| One of the defining benchmarks of the aging process | | | | vertebrae (which lead to 50,000 premature deaths |
| is the progressive movement of calcium and other | | | | per year). |
| bone minerals out of the bone (demineralization) and | | | | Calcification (Buildup of Calcium in Soft Tissues) |
| into the soft tissues of the body (calcification). | | | | Much of the calcium that is being leached from our |
| America leads the civilized world in bone loss and in | | | | bones ends up accumulating in our soft tissues. |
| degenerative diseases. To understand the connection, | | | | Calcification is present as an underlying symptom in |
| we must first take a look at how bone loss affects | | | | virtually every known degenerative condition, from |
| the body. | | | | gall bladder and kidney stones to cataracts, from |
| Bones Are Much More Than Structural Support! | | | | prostate cancer and arterial plaque to bone spurs. |
| Our bones are a living and readily accessible | | | | Whatever the cause, calcium can and often does |
| storehouse of life-giving minerals that play a major | | | | build up in the arteries, kidneys, gall bladder, prostate, |
| role in regulating our body systems. Bones undergo | | | | breast, lungs, brain, tendons or connective tissue. |
| constant change in a process known as remodeling, | | | | Some of the symptoms associated with excess |
| with old bone being removed (resorption) and being | | | | calcium are muscle weakness, heart arrhythmias, |
| replaced by new bone (formation). Without this | | | | muscle spasms, twitching, memory loss, depression, |
| mechanism for on-demand access to our mineral | | | | constipation, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, |
| stores, the body would be hard pressed to maintain | | | | frequent thirst and urination, brittle bones, bone and |
| our blood pressure, heart rate and pH - among many | | | | joint pain, spinal column curvature, bone spurs, and of |
| other things. | | | | course kidney and gall stones. |
| Minerals serve as catalysts in enzyme systems, and | | | | How Can We Reverse Bone Loss and Stop |
| are critical for nerve signaling, blood clotting, muscle | | | | Calcification? |
| contraction/relaxation, and hormone regulation. Our | | | | First and foremost, we can reverse calcium excess |
| absorption of minerals naturally suffers as we age | | | | by eliminating magnesium deficiency. It is estimated |
| due to lower stomach acid levels and less protein in | | | | that 75% of Americans lack adequate magnesium |
| the diet. When dietary intake (or absorption) of | | | | levels to allow efficient calcium absorption and |
| minerals is not sufficient, the body robs its own | | | | assimilation. If you have ever had a salt water |
| resources in order to meet its many regulatory | | | | aquarium, you know that it is impossible to balance |
| demands. | | | | calcium levels in the water unless there is adequate |
| Bone Loss (Demineralization) | | | | magnesium present... the same principle applies in the |
| The result is a progressive bone mineral deficiency | | | | body. |
| that is all too common in our culture. Agribusiness has | | | | Replenishing magnesium levels (and making available |
| depleted our topsoils of essential minerals. Our high | | | | the other critical bone nutrients mentioned above) |
| carbohydrate diet of fast foods and sodas has a | | | | creates an environment that is conducive to |
| strong acidifying effect, greatly accelerating the bone | | | | assimilating calcium into the bone. Eliminating refined |
| loss process. The body responds to the accumulation | | | | carbs, sodas and fast foods from one's diet and |
| of acid wastes by mining alkaline minerals from the | | | | eating an alkalizing diet (fresh fruits, veggies, nuts, |
| bone to neutralize them. | | | | seeds and small quantities of organic meat) will lower |
| According to the WHO definition, more than 70% of | | | | the body's demand for bone nutrients. Moderate load |
| all women over age 50 have either osteoporosis or | | | | bearing exercise is extremely beneficial in building and |
| osteopenia. Common risk factors for bone loss are a | | | | maintaining strong bones. |
| lack of exercise, smoking, an acid promoting diet, | | | | As we have seen, taking good care of our bones is |
| hysterectomy, menopause, thyroid insufficiency, | | | | the key to maximizing our quality and quantity of life. |
| fluoride exposure, and exposure to certain | | | | In fact, understanding this issue and taking |
| tranquilizers. It is easy to see why bone loss is such a | | | | appropriate action may well be the single most |
| rampant problem in our country. Today half of all | | | | important thing you can do to impact your quality |
| women over 50 suffer fractures of the hip, wrist or | | | | and quantity of life. |