Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Terry, “My doctor says I have osteoporosis in my neck. Do you know any natural remedies that might be helpful? I don’t want to take any prescription medications if I can help it. Thanks!”— Barbara G., Baton Rouge, LA

A. Dear Barbara, I too, share your concerns regarding the use of prescription medications. When it comes to supporting bone health, I recommend using a combination of several nutritional formulations for optimal benefit.

I would first suggest adding a high quality bone building formula that includes calcium, along with magnesium, vitamin D3, boron, vitamins K1 and K2, copper, zinc, and manganese, in addition to other key ingredients. You should never supplement with calcium by itself. Supplementing with calcium alone, in fact, has been found to be associated with negative heart health consequences.

You may also want to consider adding organic silica from horsetail to your regimen. It may surprise you to know this, but silica – not calcium – is the top osteoporosis supplement in parts of Europe. In fact, studies have shown that silica can increase calcium absorption by 50% and bone density by 15%. Silica tends to be poorly absorbed, so look for a product that contains organic silica and bioflavonoids, blended with marine oil. This form of silica is clinically studied, extremely soluble, and virtually 100% bioavailable for the body. If you would like to include silica, I recommend taking 20 to 60 mg per day.

The trace mineral strontium is also essential for optimal bone health. Strontium is a component of bones and occurs naturally in the body. Studies using strontium in the treatment of osteoporosis showed significant improvements in bone mineral density (BMD). In fact, a 2010 study published in Rheumatology International actually compared the effects of strontium to a well-known osteoporosis drug called alendronate (brand name Fosamax). In this study of women with osteoporosis, strontium was much more effective than the drug for increasing bone thickness and density—all without serious adverse effects. Look for a formula that contains strontium citrate, a very absorbable form of strontium. Since strontium and calcium are absorbed via the same pathway, they should be taken separately, several hours apart from one another. Therefore, I would suggest taking strontium in the morning and other bone building minerals later in the day and at bedtime. I recommend 340-680 mg of elemental strontium daily.

And last, but not least, don’t forget weight-bearing exercise—you have to work your bones, just like you have to work your muscles, if you want them to get bigger and stronger! Diet is also important when it comes to osteoporosis. My diet as it’s described on my website at Terry’s Traditional Diet is a bone building diet because it avoids carbohydrates, sugar, soft drinks and any so called junk food.

As always, I encourage you to talk with your doctor and see what he/she thinks of using the protocol I have recommended.

Healthy Regards!

Terry . . . Naturally