Osteoporosis is another one of those problems that are dealt with differently by mainstream medicine then from those who practice natural, holistic medicine. Recently the U.S.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease suggested these preventive measures for osteoporosis..
•Eat a healthy, balanced diet rich in vitamin D and calcium.
•Get frequent exercise that’s designed to help strengthen bones.
•Take medications designed to prevent bone loss or increase bone mass.
•Take steps to prevent falls, which increase your chances of breaking a bone. Such steps include removing clutter inside the home, wearing low-heeled shoes, securing rugs to the floor, and installing grab bars in the bathroom.
The suggestions are fine, but they don’t address what is at the root of the problem. What is causing your body to breakdown more bone then it is building? Have they ever considered the fact that the more acidic you become – the more your body begins to steal calcium and magnesium from your bones and teeth. This sets you up for osteoporosis?
The body doesn’t like to be acidic…it’s unhealthy! Your body prefers to be more alkaline. When you become acidic, the body is designed to neutralize the acidity by adding calcium. Where the calcium comes from is the next question. Other cultures consume less than half of what is recommended here in the US,and they don’t have the same problem of osteoporosis because their diet doesn’t make them acidic.
The more acidic you become the more your body will steal calcium, magnesium and other minerals from your bones and teeth. This is what makes our bones more brittle and prone to osteoporosis. Exercise is great, as is removing all the clutter around your house so you don’t fall….but if you keep your body in a constant state of acidity…you are setting yourself up for a long battle with osteoporosis.
Traditional medicine never looks at this aspect of our diet being the possible cause. What causes more acidity within your body is a large consumption of soft drinks, juices, coffee and teas…how much of that do we see advertised on TV? Also lots of sugar…specifically refined, processed sugar found in most of your packaged, fast food is going to make you more acidic. The same goes with grains and high protein diets.
Foods that make you more alkaline are fruits and vegetables. Could it be that all the benefits from fruits and benefits comes from a combination of things. Fruits and vegetables are…
- Packed full of antioxidants, phytonutrients and minerals…which we know helps so many health issues
- Contain fiber to help cleanse the body of toxins and fights constipation
- Makes your body more alkaline
- Keeps your blood sugar stable
Measure Your Acidity
One of the first things you should do to see if your body is too acidic is measure the acidity of your saliva and urine. You can do this fairly inexpensively at your home. Go to your local pharmacy, they should have pH paper to measure both saliva and urine. Anything above 7 is what you should be aiming for – anything below 7 is acidic…above 7 is alkaline. The further you are from 7 the more acidic or alkaline you are. The optimal pH for blood, saliva and urine is just above 7.0.
Here is what you should do if you find you are too acidic….
Start each morning with a glass of water with a squeeze of lemon or lime…this will help make you more alkaline.
Secondly,reduce or eliminate the amount of coffee, tea, soft drinks and juices from your diet. The more you cut back or cut out of your diet the better. This could be the biggest positive step you could take for yourself.
Reduce or cutback on the amount of refined, processed, and sugary foods. Don’t forget that grains also are very acidic, as well as a diet high in protein, especially if the protein comes from a shake. If you are eating the wrong foods, you need to make some changes and eat more fruits and veggies to become more alkaline!
Lastly,add a Green Drinks to your daily regimen.
Green Drinks...try the Reds or Purples
The Green drinks are loaded with minerals and other phytonutrients that make your body more alkaline. I prefer them over any multivitamin, mineral supplement, because you can pack so much more good nutrition in a scoopful than you can in a capsule. I also like the fact that when you drink and taste it…your body better utilizes all those nutrients.
As you begin to work on your ph levels don’t be surprised to see how much better your overall health may become. Your energy may begin to comeback, some of the nagging aches and pains may disappear, you might be able to relax and sleep better…all because you started addressing the real root of your problem, which is too much acidity.