‘Vivian Answers Day’ #10: Goat Milk, Soup, Strontium, Fluoride, Weight Loss, pH Balance, Dancing, Calcitonin, Forteo, Actonel And More!

Question & Answer #1

I’m 68 and started Actonel 3 years ago (once a week). The only side effects I had was constipation. After 2 years I started having pains in my shins. I then developed colon cancer and had a large section removed, no chemo or radiation. I am fine now. I stopped taking Actonel this May when the shin situation increased, cold turkey, no weaning off the drug. I haven’t experienced any problems doing that. I will have a bone scan in a couple of months when I have a physical. Question: was it OK to just stop taking the drug with no weaning off period? I am relatively active and eat well according to your recommendations. Thank you for all your good work for our bones!

-Shirley

Dear Shirley,

Cold turkey is the best way to stop the drugs, and it's great to hear that you are doing well with your health now. As I write in the Osteoporosis Reversal Program, bisphosphonate drugs alter normal bone metabolism. And as short-sighted studies show, they typically offer temporary benefits – at best – during the decoupling of bone destructive and bone building cellular activity.

Even the mainstream media is finally catching up to us and acknowledging this, judging by a funny video spoof of a popular drug. If you want to laugh a little, it is posted right here as “Saturday Night Live and Save Our Bones Partner Up.”

Remember, laughter is the best medicine!

Question & Answer #2

I switched to fluoride-free toothpaste as suggested in your program. At my recent dental check-up I was told that my lower tooth surface where my gums have receded slightly had some soft pre-cavity spots and that I should use a fluoride rinse after brushing. With no eating or drinking suggested for 30 minutes after, the rinse stays in your mouth for quite a while. It seems that just brushing with fluoride toothpaste and not rinsing with fluoride would be the lesser of two evils. Would you listen to or ignore your dentist’s advice?

-Theresa

Dear Theresa,

It looks as though the toxic fluoride supplementation and treatments will soon be relegated to the dustbins of medical history. Even the CDC is now considering reducing the amount of recommended fluoride in tap water because it actually hurts teeth. I write about fluoride and how it negatively impacts bone health and a lot more in the Osteoporosis Hydration Protocol, which I can tell you have read.

Additionally, a breakthrough study published in the December 2010 issue of the journal Langmuir discloses that the synthetic fluorapatite layer formed by using fluoride products is so thin, that its protection is more than questionable. So knowing this, you won't need to settle for the lesser of two evils.

To your beautiful and fluoride-free smile!

Question & Answer #3

Thanks for your great program which I refer many of my counseling clients to. Question for myself is “Since I have on your program I have been losing weight as I eat less protein and carbs. I am now about 16lbs under weight. It does not matter how much I eat of the healthy food, I cannot put the weight on as it is so healthy it goes right through my system. It is digested well, yet with less carbs and protein, I am concerned. Every time I see a health bar I see “ACID” screaming at me, as the proportion is NOT 80/20.” What would you suggest I do in relation to this diet and my specific problem?

-Beth

Dear Beth,

Your weight issue could be the envy of many, but it needs to be solved nonetheless.
To begin with, try maintaining a 70/30 balance for a few months, which is still a much more alkaline diet than the standard acid-loaded “Western” diet. You'll be able to incorporate more high calorie foods such as meats and grains (pasta, bread, etc.).

Also, keep in mind that there are alkalizing foods that pack plenty of calories, such as sweet potatoes and dried fruits. Then see what happens when you revert back to 80/20.

In good health,

Question & Answer #4

My husband and I dance (Carolina Shag dancing) an hour on most days. Is this enough exercise to keep our bones strong? We also lift light weights a couple of times a week. Is dancing as good as walking?

-Sandy

Dear Sandy,

Dancing is an excellent weight-bearing exercise, and lots of fun too. Studies have shown that, as it relates to bone-building exercises, dancing compares to walking and climbing stairs. Bones are living tissue that respond to exercise by becoming stronger, and as I write in the Osteoporosis Reversal Program, the right exercises are very important to build bone density. That's why I devote Chapter 13 in the Osteoporosis Reversal Program to bone health exercises. Make sure to follow the “Density Training” technique which is the easiest and most effective exercise routine for vibrant bone health.

Have fun and keep moving,

Question & Answer #5

My question is why you do not recommend taking strontium as a supplement for osteoporosis.

-Sandra

Dear Sandra,

I don't consider strontium a supplement because its presence in bone and in the rest of the body is minimal. Strontium can have undesirable side effects, most commonly diarrhea, nausea, headaches and skin irritation, the latter sometimes severe. It also distorts DXA scan results because it is denser than calcium.

As if this were not enough, there are two more problems with strontium. The first one is that it competes with calcium for its absorption. The second issue with strontium is that it thickens mostly the outer cortical bone, as studies have confirmed. This can actually make bones more prone to fracture as it reduces their tensile strength. You can read more details about strontium in the Osteoporosis Reversal Program.

