I’ve found that most women can avoid osteoporosis with regular bone-stressing exercises, dietary changes, and bone-conserving supplements. But there are still a few women who need more support no matter what they do.

They may have waited too long before making healthy changes in their lifestyle. Or their bone loss may be due to genetics. Whatever the reason, whenever a woman needs an osteoporosis medication her doctor tends to suggest Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva, or other bisphosphonates.

But, as I’ve told you before (see my article in the July 2008 issue), bisphosphonates can destroy bone tissues in your jaw, knees, hips, and shoulders. If you need to do more than make lifestyle changes and take extra supplements to build bones better — or if you can’t make enough of these changes to protect your bones — there is just one medication I’ve found that’s both safe and effective.

Unfortunately, many doctors either don’t know about this medication or are misinformed about its benefits. That’s what JoAnn found.

JoAnn is a long-time subscriber. She wrote to me after hearing some disturbing news. Her doctor had just informed her that she had the beginning of osteoporosis. JoAnn had been doing everything right. She did bone-stressing exercises five days a week, ate a healthy diet, and had been taking Ultimate Bone Support with added vitamin D and strontium for over a year. She also was getting sufficient calcium and magnesium (500 mg of each, plus more from her diet). Her bones should have been fine.

JoAnn’s doctor found the osteoporosis by accident. Her doctor wanted to check her for a possible lung problem she’d discovered and had ordered a chest X-ray. Ordinarily, JoAnn wouldn’t have had an X-ray. In fact, she was so sure that her bones were strong that she hadn’t ever had a bone density scan though she was in her mid-60s. The X-ray showed no lung problem — but found two mild compression fractures in her spine.

JoAnn was shocked. She had no back pain or other indication of any bone loss. So what was going on? After talking with her, I realized she had several unavoidable risk factors she had overlooked. Her mother had suffered from osteoporosis, and both JoAnn and her mother were slight, white, fair-skinned women. Genetics appeared to be at the core of her problem.

Actually, JoAnn was fortunate. Most compression fractures are discovered only after they cause pain. Hers were so mild that there was no pain or discomfort. If she hadn’t had an X-ray or a bone density test, she wouldn’t have known that genetics had caught up with her. It was time to look for more support.

JoAnn’s doctor agreed. “I’d suggest you take Fosamax,” she said. But JoAnn had read some of the horror stories about bisphosphonates, including disintegrating jawbones and refused this dangerous drug.

“No,” she told her doctor, “I won’t take Fosamax. But I’m willing to take calcitonin. I’ve heard that it’s safe and effective”

What is calcitonin?

Calcitonin is a hormone made by the thyroid gland. It slows down bone loss and helps rebuild bone. Calcitonin made from salmon is 40 to 50 times stronger than human calcitonin. But until recently, studies didn’t back up its efficacy. Now we know it’s an excellent option for osteoporosis prevention and reversal. Here’s why:

Bone is living tissue that’s constantly building up and breaking down. Osteoclasts are cells that remove old bone, and osteoblasts are bone cells that lay down new bone. Calcitonin slows down the removal of bone, and at the same time it promotes bone formation. In plain language, it increases bone density and bone strength.

Calcitonin is not a bisphosphonate and has no nasty side effects. It won’t destroy jaw bones or any other bones. Other drugs interfere with the formation of bone. Calcitonin doesn’t.

In the past, doctors had to inject calcitonin. Now it’s available in an easy-to-use nasal spray. And it works beautifully. One study found that the nasal spray reduced fractures by two-thirds in older women with moderate osteoporosis. It also increased bone density in the spine much better than calcium alone. A number of studies have found that the optimal dose is 200 IU per day given intranasally, along with 500 mg of calcium — the amount in a good multi like Women’s Vitality. Both higher and lower doses of calcitonin were less effective.

Misinformation about calcitonin

JoAnn’s doctor admitted that she hadn’t used calcitonin on many of her patients even though she knew there could be serious problems with the more popular bisphosphonates like Fosamax. And unfortunately, she was not well informed about its benefits.

