By the age of 60, almost 50% of women in North America will have Osteoporosis or Osteopenia. The rate of hip fractures is projected to increase by 310% in men and 240% in women by 2050.
The following increases your risk of developing osteoporosis or osteopenia:– Menopause
– Smoking & alcohol & pop
– Caffeine- if you drink 3 cups per day, you will lose 45 mg of calcium daily
– Vitamin D or Calcium deficiency
– Too much protein in your diet
– Lack of exercise
– Thin bone structure
– Family history of osteoporosis or fracturesStudies show that eating a diet higher in fruits and vegetables (especially the green leafy vegetables) decreases bone loss. This is probably because it helps you to keep alkaline. You can check the ph of your urine to see if you are acidic or alkaline. You want to ideally measure >6.8. (If you can’t find urine pH strips at the pharmacy, let us know because we have them at the clinic). The best times to check your pH levels seems to be on waking, 10am and/or 4pm.
If you are also suffering (or suffered in the past) with other hormonal symptoms such as hot flashes, hair loss, lack of memory, mood swings, etc. then you may want to do a saliva test to check your hormones. Remember low estrogens and other hormonal imbalances can also be a risk factor to osteoporosis and bone fractures.
