Beat Osteoporosis Without Drugs or Calcium

By Al Sears, MD

One of my toughest jobs as a doctor is dispelling myths about medicine. Case in point: A 55-year-old woman comes to my clinic. Her previous doctor diagnosed her with osteoporosis and gave her drugs to prevent bone loss. His parting words, "Osteoporosis is a natural part of aging. Here's a prescription ..."

Here are the facts: Aging does not make osteoporosis inevitable. A lack of exercise does. It causes muscles to become smaller and weaker. This loss of muscle mass combined with the hormonal changes of aging leads to a loss of bone mass. Just as muscles atrophy without challenge, if muscle force does not challenge your bones, they become thin, light, and fragile. This is the beginning of osteoporosis.

And calcium supplements won't help. Hormones control the amount of calcium that sticks to your bones. If estrogen levels fall, calcium will fall away from the bone. Taking calcium supplements will give you a short-term boost in bone density, but that's it. Over time, your hormones will work against the extra calcium and leave your bones brittle.

Challenging your muscles and bones is the only way to prevent osteoporosis. The ideal exercise routine will challenge your large muscle groups enough to put stress on the bones. Try bicycling, running in sprints, and calisthenics for your legs and back.
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This article appears courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #1881, 11-08-06], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.