Bioidentical Hormones Community - Natural Health Resources

Natural Supplements, Vitamins and Weight Loss - Study Shows Multivitamin Mineral Supplements help lose weight without dieting

2010-05-28T21:27:00Z

Natural Supplements, Multivitamins, Minerals
and Nutrition help with Weight Loss

Throughout our human history a "full figure" use to be considered a sign of wealth. If you were fatter it meant that you could afford to feed yourself a lot of food. In the last 50 years those aesthetic standards have changed and a slim, lean body shape became a fashionable craze. For many people, these new values created a life long battle trying to stay slender and lose weight.

The truth of the matter is that being slim is more then a visually pleasing fixation. Having good body proportions facilitates for a longer healthy life. Countless scientific evidence suggests that the size of our body and especially the fat to muscle ratio is an important forecaster and marker of our health.

The Obesity Epidemic - A Sign of Starvation

We all know that a large majority of the American population is overweight; however it is not a sign of abundance anymore. In reality, it is often a symptom of starvation. People are starved of nutrients, essential vitamins and minerals. The majority of overweight people become overweight by not paying attention to the quality of the foods they eat. These people often eat the "addictive foods" that taste best to them. The so called "good taste" in food nowadays is most often accomplished by using artificial flavor enhancers and addictive ingredients. After all food manufacturers make more money on those who eat a lot.

Certified Organic No More - USDA Amends Laws, Allows 245 Non Organic Ingredients

For many people quality food is usually difficult to obtain, unless you grow your own. What is labeled as "fresh produce" at the grocery store is usually weeks old, unripe or moldy. What's even worse is that you cannot count on USDA organic standards anymore. As of 2009 new organic provisions implemented by the USDA permit the use of 245 non organic synthetic ingredients in USDA certified organic products. These new organic provisions were put into effect after forceful lobbying by Big Organic manufacturers and consumers will have the following consequences to deal with:

Organic baby formula is allowed to contain the synthetic fatty acids DHA and ARA that are often times prepared through the use of hexane, a compound identified to be a neurotoxin.
The USDA does not require that the soil in which organic produce is grown to be tested for residues of pesticides, fungicides or synthetic fertilizers.
Certified organic canned foods are allowed the continued employment of bisphenol A (abbreviated BPA) an additive used in the production of plastics. Bisphenol A has long been suspected of being hazardous to humans since the early 1930's. As of recently a 2010 report from the FDA has raised concerns of bisphenol A exposure to fetuses and children suggesting possible brain damage and developmental problems. Bisphenol A is well known as an endocrine disruptor, effecting hormonal health and normal hormone production. A 2008 study has verified that bisphenol A exposure is attributed to excessive weight gain and obesity.
The USDA also allows certified organic products to use crops harvested from deforested areas.
Organic cosmetics and organic skin care products are not regulated under USDA provisions. Many so-called "organic" skin care producers label water as an organic ingredient.

Can't Get Sufficient Nutrition from Food Alone

It is really an unfortunate fact that us consumers are forced to deal with. The food that we consume in America is for the most part depleted of many vital nutrients needed to maintain a healthy existence (even in organic products). It’s no wonder why so many people constantly fall ill, have hormonal imbalances, neurotransmitter disorders and are rapidly becoming dangerously overweight.

"Losing weight shouldn't just be about losing weight. The focus must be placed on balancing your fat to muscle ratio and the BMI - body mass index."

Losing Nutrients Instead of Weight

People who experience weight challenges in the process of trying to find a solution often go through many failed diet programs and strenuous exercise routines. Sadly, the majority of those diets or exercise programs do not offer any permanent weight loss results. The only "loss" they manage to create is a substantial loss of essential nutrients such as vitamins and minerals.

Multivitamin Supplements and Mineral Supplements Can Help Women Loose Weight

Recently a groundbreaking study was conducted by Chinese scientists on weight loss. The study was led by Professor C.H. Sun from the Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene at the Habrin Medical University.

In this study, 96 women classified as being obese, from 18 to 55 years of age, were randomly assigned to 3 participation groups.

