Soft Drinks and Osteoporosis

The health debate is on…

Dr. Jaromir Bertlik N.D.
Chairman of Scientific Advisory Board

One cannot deny the fact that good nutrition results in better health.  We are familiar with the dangers of trans-fats, preservatives, additives, coloring and high-sugar consumption in our diets; now, researches are pointing fingers to yet another potential health risk: the correlation between drinking cola and the weakening of bones.  Can the classic all-American refreshment be responsible for weakening our bones?  Research conducted in recent years leads to some surprising results…

In a Wall Street Journal article (October 16, 2007), Betsy McKay writes that some studies have linked the consumption of cola, the most popular soft drink, and poor bone-mineral density”.  A 1994 study based on 127 teenagers published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, and a 2000 study based on 460 high school students published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, both showed a connection “between consumption and bone fractures in physically active teen girls.  The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a Tufts University study, which reported to have “measured bone density and analyzed eating habits” and which found a “significant impact on women who drank more than three colas a week”.  On the other hand, the researches in this study, which was funded by the US Department of Agriculture and the National Institute of Health, also showed “no evidence” that bone tissue is harmed by the “occasional” cola.

Taking all this research into account, the bottom line is best summarized by Katherine Tucker, an epidemiologist at Tuft University’s USDA Nutrition and the lead author of the cola study.  Tucker has simplified by stating “the more cola that women drank, the lower their bone mineral density was”.

Is Cola the Culprit?
While so many studies have found a correlation between cola consumption and weak bone density, scientists cannot agree on why this is the case.  Some argue that the caffeine, sugar, phosphoric acid and carbonation in cola impair calcium absorption in the bones.  One can take into consideration the sugar-factor alone; an average can of soda contains about ¼ cup of sugar!  Another reason cola is the culprit is due to its effect on insulin levels, which is augmented by the fact that sugar (along with caffeine) drains the body of B vitamins, magnesium and zinc.  Based on recent studies, certain B vitamins are thought to promote stronger bones by lowering homocysteine (an amino acid) levels, which would otherwise impair collagen’s ability to hold bones together.  Magnesium plays a role in calcium metabolism and zinc aids with collagen formation.  Together, the interruption of these functions sets the stage which results in the reduction of bone health.

The Ugly Truth…
The truth is that everyone is at risk of developing osteoporosis, irrelevant of gender.  This can be a debilitating disease and the resulting pain can lead to depression, restrictive ling disease (shortness of breath due to poor posture and squashed lungs) and ultimately, even pneumonia.  An estimated 52 million men and women aged 50 and above will have osteoporosis or be at an increased risk of having low bone mass by 2010 and by 2020, that number will skyrocket to 61 million.  In addition to osteoporosis patients are more likely to sustain hip fractures that those without the condition and further, “Approximately 20% of individuals with hip fractures will die the year after the fracture usually from surgery complications, such as pneumonia or blood clots in the lung”.  In fact, a woman’s risk of hip fracture is equal to her combined risk of developing breast, uterine and ovarian cancer.  Below are some important health statistics, related to men and women:

Men

• Approximately 2 million men live with osteoporosis and there are still 12 million more at risk of developing the disease 
• Osteoporosis progresses 12 years slower in a man than in a woman
•  The medical community tends to ignore the prevalence of osteoporosis in men and are therefore less likely than women to be diagnose
•  ¼ of all men over the age of 50 will experience an osteoporosis-related bone break

Women

• While by their late 60’s men and women lose bone mass at similar rates, women face higher bone loss in their 50’s than men do
• ½ of all women over the age of 50 will have an osteoporosis fracture before they die
• After menopause, the risk for women – especially white and Asian with small0thin frames – of developing osteoporosis increases
• 2% of college-aged women may already have osteoporosis and another 15% of women in this age group may have already lost significant bone density

True for both men and women

• Smoking and excessive alcohol increases the risk of developing the disease.

How can you reduce the chances of osteoporosis?

• The chances of developing osteoporosis can be sharply reduced through dietary restrictions and lifestyle changes – all of which would essentially     promote better health
• The increased consumption of vegetables will positively result in increased antioxidants in the body
• Always opt for low-glycemic nutrition
• Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight because fat cells generate more inflammation
• Akuna offers a comprehensive, preventive approach to health aging for men and women – see which products are right for you.

 

Until next time…Stay Healthy

Vitamin D Supplementation Can Reduce Neuropathy, Autoimmune Inflammation and Migraine Pain

Publication Date: June 2008

http://Pain-Topics.org/VitaminD

Neuropathy – A recently reported prospective study of 51 patients with type 2 diabetes and

associated chronic, painful neuropathy found that conservative vitamin D supplementation

(about 2000 IU/day) for 3 months resulted in nearly a 50% decrease in pain scores, with

symptoms improving from “distressing” to “mild” on average [Lee and Chen 2008]. There had

been an earlier case report of a patient with type 1 diabetes whose severe neuropathy had

confined her to a wheelchair. This patient’s aches and pains were resolved by high-dose vitamin

D supplementation, and she reportedly was able to walk unassisted within 4 weeks

[Prabhala et al. 2000].

