There’s an epidemic of osteoporosis in older women in the U.S. Each year, it leads to 1.5 million dangerous—and even fatal—bone fractures.
But I have always been curious why osteoporosis is virtually unknown in East and Southeast Asian women.
That’s why two recent Asian studies caught my eye.
Problems with low bone-mineral density have been surfacing in South Korean women as they become more westernized in their diet and lifestyle. So Korean researchers decided to investigate what’s really going on.
It turns out, by adopting a more Westernized diet—heavy in processed, packaged products and lacking in fresh, whole foods—these women are becoming increasingly deficient in a nutrient that is essential for strong bones. But it’s not the nutrient you might expect.
These researchers discovered a significant increase in instances of vitamin C deficiency among women with low bone-mineral density.
What they found would not have been surprising to past generations of British sailors and doctors. In fact, British navy surgeon James Lind essentially discovered way back in the 1700s that weak bones are a result of scurvy.
And he also learned that scurvy could be prevented and treated by giving sailors limes and citrus fruits, which are high in vitamin C (thus earning the nickname “limeys” for British sailors, who suddenly had a big advantage over their enemies).
But by the 20[SUP]th[/SUP] century, Dr. Lind’s bone-health discovery was all but forgotten—at least in the U.S. Now, the mainstream approach to preventing osteoporosis is to push calcium supplements (which are dangerous—more about that later) and bisphosphonate drugs (which are even more dangerous). In fact, as I reported in the January 2015 issue of
Insiders’ Cures, research shows that popular bisphosphonate osteoporosis drugs like Fosamax, Boniva, and Actonel can actually cause bones to break
spontaneously.
No one’s discounting that calcium is important for strong bones (along with vitamin D and magnesium). But the Asian researchers discovered that vitamin C is equally as important as calcium for bone health…and may be even more key when it comes to osteoporosis.
I’ll delve into the details of these studies in a moment, but first, let’s examine what I like to call the “Calcium Conundrum” for osteoporosis.
Of course, these studies would not be so captivating if we hadn’t forgotten the vitamin C-bone connection unearthed many years ago by Dr. James Lind. Which raises the question: Why did 18[SUP]th[/SUP] century British sailors get better care for their bones than 21[SUP]st[/SUP] century American women are getting today?
Because mainstream medicine currently refuses to recognize that osteoporosis is scurvy of the bones—and
not calcium deficiency. And that means that unfortunately for American women, the mainstream osteoporosis medical treatments remain “lost at sea.”
Don’t be left to drown by your doctor. Help strengthen your bones and prevent osteoporosis with the following checklist:
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet that includes calcium-rich dairy, meat, and seafood, along with plenty of fruit, cruciferous vegetables, and leafy greens—which are all rich in vitamin C.
- Take 250 mg of vitamin C twice daily with meals.
- Take 10,000 IU of vitamin D daily, especially during this time of year, when it’s difficult for most people to get enough sun to make adequate amounts of D in their bodies.
- Take 200-400 mg a day of magnesium, which is also important for strong bones. Look for formulations that contain bone-healthy boron as well.
- And finally, avoid calcium supplements.
I can’t say this often enough. Calcium supplements can create high levels of calcium in your blood, which can settle in the blood vessels, the heart valves, and even the heart muscle. And that can lead to heart disease.
If you get enough vitamins C and D, your body will send the calcium you ingest from food to your bones. And that will improve your bone health and lower your risk of osteoporosis—without dangerous drugs or calcium supplements.
