Prevent Osteoporosis, reduce the risk of fracture and bone loss
Osteoporosis is a disease of bone characterized by a decrease in the bone mineral density (BMD). Normal bone is composed of protein, collagen, and calcium all of which give bone its strength. The higher the bone density, the stronger the bones. In osteoporosis the bone structure is disrupted, and the amount and variety of proteins in bone is altered. 
This disorder leads to porous and fragile bones, decreases the bones strength resulting in an increased risk of fracture. The spine, hips, ribs, and wrists are common areas of bone fractures from osteoporosis. About 55% of the U.S. population aged 50 years and older has low bone density.
The factors that are the causes of osteoporosis development:
In our culture many factors combine to cause the slow and silent onset of bone loss. In early stages it is usually asymptomatic called osteopaenia. Over time, a rate of approximately 1% per year beginning at about age 30 and approximately 2% per year during perimenopause and menopause, women’s bones become increasingly porous, brittle and subject to fracture.
osteoporosis hip fracture
Estrogen is important in maintaining bone density in women. When estrogen levels drop after menopause, loss of bone density accelerates. Actually only 15% of total body bone mass on average is lost due to estrogen related factor. Roughly another 15% of the total average life time bone loss of about 30% is due to other factors.
Some of other factors are vaata body type, smoking, sedentary life style, history of amenorrhea associated with excessive exercise and/ or anorexia nervosa, drinking more than 25gm alcohol per day, over stressed liver, drinking more than 2 units of caffeine per day, clinically depressed, poor diet that are low in calcium, Vitamin D deficiency, premature menopause, regular use of steroid drugs, anticonvulsant medication, thyroid disorder.
Methods of Preventing Osteoporosis
The goal to prevent osteoporosis is to reduce bone loss by perfectly maintaining bone density and strength. Bone loss is a vaata disorder, so vaata pacifying diet and life style is helpful including oil therapy (sesame oil). Follow a vaata, pitta, kapha pacifying regime. Eliminate alcohol, smoking, carbonated drinks, white sugar, table salt, phosphate diuretic and antacid containing aluminum, all of which leach calcium from bones. Eat phytoestrogen daily and adequate intake of minerals through diet. Engage in regular weight bearing exercises and spent time in sun light to product adequate levels of Vitamin D. Engage in stress reduction technique like meditation, yoga, praanaayaama regularly.
Osteoporosis Diet
Adequate nutrition plays a major role in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. An inadequate intake of either calcium, vitamin D, or both will influence calcium-regulating hormones. A deficiency of either calcium or vitamin D will result in reduced calcium absorption and a lower concentration of circulating ionized calcium. Take a meal that are rich in Calcium and Vitamin D. Foods that are high in calcium include milk, yogurt, cheese, tofu, sesame seed, soy, almond, broccoli, sea weed, and dark green leafy vegetables. The digestion of proteins produces acids which are buffered with calcium. Thus foods rich in protein but low in calcium (such as meat) result in calcium loss from the bones. As a result vegetarian needs less calcium than meat eaters. The current recommended daily allowance for calcium intake in post menopausal women is 1500mg per day.
The blow mentioned charts provides the recommended intake of Calcium and Vitamin D with the changes of age.
Age (y) Calcium (mg) Vitamin D (IU)
________________________________________
3–8 800 200
9–17 1300 200
18–50 1000 400
51–70 1200 400
>70 1200 600
Herbs for Osteoporosis
Key herbs include pravaala pishti, hareetakee (T. Chebula), soy, nordostachys jataamaamsi (jataamaamsi), valerian, Centella asiatica (brahmi), aswagandha, sataavaree, st.john’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), Ocimum sanctum (tulsi), sandal wood (Santalum album), Eclipta alba (bhrngraaj), Convolvulus pluricaulis (sankh pushpi), balaa, sesame oil. A study shows that with the use of Acorous calamus (vacaa), asvagandha, jataamaamsi and ulat kambal (Abroma augusta) psychological symptoms i.e. anxiety and irritability were relieved.
Osteoporotic fracture associated medical system cost is very high. For each hip fracture medical cost is around $40,000. Moreover approximately 20% of those who experience a hip fracture will die in the year following the fracture and one-third patients regain their pre-fracture level of function. So osteoporosis should be an important public health issue.
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Comments
Osteoporosis refers to a condition wherein the bones in the body are more prone to fractures and other injuries and is due to a reduction in the bone mineral density, particularly of calcium resulting in a weaker structure for the bones, which makes it porous and prone to injuries.
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