What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis (or the breakdown of bone minerals) is a condition that is preventable and can be treated. The cause of osteoporosis can be determined through hair sample analysis test, the results help to provide insight about the best diet and nutrients to help restore bone structure.
What Causes Osteoporosis?
Estrogen deficiency in post-menopausal women is one cause. After menopause, having strong adrenal glands will help the body in maintaining estrogen levels. The strengthening of the adrenal glands is a more natural alternative to synthetic hormones.
Other causes include an insufficient intake of calcium and lack of physical activity or exercise.
What Does the Hair Mineral Analysis Show?
The hair analysis test assesses the tendency toward Osteoporosis and can show issues such as:
- Calcium deficiency.
- Calcium loss.
- Phosphorus levels that play a role in calcium absorption.
- Sodium and potassium levels that can reveal adrenal insufficiency.
- Imbalanced calcium / magnesium ratio indicating a need for supplementation.
- Microelement levels such as zinc, boron and manganese, which are needed in small amount for healthy bones.
Toxic metals can also lead to osteoporosis. A few examples are:
- Lead
- Cadmium
- Mercury
How Can Osteoporosis be Improved?
Diet is very important in maintaining bone health. A whole-food based approach will provide the most nutrient dense foods. While most people get calcium from dairy, those that are dairy free or vegan, can get calcium from plant-based sources.
Click below to download an easy PDF of foods that are high in calcium.
It is recommended to have a diet that includes a balance of various nutrients, so if calcium intake is low, consider supplementation to meet the daily recommended values for optimal health.
Avoid refined foods as much a possible since these foods have additives that can contain heavy metals, like lead, arsenic, and cadmium, that affect bone health over time. Avoid sodas as these contain high amounts of phosphorus, which when out of balance to calcium, causes bone loss. Avoid a diet that includes an extreme amount of phytates that can be found in certain grains.
Exercise is important in maintaining bone health. Mild to moderate exercise is recommended, especially weight resistance training. Deep breathing and having good posture are helpful by reducing stress to the spine and nervous system.
Sunlight is helpful to maintain your bone health. Sun exposure in reasonable amounts provides vitamin D, which is essential for calcium absorption. It is important to mention not to overdo it in the sunshine and to protect your skin. So, for those avoiding the sun due to sensitivity, make sure to supplement with vitamin D.
There are several supplements that help restore bone health, in addition to the calcium and vitamin D mentioned above. Start with repletion of essential nutrients and then add other herbs and minerals over time to help provide much needed support for bone health.
How Can Vibrant Living Wellness Center Help?
The answer is in your hair! Having the right mineral levels is essential to making many of the metabolic functions of our body happen. So, how does hair fit into all this? Mineral levels and toxicity accumulate in the hair, which makes it the ideal place to measure them. The Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HMA) gives us a complete picture unlike any other test – showing a picture over time. Hair is great for testing because you can send it to the lab without special handling requirements. This allows us to pinpoint deficiencies and provide recommendations for improving both the diet and supplement intake.
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