From Belly Fat to Belly Flat

It’s a common problem when you hit 30 that despite your best efforts you just can’t seem to lose the extra weight around your middle.  Medical research proves you’re not alone – the average person gains one to two pounds a year after the age of 30, usually around the stomach area. 

Hormone imbalance spejcialst, Dr C W Randolph’s book ‘From Belly Fat to Belly Flat’  explains the real reason behind this problem which has less to do with calories and everything to do with a little-known medical problem known as ‘oestrogen dominance’. 

Readers of my blogs will know that I’m an advocate of natural progesterone – an essential hormone for both men and women – fostering a calming effect on the body; maintaining libido; serving as a natural antidepressant; promoting regular sleep patterns; stimulating bone building and opposing oestrogen’s predisposition to promote cell growth, thereby providing protection from uterine, breast and ovarian cancer.

If you want to know more about progesterone and, particularly, its effect on weight gain and how to lose that belly flab then check out Dr Radolph’s book: ‘From Belly Fat to Belly Flab’ by Dr C W Randolph and Genie James

Coeliac disease and osteporosis - an exciting discovery.

Coeliac disease is a chronic and permanent auto-immune disease caused by gluten intolerance and is becoming more recognised in Britain than ever before. Coeliac UK, the organisation for sufferers, confirm that whilst the condition is diagnosed in 1 in 1000 people, the figure is more likely to be 1 in 80 ( the remainder probably being undiagnosed ), rising to 1 in 10 prevalence in families with coeliac disease. When a person with coeliac disease eats gluten ( found in wheat, barley ,oats and rye ) even in minute quantities, it causes damage in a specific part of the gut, the duodenum and jejunum. This prevents normal digestion and absorption of food as it leads to inflammation, and then degeneration of the villi, the protrusions that are responsible for the absorption of nutrients. Sufferers can experience anything from nutrient deficiency to mild malnutrition if they continue to eat gluten. Symptoms can range from diarrhoea, fatigue, being underweight, depression, anaemia and abdominal pain and distension. In theory however, symptoms can be very wide ranging as the sufferer is not absorbing nutrients and deficiencies of vitamins are common, which can make the condition easy to miss. On avoiding gluten however, the villi are mostly restored along with a return to health.

There are various degrees of the condition, and some are termed ‘exquisitely sensitive’ whilst others may suffer no symptoms at all. Those that are very sensitive have to be very vigilant, as even a pinch of flour or the wrong type of binder in a meal, or even soy sauce, can lead to pain and diarrhoea. It’s almost as bad for those that have no symptoms ( termed silent’ coeliac disease ) as its hard to follow a gluten free diet without the threat of a reaction but such sufferers are at increased risk of deficiencies and conditions in the future, such as osteoporosis.

The link between ceoliac disease and osteoporosis may have been identified as a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests “coeliac patients produce antibodies which attack a key protein that maintains bone health.” The study, carried out by the University of Edinburgh indicates that it may be a protein called osteoprotegerin which holds the key to the link as in some 20% of the coeliac patients tested, antibodies were produced which stopped this protein – crucial for maintaining bone strength – from working effectively.

This is a significant discovery as if further research proves the link then sufferers can potentially avoid osteoporosis in the future with the use of appropriate medication.

How to protect your lower back

Hi everyone!

I wanted to pass along a neat trick that I learned that is really helpful for people who have a weak or sore lower back.    This is not a Pilates exercise, but more of what I call a “common sense” technique that is easy to incorporate into daily life.    

One of the best ways to hurt your lower back is to bend forward and pick up something.    For example, bending forward and picking up a bag of groceries or even a pair of shoes off the floor will put a lot of strain on the small, supportive muscles of your lower back.     The first photo below is a perfect example of what NOT to do.    The model is bending forward with a rounded spine with both arms reaching down to pick up the weight.    

 

How NOT to pick up something

A better way to pick up something is to have “three points of support” – two feet and one hand.    The photo below shows a better way to pick up the weight.   The model is bending forward as well as reaching her hips back a bit so that her back is not rounded as in the first photo.   Notice that she also has one hand on her thigh.   She has lots of weight on her hand so that there is less stress on her lower back.   Once she picks up the weight, she uses her hand to push herself back up so that the small muscles of the lower back are protected.

 

 

 

 

3 Points of Support (2 feet and 1 hand)

 

 

 

If you have any spinal conditions, this is really important for you to do when picking up objects (even light ones!).   Even if your spine is healthy, why risk having a herniated disc?

Remember, I’m here to help if you have questions.   My e-mail and website are on the right side of the page!

Sherry