating your bones, reversing low bone density, and boosting your overall health. Talk about empowerment!

Till next time,

References:

¹ “Taking a break from traditional beauty products drops levels of harmful chemicals in body.” FoxNews Health. March 9, 2016. Web. https://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/03/09/taking-break-from-traditional-beauty-products-drops-levels-harmful-chemicals-in-body.html

² Lutz, Rachel. “Are Women Overtreated for Osteoporosis?” Pharmacy Times. January 28, 2016. Web. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/resource-centers/womens-health/are-women-overtreated-for-osteoporosis

³ “US health agency estimates 2015 prescription drug spend rose to $457B.” March 9, 2016. Fox News Health. Web. https://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/03/09/us-health-agency-estimates-2015-prescription-drug-spend-rose-to-457b.html

⁴ Masters, Blynda B. “Urgent: Drug Recall: Alendronate Sodium Tablets USP, 70 mg.” Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries, Ltd. February 11, 2016. PDF. https://www.smithdrug.com/uploads/recalls/alendronate.pdf