Archive for the ‘Take Control Naturally’ Category
“I Fall All the Time, But I Don’t Break Anything”
Aunt Henrietta looked like half a raccoon with her entire left eye blackened. She dismissed her looks as not a problem saying, “I fall all the time, but I don’t break anything.” This is a change on both counts. Five years ago, falls were infrequent. Even so, she broke one wrist, then the other wrist, then her shoulder.
Two wrists, one shoulder, and half a dozen vertebral fragility fractures indicated Very Severe Osteoporosis. That was before she took the Anabolic, Forteo, for 2 years. She was the ideal patient for serious measures to stop her fractures. And it has worked!!
Are We Cabbages?
A patient recently insisted on Vitamin D2 instead of D3. She told me that she always uses plant sources because they are “more natural”. Indeed Vitamin D2 (Ergocalciferol) is more natural if you are a cabbage or other plant. But all humans naturally make and use Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol). Why not D2? Did God make a mistake designing humans to make and use D3?
Activated Vitamin D3 is a hormone used by our bodies in well over a hundred different functions including absorption of calcium from food, nerve functioning, and our immune system. Vitamin D2 is similar enough to D3 that we can also use it. However, we need much higher doses, and the waste products of D2 build up in our bodies.
October 20th is World Osteoporosis Day
World Osteoporosis Day recognizes the ravages of osteoporosis on women internationally. Worldwide the risk of Hip Fracture is equal to the risk of Breast Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, and Uterine Cancer combined. For many, death comes much sooner after hip fracture.
Osteoporosis is not limited to richer countries like the US, EU, Japan, etc. Osteoporosis is even more devastating to poorer families in countries without welfare, where every member of the family must work their entire lives to ensure family survival. The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) focuses on all women (and men). World Osteoporosis Day is the day to learn about the IOF 5 point plan for better bone health.
Goldilocks and Calcium Supplements
The question whether calcium supplements are good or bad for you, and how much you should take, is very controversial. That is because it is the wrong question. The answer is “it depends”. We spent an hour at ASBMR going over many studies and analyses.
Total calcium intake is what matters. That means that how much calcium supplement you need today depends on how much calcium is in your diet. Unless you eat the same thing every day (boring!), your need for calcium supplement at each meal will vary. And it is more tricky than that.