“Calcitonin is primarily used to reduce the pain from osteoporotic fractures,” she told JoAnn. “It doesn’t build bone. And it’s extremely expensive.” None of this was true. JoAnn and I had read studies that showed calcitonin did, indeed, preserve and build bone. And, as far as cost, she was willing to pay just about anything for an answer that wouldn’t cause more harm than good. But just to put her mind at ease, JoAnn spoke with her pharmacist.

He assured her that calcitonin did, indeed, increase bone density as well as reduce pain from fractures. He had seen good results with it with many of his clients. Dozens of good, sound scientific studies backed up his observations.
“Your prescription is for Miacalcin,” he told JoAnn. I can give you the same product under another name, Fortical. It will be much less expensive.” After her insurance discount for prescriptions, JoAnn’s charge was just $8.00 a month.

Daily or intermittent?

JoAnn’s doctor prescribed the appropriate dose of 200 IU of calcitonin nasal spray daily. It’s too early to tell, but new studies indicate that you may need to take calcitonin daily only every other month according to a one-year randomized, controlled study conducted in Greece. They gave women with osteoporosis daily supplemental calcium (500 mg) and small amounts of vitamin D3 (400 IU). Then half of them took 200 IU of an intranasal salmon calcitonin every other month for one year. The group that used calcitonin had significant increases in their spine, neck, and hip bone over those on calcium and vitamin D alone.

Whether you take a salmon calcitonin nasal spray continuously or every other month, have your doctor monitor your progress. In my opinion, it’s the best choice for women who need more than calcium, magnesium, vitamins D and K, and strontium.

You also need to remember, whether you already have osteoporosis or just want to prevent it, be sure to eat a healthy diet, reduce your stress, and do bone-stressing exercises (like those using the OsteoBall). And lay a good foundation by taking Ultimate Bone Support or another bone formula. If you’d like more information on the OsteoBall and Ultimate Bone Support, call 800-728-2288 or visit the website www.advancedbionutritionals.com.

Warning: These Healthy Drinks Can Make Your Blood Pressure Medications and Antibiotics Worthless

You may already know that grapefruit juice shouldn’t be taken with certain medications because it increases their absorption and makes them stronger. These higher doses can be extremely toxic — even fatal. Many drug manufacturers now put a warning on these medications to avoid grapefruit.

Now we’re finding out that grapefruit — along with several other popular juices — can have the opposite effect. They decrease the absorption of drugs so much that they can no longer be effective. These drugs include some popular antibiotics, blood pressure medications, and antihistamines. If you’re drinking fruit juices and taking certain medications, they may not be working the way they should.

That’s why I want to warn you about some specific medications that are either increased or reduced in potency when you take them with grapefruit or other juices.

It all began nearly 20 years ago when David G Bailey, PhD and his research team discovered the “Grapefruit Juice Effect.” They found that the same liver enzyme metabolizes grapefruit and breaks down a number of drugs. When you take these drugs with grapefruit juice, it increases their absorption and they became too strong. Some people even died.

Recently, these very same scientists found that while grapefruit juice increases the bioavailability of nearly 50 drugs, it (and other popular fruit juices like apple juice) can have the opposite effect. They block the absorption of some medications that are absorbed in the intestines. When this happens, the drugs are less effective. You’re not getting the amount your doctor prescribed.
So treat these fruit juices with respect, and read on to see if it might be wise for you to eliminate or greatly reduce them.

You may be getting too little of these medications if you’re drinking grapefruit juice: Calcium channel-blockers, including Norvasc, Plendil, Cardene, Procardia, Adalat, Nifedical, and Nimotop. Certain juices can decrease their absorption, preventing them from working effectively.

Are you taking an antihistamine for your allergies? If you take Seldane, and you don’t think it’s working the way it should, it may be because you’re drinking a fruit juice that blocks some of its absorption. Stop drinking the juices and see if that doesn’t help you feel better.

