The most up to date collection of scientifically based health facts.
Includes simple to understand definitions and complete references


 

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Okinawan: (see Innuit)
 
Osteoporosis:
 
Bone is deposited in proportion to the compression load that the bone must carry. Therefore, continual physical stress stimulates osteoblastic deposition and calcification of bone. Reference: Textbook of Medical Physiology, pg 998, Arthur C. Guyton, John E. Hall, W B Saunders Co., January 15, 1996, ISBN: 0721659446.
 
An example of this is when you work out with weights and subject your skeletal structure to intense loads above normal, your bone density significantly increases. As we get older, bone is not replaced as quickly and older bone stays longer which isn’t as strong as new bone.
 
Causes of Osteoporosis:
 
1.     Lack of physical stress on the bone – from inactivity.
2.     Shortage of protein – so the bone matrix can’t be formed.
3.     Lack of vitamin C.
4.     Postmenopausal lack of estrogen. (estrogen is made from EFAs)
5.     Old age – decreased growth hormone and other hormones inhibiting bone matrix. (hormones are made from protein and EFAs)
6.     Cushing’s disease (adrenal tumor).
Reference: Source: Textbook of Medical Physiology, pg. 998, Arthur C. Guyton, John E. Hall, W B Saunders Co., January 15, 1996, ISBN: 0721659446.
 
Note: Lack of calcium is NOT listed!

Calcium actually contributes to harder, more brittle bones when taken in excess. Bone needs to have a good balance of strength and flexibility in order to stand up to stress and avoid fractures.

"…it (osteoporosis) results from diminished organic bone matrix rather than from bone calcium." Reference: Textbook of Medical Physiology, pages 988-989

…women showed that those who ate the most meat (protein) were 68% less likely to break a hip! Reference: Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1999;69:147-152, of 32,000

Protein helps bones heal quicker (by up to 50%). Reference: Prevention, October 1998, page 143
As referenced above, is essential for healthy, strong bone matrix. This is also because protein transports calcium to the bone.

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