Osteoporosis
Definition:
As defined by the World Health Organization, osteoporosis is a generalized skeletal disorder of low bone mass (thinning of the bone) and deterioration in its architecture, causing susceptibility to fracture.
There are two types of osteoporosis:
Type I osteoporosis (postmenopausal osteoporosis) generally develops in women after menopause when the amount of estrogen in the body greatly decreases. This process leads to an increase in the resorption of bone (the bones loses substance).
Type 1 osteoporosis is far more common in women than in men, and typically develops between the ages of 50 and 70. The process usually results in a decrease in the amount of trabecular bone (the spongy bone inside of the hard cortical bone). The decrease in the overall strength of the bone leads primarily to wrist and vertebral body (in the spine) fractures.
Type II osteoporosis (senile osteoporosis) typically happens after the age of 70 and affects women twice as frequently as men.
Type II osteoporosis involves a thinning of both the trabecular bone (the spongy bone inside of the hard cortical bone) and the hard cortical bone. This process often leads to hip and vertebral body fractures.
Signs & Symptoms:
There typically are no symptoms in the early stages of bone loss. But once your bones have been weakened by osteoporosis, you may have signs and symptoms that include:
Back pain, caused by a fractured or collapsed vertebra
Loss of height over time
A stooped posture
A bone fracture that occurs much more easily than expected
Cause:
Your bones are in a constant state of renewal new bone is made and old bone is broken down. When you’re young, your body makes new bone faster than it breaks down old bone and your bone mass increases. Most people reach their peak bone mass by their early 20s. As people age, bone mass is lost faster than it’s created.
How likely you are to develop osteoporosis depends partly on how much bone mass you attained in your youth. The higher your peak bone mass, the more bone you have “in the bank” and the less likely you are to develop osteoporosis as you age.
How To Cure:
- Prunes
Eating prunes (dried plums) on a daily basis helps prevent fractures and osteoporosis. This has been proven by a Florida State University study published in 2011 in the British Journal of Nutrition.
Prunes are good for your bones due to their high concentration of polyphenols, an antioxidant that helps reduce bone loss. Plus, prunes are a good source of boron and copper, two trace minerals important in bone formation.
It is recommended that people of all ages eat two to three dried plums daily, and gradually increase the amount to six to 10 per day to prevent osteoporosis.
- Apples
An apple a day can keep osteoporosis at bay. The unique combination of antioxidants like polyphenols and flavonoids makes the apple a bone-healthy powerhouse.
According to French researchers, the flavonoid called phloridzin present in apples helps protect postmenopausal women from osteoporosis by improving inflammation markers and increasing bone density.
Also, apples are rich in boron, a trace mineral that helps the body hold on to calcium, which is the building block of bones as well as muscles.
To enjoy the bone benefits of apples, eat them along with the skin. Also, opt for organic apples to avoid pesticides and synthetic waxes.
- Coconut Oil
A recent study suggests that supplementing your diet with virgin coconut oil can reverse the effects of estrogen deficiency including loss of bone density. The antioxidant compounds in coconut oil have the potential to maintain bone structure and prevent bone loss due to hormonal changes.
Plus, this oil helps the body absorb calcium and magnesium, two essential nutrients required for developing and maintaining strong bones.
Consuming three tablespoons of virgin coconut oil daily can help prevent osteoporosis and five tablespoons daily can help reverse it.
You can also externally apply the oil over your entire body and massage gently for a few minutes. Then take a hot bath. When done on a regular basis, this simple remedy will have a positive effect on your bone health.
Also, use virgin coconut oil for cooking.