Some medications are crucial to health, like Invirase or Fortovase, two antiretroviral drugs given to people with HIV. If you know anyone who is HIV positive or who has AIDS, make sure they stop these juices. We still don’t know every medication that’s affected by apple and orange juices. Have them check with their pharmacist about possible interactions with other antivirals.

And anyone who has had an organ transplant needs to know that cyclosporine,
a popular immunosuppressant drug, can become less effective when you take them with these juices.

Taking lovastatin to lower your cholesterol? Read my past articles on this subject and you may realize you don’t need to take statins. But if you and your doctor are convinced that statins are safe, effective, and necessary for you (personally, I don’t believe they are), you should know that you’re getting less than your doctor is prescribing if you drink fruit juices regularly.

Halcion is a popular medication that helps insomniacs get a good night’s sleep. If you’re taking this or other benzodiazepines and find yourself still counting sheep for hours on end, look at your diet.

How much is too much?

We don’t know how much juice interferes with the absorption of drugs. But from past reports, it seems to be dose-dependent. People who drank two to three glasses of grapefruit juice had serious side effects. Eating a little grapefruit may be perfectly safe for most people.

How much juice is too much? Nobody knows. Absorption varies from person to person. But you can make it easy on yourself by switching from apple and grapefruit juices to water or herb teas. That would be your safest bet. And it’s one that won’t upset your blood sugar, either.

The grapefruit juice phenomena can last for 24 hours, which means there may be no safe time to have these healthy drinks if you’re taking any medication.
And remember, we used to think it was only grapefruit juice that interfered with certain drugs. Now we are finding that apple juice also changes the absorption of some medications.

Will we find that other juices block or increase the absorption of a drug that’s vital to your health? No one knows. To be safe, keep all fruit juices to a minimum and eat a piece of fruit instead.

I Warned You About This Sweetener Six Years Ago — Now the News Is Even Worse

It’s 600 times as sweet as ordinary table sugar and has no calories. These are two primary reasons why you see little packets of this popular artificial sweetener in restaurants all across the country. You can cook with it
or bake with it, unlike some other artificial sweeteners that are not stable in heat. In fact, it already sweetens more than 4,500 prepared foods and drinks.

Sounds ideal, doesn’t it? I’m here to say it’s not.

Everyone has been saying this sweetener is harmless, including the FDA. They’re wrong. I don’t care what anyone says. I told you six years ago that this sweetener wasn’t safe. Recent news indicates it’s more dangerous than I originally thought.

When I first took a close look at this sweetener, I discovered animal studies that concluded it shrinks the thymus gland (the foundation of your immune system) and enlarges the kidneys and liver. I was astonished to read that the FDA knew this. In spite of these findings, they gave it their seal of approval.

That’s right. A popular sugar substitute can affect your immunity and liver function — and it’s proclaimed safe and effective by the agency that’s designed to protect our health. This sweetener is none other than sucralose, known also as Splenda. It’s made from sugar using a chlorinating process.

There’s a lot of misinformation about sucralose. The Canadian Diabetic Association says an adult can consume 15 mg/kg per day indefinitely without any health problems. The FDA says that just 5 mg/kg is safe. But a more recent study out of Duke University found problems at much lower levels.

The Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health recently published a three-month animal study that said doses between 1.1 and 11 mg/kg caused weight gain. That’s right. This zero-calorie sweetener caused weight gain, not weight loss, as you’d expect. The more Splenda you use, the more likely it is that you’ll gain some of the weight you want to lose.

But that’s not all.

This sweetener also affected the colonies of beneficial bacteria in the intestinal tract, lowering them by a whopping 50%! Killing off friendly bacteria puts you at risk for nutrient deficiencies (especially vitamin B12), a suppressed immune system, and yeast infections.

Based on their findings, the researchers at Duke suspect that the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for sucralose in humans may be 500 times lower than the FDA recommendations! That’s like saying no amount is really safe. Which is what I told you six years ago.