Keep asking questions,

Question & Answer #6

I am 60 years old. For several years, I have resisted taking bisphosphonates, although I am concerned about my bone density which is worsening. I lift weights, go ice skating, eat extremely healthy: no sodas for 30 years, green vegetables every day, fruit daily, no caffeine, follow mainly alkaline diet. But yearly DEXA scan shows bone density decreasing to -2.5 in spine, -2.0 in hip. I have just begun to take Calcitonin, derived from fish hormone and around long before bisphosphonates appeared. What can you tell me about it?

-Ellen

Dear Ellen,

There's something “fishy” about calcitonin, and my prediction is that one day, the companies that make these kind of drugs might be in troubled waters. I say this because salmon calcitonin's role is bone metabolism is not well understood, and that can lead to some unwanted surprises as time goes by.

Quoting from the manufacturer of Miacalcin, “the actions of calcitonin on bone and its role in human bone physiology are still not completely elucidated, although calcitonin receptors have been discovered in osteoclasts and osteoblasts.”

Additionally, there is a long list of side effects, including hives and skin rashes, difficulty breathing, nosebleed, stiffness, dry mouth, muscle pain, etc. You can get the complete list of side effects and more about this drug in the free Natural Bone Building Handbook and even more information about it in the Osteoporosis Reversal Program.

There is no need to drown in the turbulent seas of confusing and harmful drugs. You can easily keep your bone health afloat with the help of the common sense natural solutions.

Take it easy!

Question & Answer #7

Hi! Vivian, I have been on Actonel for about 4 years for osteoporosis and it has not improved my bones, so the doctor has prescribed FORTEO, and now I’m on the fence, since reading your article, it is a very difficult decision to make when one has spoken to various nurses etc. and have gotten their opinions.

-Carol

Dear Carol,

I'm sorry that four years went by with no improvement. Now your decision should be easy. You've already tried taking osteoporosis drugs with no improvement. Does that mean you should graduate to yet another drug? The fact that your doctor would like you to do this is a clear indication that there's something deeply flawed with the way mainstream medicine “treats” osteoporosis.

Here's what I recommend so that you don't go one more day without rebuilding your bones: If you haven't yet, get the free Natural Bone Building Handbook where you'll discover how easy it is to increase your bone density without dangerous drugs. Then try the Osteoporosis Reversal Program to accelerate your bone growth and know exactly what to do every step of the way without drugs.

I wish you great success with your bone health and I'm confident you'll do great,

Question & Answer #8

Your Save Our Bones book claims milk robs bones of calcium. Wouldn’t serum electrolytes be used first to buffer the pH from 2 to 7.4 or so rather than going right to using calcium from the bone? Please explain.

-Ann

Dear Ann,

Electrolytes are minerals that carry an electric charge when dissolved in water, and calcium is a very important electrolyte. You are right when you say that serum electrolytes buffer the blood to alkalize the pH. However, I explain in the Osteoporosis Reversal Program that – as is the case with modern acidifying diets – serum electrolytes get rapidly depleted. That is why calcium is pulled out of the bones, weakening them and leading to osteoporosis.

A well-balanced eating plan insures that most of the calcium remains where it belongs: in the bones. And that is what makes bones strong, naturally denser, and thus resistant to fracture.

Keep asking questions,

Question & Answer #9

I am having a real hard time digesting calcium so instead of over-the-counter calcium I have decided to drink goat milk, since it has such a wonderful supply of natural calcium. I was wondering what your opinion is.

-Karen

Dear Karen,

While some people find goat milk easier to digest than cow's milk, I think that goat milk is great for baby goats (kids). Raw goat milk has a slightly alkaline to neutral ash residue, but it changes to the acidic side of the spectrum once it is processed. I am not an advocate of drinking any animal milk, whether raw or processed.

You might want to try instead goat whey protein, which is rich in alkalizing minerals. Or another option is to take plant-based algae-derived and/or calcium citrate supplements.

Stay healthy!

Question & Answer #10

Could you please tell me about the mixed vegetable soup I make is good enough for my bones or not. I take it at least 3 times a week. Do you think I have to add other ingredients into it?

Broccoli 30%
Onion 20%
Cabbage 20%
Carrot 20%
tomato 10%

-Jen

Dear Jen,

Your recipe is excellent, and sounds delicious. The majority of its ingredients are included in the list of Foundation Foods. The best way to get bone-healthy vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants is from nutrient-rich foods, so it is really smart to eat a wide variety of them.

And in these cold winter days, what could be better and cozier than a bowl of hot soup? You might also want to try my mother’s delicious Hungarian Mushroom Barley soup, one of my favorite perfectly balanced recipes. It makes 4 Servings:

Enjoy!