Osteoporosis or porous bones affects 10 million Americans and an additional 34 million have low bone density and are at risk for the disease. Osteoporosis is the condition where bones become so weak and brittle that sometimes even normal activities can cause a fracture. Osteoporosis can lead to hip fractures and physical decline, and is a major cause of nursing-home admissions among the elderly. The disorder is more prevalent in women.

After bone mass peaks around age 35 all adults start to lose bone. Women tend to suffer from bone loss more than men do. This is in part due to having smaller, lighter bones than men. Menopause also plays its part in speeding bone loss. Bones tend to be depleted of calcium owing to the lack of estrogen. Estrogen is the female sex hormone that, among other functions, protects against bone loss. Researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis found that a drop in estrogen leads to an overproduction of bone-scavenger cells, which carve pits and craters throughout the skeleton. Estrogen helps inhibit a chemical interleukin-6, which helps keep bone destruction and bone formation in balance. Osteoblasts or bone-formation cells usually manage to fill these pits with new bone. But in the reduction of estrogen production the balance between osteoclasts and osteoblasts is disturbed.

It has also been shown that women who are nursing tend to lose bone mass although this is gained back within 6 months after weaning.

The following are considered the leading causes of bone loss

• Drinking cola and carbonated beverages - Women who drank more than three 12-ounce servings of cola per day had 2.3% to 5.1% lower bone mineral density in the hip than women who consumed less than one serving of cola per day. phosphoric acid in a cola beverage, the excess phosphoric acid binds to calcium in the gut,” which keeps the calcium from being absorbed.
• Exposure to cadmium - A study from Sweden shows that even low levels of exposure to Cadmium can cause bone loss
• Sedentary lifestyle. Even 3 days worth of bed rest can lead to substantial bone loss.
• Lack of weight bearing exercise
• Radiation
• Stress
• Dieting
• Alcohol consumption
• Age
• Smoking and second hand smoke
• Anti-depressants
• Diet high in protein causes the body to pull calcium from the bones to counteract the acidity that proteins cause.
• Women with Anorexia Nervosa
• Use of Steroids

Generally medications such as Fosamax and Actonel are prescribed to women to stop bone loss. However these medications have been reported to have side effects. They can cause ulcers in the esophagus. Evista can cause hot flashes, and in rare cases, blood clots. In this therefore important to evaluate your medications

Natural remedies that can help to prevent and stop bone loss include taking up weight bearing exercises and making lifestyle changes such as reducing the consumption of alcoholic and carbonated beverages, giving up smoking and including 1200 to 1500 mg of calcium per day plus 800 IU of Vitamin D in your dietary supplements

A herbal formulation Reosto by the renowned Himalaya Herbals company has been shown extremely effective in not only stopping and preventing bone loss but actually reversing it by helping build new bone. Reosto is a natural source of easily absorbed calcium and Vitamin D. It restores bone mass and promotes production of estrogen and progesterone.

You may also be interested in reading on

Osteoporosis Natural Remedies

Osteoarthritis - Causes, symptoms and Herbal remedies

Osteoarthritis and physical activity

References:

The Handbook of Diseases

The Medical Advisor - The complete guide to Alternative & Conventional Treatments

Pubmed.org

Himalaya Herbals Company



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