Like many artificial foods and medications, there have been numerous symptoms reported over the years including bloating, gas, nausea, heartburn, diarrhea, headaches, disorientation, knee pain, and dizziness. Some of these symptoms may be due to the lowered amounts of friendly bacteria.

What sugar substitutes are safe? Well, small amounts of sugar are safer than Splenda! And Stevia is safe. But my favorite sweetener is agave. For more information, read my article on the subject (October 2008).

If You Think Pain Is a Symptom of Arthritis, Think Again

Most people believe that pain is a symptom of arthritis — an age-related deterioration due to wear and tear on joints. I’ve explained to you before that diseases ending in “itis” contain a common factor: inflammation. And the heat and irritation from inflammation is painful. So I wouldn’t be surprised if you — like me — believed that pain is a symptom of arthritis. But both of us would be wrong.

A study conducted at the University of Rochester Medical Center and published in Arthritis and Rheumatism journal (September 2008) discovered that arthritis is related to the way pain is processed.

They found that when pain signals that originate in arthritic joints get into the spinal cord, these signals make arthritis pain worse. Nerve pathways that transmit these pain signals carry inflammation back and forth from arthritic joints and the spine. When pain signals are transmitted in this manner from inflamed joints to the spine, inflammation can spread from one joint to another.
So it looks like we’ve gotten it backward. Arthritis doesn’t cause pain. Pain actually causes arthritis.

This has huge implications, because Alzheimer’s, dementia, and multiple sclerosis are all diseases with a common denominator: nerve inflammation. All of them, as well as osteoarthritis, could be treated with substances that block inflammatory receptors on nerve cells.

This new perspective also provides us with interesting treatment possibilities. You may be able to reduce the spread of arthritis and its symptoms by eating foods and taking nutrients that reduce inflammation.

Sugar and refined grains (white flour, white rice) feed inflammation. But nuts, fish, and flax oil are all anti-inflammatory. And there are many easy-to-find herbs, such as turmeric, green tea, and ginger that help fight inflammation. I’ve written a lot on this subject. You may want to read my article, “Control inflammation naturally and easily” in the August 2003 issue of my newsletter, available to you on-line on my website at no cost. You can also find additional information on inflammation in my latest book, 456 Most Powerful Healing Secrets (800-728-2288).

The subject of inflammation and health is so critical that I’ll be talking about it in future articles. It’s often the missing link in solving difficult health problems.
But for now, by understanding that pain causes inflammation and contributes to arthritis, you can make a few changes in your diet and lifestyle that may be able to keep your arthritis from spreading. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies are working furiously to find drugs that will have the same effect. Which would you rather do? Change your diet or take another drug that has side effects?

All references for this issue are available at www.womenshealthletter.com

NUTRITION DETECTIVE

Why HRT Doesn’t Work — And Can Hurt You

At one time, we thought conventional hormone therapy was the answer to every menopausal woman’s prayers. But now we know that it increases your risk for dementia and having a stroke. And it doesn’t help your memory. Why is this a surprise to researchers when basic science should have predicted these results all along?

You see, the combination of estrogen and progestin (synthetic progesterone) reduces the effect of estrogen in most tissues. That means estrogen can’t protect against heart disease effectively. It’s just not getting through. But breast tissue is different. Estrogen with progestin increases estrogen in the breast, often leading to breast cancer.

Just how bad is hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for you? One excellent study showed that the risk for dementia was twice as high in women who took HRT. Another study concluded that the risk for any kind of stroke was more than 30% higher in women on HRT. Sorry, but I wouldn’t take these odds. I still have my wits about me!

What about natural estrogen and progesterone therapy? We simply don’t know. There are no large, long-term, double-blinded studies to indicate its safety or risk. You can treat most menopausal symptoms with safer methods. Advanced Memory Formula and Ultimate Bone Support from Advanced Bionutritionals (800-728-2288 or www.advancedbionutritionals.com) are two examples of effective supplements. They both target specific menopausal symptoms safely. Along with weight-bearing exercise, they may be all you need.

