Naturopathic Solutions For Osteoporosis
As we age, our body doesn’t always function the way it used to.
Metabolism slows, making it harder to lose weight and keep it off.
Your hair may start to grey, and your digestive system might not move as smoothly as it once did.
And your risk for developing osteoporosis increases, which can cause your bones to weaken, making them more susceptible to fractures.
I’m Dr. Kimberly Dawdy, ND and I work at an Ottawa clinic for natural medicine, and today I’m here to talk about osteoporosis.
Let’s talk about how you can recognize the signs of osteoporosis, and some natural solutions for managing it, and reducing your risk of developing it in the first place.
Keep reading to learn more.
What Is Osteoporosis?
The word “osteoporosis” comes from the Latin word for “porous bones.”
Inside the bones are small spaces which look similar to a honeycomb.
When you have osteoporosis, the size of these spaces grows, resulting in lower bone density and loss of strength.
As well as the lowering of bone density, the outside of the bone becomes thinner and weaker.
Individuals with osteoporosis have an increased risk of fractures and bone breaks just from everyday activities such as walking.
What Are The Symptoms Of Osteoporosis?
Early stages of osteoporosis often doesn’t have any outward signs.
Most of the time, people won’t learn they have it until they sustain a bone fracture.
In the rare case early symptoms do occur, they may look like:
- Brittle and weak nails
- Decreased grip strength
- Receding gum line
Over time, symptoms may include:
- Bones breaking easily
- Stooped posture
- Loss of height
- Back pain
What Causes Osteoporosis?
As you age, the process of bone renewal slows down.
The likelihood of developing osteoporosis is linked to how much bone mass you develop in youth, as well as hereditary factors.
Risk factors for developing osteoporosis include:
- Age: risk of osteoporosis increases with age
- Sex: Women are at higher risk
- Race: people of European or Asian descent are at higher risk
- Genetics
- Body composition: Those with smaller frames are at an increased risk as they have less bone density
- Lower levels of sex hormones, estrogen and testosterone
- An excess of thyroid hormone
- Eating disorders
- Gastrointestinal surgery which limits the ability to absorb nutrients
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Tobacco use
Naturopathic Solutions For Osteoporosis
There are a number of natural solutions which can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis and help to manage it once it starts to develop.
Let’s take a closer look.
1. Calcium
Most people associate calcium with bone health, and for good reason.
Bone and tissue are always rebuilding, and calcium is essential for this process.
As you age, your body doesn’t absorb calcium as easily so it’s important to ensure you’re getting enough.
Some food sources of calcium include:
- Fortified soy, rice, and almond products
- Canned salmon
- Canned sardines
- Fortified orange juice
- Almonds
- Beans
If getting enough calcium from diet alone is difficult for you, speak to your naturopathic doctor about supplementation.
However, it’s also important to recognize that too much calcium can have adverse side effects.
2. Vitamin D
Vitamin D is another nutrient which is incredibly important for bone health, as it helps to increase the body’s absorption of calcium.
Also known as “the sunshine vitamin” the body produces vitamin D when exposed to the sun’s rays.
Although it might be easy to get lots of vitamin D through sunlight in the summer, it becomes a lot more difficult to do this during Ottawa’s long, cold winters.
This is what makes vitamin D such a useful natural treatment for seasonal affective disorder.
Furthermore, there are few food sources of this important vitamin so speak to your doctor or naturopath about vitamin D supplementation.
3. Red Clover
Red clover is a plant which comes to the same family as beans and peas.
A 2015 study in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found daily use of red clover extract to have a positive effect on bone health.
This is likely because it contains phytoestrogens called isoflavones which mimics estrogen in the body and contribute to a decrease in osteoporosis.
However, these compounds can also interact with some medications, so be sure to discuss this option with your naturopathic doctor.
4. Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine.
It involves placing thin needles on the body at strategic points and is often used in conjunction with herbal remedies.
An article from the Healthcare Medicine Institute discusses a study conducted by the Chengdu Medical College.
This study measured bone density in participants with osteoporosis before and after the study period, and found acupuncture helped both with increasing bone density and reducing pain.
5. Soy
Just like red clover, soy also contains isoflavones, which are compounds similar to estrogen which may play a role in preventing bone loss.
A study in Therapeutic Advances in Musculoskeletal Disease looked at the use of soy for bone health.
It found soy foods to be linked to improved bone health, especially in Asian women.
Further study is needed to determine which soy-containing foods are best suited to assisting bone health, and in what doses.
Book An Appointment With Dawdy Naturopathic
Do you worry that you may be at risk for developing osteoporosis?
Perhaps you have a family history which concerns you, or you worry about getting enough calcium through diet.
I’m Dr. Kimberly Dawdy, ND, and I can help.
I’ll work with you to assess your risk factors for osteoporosis, and help you take measures to lessen the risk of developing it, taking into account nutrition, lifestyle, and other factors.
Contact me today to set up an appointment.
Yours in Health,
Dr. Kimberly Dawdy, ND
Dawdy Naturopathic Clinic
6899 Sunset Blvd,
Greely, ON K4P 1C5
-https://g.page/dawdynaturopathicclinic
Dawdy Naturopathic Clinic offers a variety of naturopathic health solutions for individuals and families in Ottawa and the surrounding area.
