Bone health....is milk really the answer?

Most of us think of bones as those things we see at Halloween. In truth, bone is a living matrix that is constantly changing.   Bone health is more than taking calcium or drinking milk.  Good bone health requires several things to be in balance.
First, body pH that is slighly alkaline.  Green leafy vegetables and fruit are good examples of alkaline foods while sugars, meats and processed foods are acidic.  In studies, increasing green leafy vegetables actually increased bone density while drinking milk did very little.  So decreasing meat, sugar and milk while increasing fruits and vegetables will strength bones over time.

Second, a balance intake of calcium, vitamin D and magnesium is essential.   The standard American diet that is high in sugar and neglects vegetables actually causes the body to shed magnesium into the urine.  Most Americans in the northern states do not get enough sunshine most months of the year to maintain their minimum standards of vitamin D without supplementation.  Even taking extra calcium, your bone health can be very poor due to a lack of intake of magnesium or this shedding phenomenon combined with a lack of vitamin D.

Physical exercise, especially band exercises or weight bearing exercises like walking and water exercise are essential to balancing the way the body recycles bone.  Getting consistent physical activity that contracts muscle through a full range of motion helps the body maintain bone density even in the elderly.

Finally, chiropractic adjustments that encourage proper joint alignment and good joint range of motion are an integral part of the "feeding" of the bones.   Osteoarthritis is exacerbated by poor joint alignment.   The joint "locking" that occurs with osteoathritis is very painful and may be exacerbated by poor dietary choices, poor alignment as well as the tendency not to move a stiff joint.

No bones about it....just as your waistline reflects how you move and eat, your bone cells also are a direct reflection of your nutritional choices and physical activity.