If you decide to use HRT, make sure you’re taking only bioidentical hormones. And do so under the direction of an experienced health care professional (medical doctor or nurse practitioner). Also make sure they monitor you regularly. If you have any side effects, report them and discuss your options.

A Simple Way to Reduce Carb Cravings

If you’re depressed and can’t stay away from bread, pasta, and pastries, I may have a solution for you. A common mineral, used to help regulate your body’s response to insulin, may be all you need.

I’ve seen dozens and dozens of patients over the years who suffered from low blood sugar and carbohydrate cravings. When I gave them one mineral to take, it changed their lives and freed them from an unbalanced diet.

The mineral is chromium. And the form that appears to work best is chromium picolinate.

A study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Practice conducted a two-month double-blinded study. It followed more than 100 depressed patients. Those who took chromium picolinate reported less depression, carbohydrate cravings, and a reduced appetite.

Now, you may notice that the vitamins you take already contain chromium picolinate, and you still crave carbohydrates. That’s probably because you’re not taking enough. High-potency vitamin formulas usually contain 200 mcg of chromium. One-a-day vitamins have much less. This and other studies, however, indicate that it takes at least 600 mcg a day to decrease the appetite, depression, and cravings.

Of course, chromium picolinate can’t work miracles. If you’re eating a lot of sugar, skipping meals, and eating a lot of refined starches, such as bread, white rice, and regular pasta, you’ll still crave these foods. So you may need to make some more significant dietary changes. I’ve found that adding more chromium picolinate makes these changes easier.

LETTERS

Q: I’m in my 80s and suffer from constipation. I don’t want to take prescription drugs, but stool softeners and fiber haven’t solved my problem. Do you have a solution for me? — E.S., Edna, TX

A: Yes, I do. Getting sufficient fiber and water is the first step, but not the only one. The next step would be to take a magnesium supplement. Here’s why.
Calcium causes all muscles to contract, while magnesium causes them to relax. Your intestines are muscle. So more magnesium and less calcium could be your answer.

A sub-clinical magnesium deficiency is common, especially in women who take 1,000 mg or more of calcium — the amount most doctors recommend.

Our bodies use more magnesium when we’re under stress, which is one reason why we tend to be deficient in the often-overlooked mineral.

In addition, as we get older we tend to eat fewer foods high in magnesium, including nuts, seeds, and whole grains.

It’s easy to know how much magnesium to take: as much as you need to have normal bowel movements. Don’t exceed 1,000 mg of magnesium supplementation a day.

Instead, reduce your calcium supplement to 500-600 mg. This, along with a healthy diet containing green leafy vegetables and a little dairy will give you all the calcium you need — without getting too much.

Q: A dear friend of mine has incurable brain cancer. Some was taken out, but the rest of it cannot be removed. She is undergoing radiation and wants to include nutritional approaches. Which nutritional supplements would you recommend for her situation? — S.W., e-mail

A: The first supplement I suggest for anyone with cancer is PectaSol-C, from EcoNugenics (800-308-5518). Studies have found it to keep cancer cells from spreading.

PectaSol-C is similar to the PectaSol I talked about in my small book, Modified Citrus Pectin (Basic Health Publications, $4.95, 800-728-2288), and in a past
article available on my website, www.womenshealthletter.com. Its molecular size is smaller than the original PectaSol, so more of it gets absorbed.

Next, I like MycoPhyto Plus, a blend of medicinal mushrooms grown on immune-enhancing herbs. They will support her immune system so the radiation can work without depleting her too much. I’ve also written about MycoPhyto in the past if you want more information. You can get this formula at the best price from Advanced Bionutritionals (800-728-2288).

There are many other nutrients that could be helpful. However, it’s best to have an experienced doctor of integrative medicine work with your friend and help her decide which would be best for her.

Good luck, and thanks for being such a good friend to her.