We have a bone to pick - a healthy bone that is, Part 2

Your health, naturally

By Len Rossi, ND, LMT

WHAT IS IT?

Osteoporosis, a term derived from Latin, literally means "porous bones." Bone mass - the amount of minerals in our bones - reaches its peak between the ages 30 -35. After that, nearly everyone begins to lose bone-strengthening minerals very gradually. The onset of osteoporosis is sub­tle and often begins in the mid-thirties, and often before that. Bone loss begins between the ages of 35 and 45 - long before the obvious signs of upper and lower back pain, compression fractures of the ver­tebrae, wrist fractures and deter­iorated hip joints that finally lead to diagnosis. But, by then, 30 percent of the bone mass had been lost.

And, while wrist fractures mend­ed, and wasted hip joints were repaired, vertebral compression frac­tures are permanent. The weak, hollowed-out vertebrae are com­pressed to half their height by the weight of the body, with the resul­tant loss of up to six inches of height. Or, one side collapses, resulting in wedge-shaped vertebrae and even­tually the "dowager's hump" as more vertebrae collapse forward into wedges.

In the past, frightening statistics painted a grim picture for the aging woman. At least 26 percent of women over the age of 60 had bone thinning severe enough to cause this type of spinal deformity and loss of height, while 50 percent of women past 75 were affected. Of the million fractures annually, prior to 1982, 700,000 resulted from oste­oporosis at a cost of 1 billion dollars. But, "brittle bones" is no longer con­sidered an inevitable consequence of aging in women. Thin, weak bones can be prevented through proper nutrition in the younger years, and bone loss can be halted and reversed later in life.

Dr. Len Rossi, ND has been a proponent of Natural Healing for over 30 years. After a 25-year career as a pro wrestler, Len earned his Doctor of Naturopathy degree in 1982 and is a Licensed Massage Therapist. Email lenrossi@comcast.net.