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Osteoporosis seriously threatens the Health of 28 Million Americans. Many people think osteoporosis-the disease that causes bones to become thin and brittle-is something they don’t have to worry about until they’re old and gray. They couldn’t be more wrong. Osteoporosis is one of the most debilitating diseases-and one of the most preventable. Cultivating good eating and exercise habits, and supplementing your diet with a readily absorbable calcium can make all the difference. Osteoporosis kills Women and Men It’s a well-known fact that one out of two women older than age 50 suffers an osteoporosis-related fracture during her lifetime. Complications from these fractures are a major killer of women. It is not commonly known, however, that each year men suffer one third of all the hip fractures that occur, and one third of these men will no survive more that a year. In addition to hip fractures, men also experience painful and debilitating fractures of the spine, wrist, and other bones due to osteoporosis. Yet, despite the large number of men affected, osteoporosis in men remains under diagnosed and inadequately researched. What Causes Osteoporosis? It’s natural for everyone to lose some bone mass as we age. We notice that our parents and grandparents aren’t as tall as they once were, and eventually we notice that neither are we. Harrison’s textbook of medicine says that after age 40 to 50, men lose 20 to 30 percent of their total bone mass, and women lose as much as 40 to 50 percent. (Fauci, Anthony S., et al. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, Vol. 2. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1998). Why? According to Susan Brown, Ph.D., a certified clinical nutritionist, medical anthropologist and author of Better Bones, Better Body, osteoporosis stems from a lifetime of poor dietary and exercise habits. The typical American diet of processed foods, soft drinks, coffee and foods that are high in sodium and sugar can promote osteoporosis by stripping the bones of the calcium they need to stay strong. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (1989) showed that women between the ages of 19 and 21 lost significant bone density when they increased the percentage of sugar in their diets. Another study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA, 1994) discusses how several studies have shown how coffee or caffeine intake can cause a significant decrease in bone density. The JAMA study also found that calcium intake can offset the negative effects of high sugar and caffeine. Also, in the well-known Framingham Study (American Journal of Epidemiology, 1990), researchers found that long-term intake of just one cup of coffee a day increased the risk of hip fracture by 69%. In addition, certain diseases and medications contribute to calcium loss. Also, people with smaller, thinner bodies are more likely to develop osteoporosis than those with larger builds. Build Strong Bones with Calcium, Good Nutrition and Exercise Regardless of age, sex or body type, research shows that eating right, and getting enough calcium and weight- bearing exercise can lower your risk for osteoporosis. Cut down on sugar, salt, caffeine, and soft drinks. Take an easy-to-absorb- calcium supplement, and include a broad variety of plant foods (legumes, vegetables, whole grains, seeds, and nuts), high-quality, low-fat protein, and calcium-rich foods such as green, leafy vegetables and moderate amounts of dairy products in your diet. For optimal bone health, adopt a regular exercise program (walking, dancing, running, etc.) Calcium’s Vital Role in the Body Calcium is the most abundant mineral in your body and plays a vital role in several areas of good health. In addition to maintaining your bones and teeth, calcium regulates heart rhythm, eases insomnia, helps regulate the passage of nutrients in and out of the cell walls, assists in normal blood clotting, helps maintain proper nerve and muscle function, supports cardiovascular health, and is important to normal kidney function. 99% of the body’s calcium is found in the bones, which serves as a calcium bank or reserve. Whenever the body senses a drop in blood calcium concentration, calcium is readily removed from the bones. This is why it’s absolutely vital to maintain your calcium intake on a daily basis, so that calcium is not drawn out of your bones setting up the stage for osteoporosis. What Should You Take? Most doctors recommend getting 1,000 to 1,200 mg. of calcium in your diet daily. Unless you’re drinking several glasses of milk daily AND eating plenty of calcium-rich foods and vegetables, chances are you’re not getting this amount from your diet. Most Americans don’t even come close. You may be suffering from a calcium deficiency and no even know it. So play it safe. Supplement your diet with nutrients to make sure you’re getting the daily required minimum of calcium in order to slow down bone loss. And start early. Whether you’re in your teens or 70’s, now is the time to increase your calcium intake and aid your body in building and maintaining healthy bone mass. Calcium Plus Ingredients:
Other Ingredients: Serving Size: 6 Tablets
The Food
and Drug Administration have not evaluated these statements. The
product is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any
disease. But rather is a dietary supplement intended solely for
nutritional support. |