Group one received a multivitamin, mineral supplement.
The second group was given a calcium supplement.
The third group of women was placed on placebo.
This study was conducted over a period of 26 weeks.

"The women in this study were not placed on any diet or exercise program and were instructed to continue their normal daily activities."

Remarkable Weight Loss Results from a Multivitamin

The clinical findings of this study published in the 2010 International Journal of Obesity showed that the first group of obese women receiving the multivitamin supplement, mineral supplement had a decrease in waist size and a significant loss of weight, 3.6 kg (approximately 7.92 lbs) as compared to 0.9 kg (2 lbs) in the calcium receiving group and 0.2 kg (0.5 lbs) in the placebo group.

Weight Loss, Better Cholesterol Levels, Improved BMI, More Energy

Furthermore, the obese women in the first group who took the multivitamin, mineral supplement had an improved body mass index and respiratory quotient. These women also experienced an improved lipid profile with a decrease in total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol while an increase in HDL (good) cholesterol was observed. Women receiving the multivitamin, mineral supplement had moreover higher resting energy expenditure - meaning they were able to more efficiently burn fat and carbohydrates that provided their bodies with an increased energy level. All these weight loss benefits were accomplished with the simple addition of a multivitamin, multi-mineral supplement without dieting or strenuous exercise.

Group two that received the calcium supplement experienced only some improvements in their lipid profiles with lower LDL cholesterol and increased HDL cholesterol.

The placebo group showed no changes in lipid and cholesterol levels.

Use of Nutritional Health Supplements Increasing in the USA

The usage of nutritional supplements in the United States is fast growing. According to the National Institute of Health approximately fifty percent of the American population takes some kind of nutritional supplement. Why then are there so many obese individuals in our country?

Despite the fact that many people in America use multivitamin supplements and mineral supplements, they do not obtain the beneficial effects that these multivitamin and mineral supplements can offer. The reason for this is that for most people the price of the multivitamin, mineral supplements is the deciding factor. Also, when people buy their multivitamins, mineral supplements from pharmacies or at their local stores they cannot count on professional advice of the store's personnel.

Significance of a high quality natural multivitamin, mineral supplement

The most important aspect to focus on when selecting a multivitamin supplement or any nutritional supplement is the quality and bioavailability of the ingredients. Using nutritional supplements and not seeing any results can be due to the low quality ingredients present in many generic drugstore brand supplements.Natural supplements that do not use synthetic compounds and contain high quality ingredients with maximum absorbance capabilities provide an effective solution. Mineral supplements, in order to be easily absorbed by the body, must be present in a chelated or reacted form. These types of high quality, high potency natural supplements are referred to as pharmaceutical grade.

Investing in high quality extensively researched (by a knowledgeable medical professional), pharmaceutical grade, natural nutritional supplements including multivitamins, chelated mineral supplements can yield long-term results of improved health and vitality especially in relation to having a slim figure and losing weight naturally.

Searching for the best natural multivitamin supplement?

Our Natural Multivitamin Health Supplement

Our natural multivitamin is formulated with a broad spectrum of essential nutrients and true chelated minerals meaning that these minerals are small enough for the body to absorb. Our natural multivitamin supplement also provides ample quanities of potent antioxidants in its formulation for cellular health and protection aganst free radical damage. Implementing only pharmaceutical grade vitamin and mineral ingredients and produced using the highest quality standards into an efficacious super supplement, our natural multivitamin surpasses all others in providing a safe, effective program for life-long nutritional support.

Source: the International Journal of Obesity, article titled: "Effects of multivitamin and mineral supplementation on adiposity, energy expenditure and lipid profiles in obese Chinese women" Researchers: Y. Li, K. Zhu, C. Wang, C. H. Sun, R. N. Feng

Disclaimer: Information on this web site is of a general nature and provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional and is not medical advice. Statements about products and health conditions have not been evaluated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Products and information presented on this web site are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. Do not attempt to self-diagnose or treat any medical condition based on the information provided on this site.

THE CARE THAT KILLS - toxicity of lawn care pesticides herbicides effects on human health - cancer, autism, pregnancy, children, environment

2010-04-13T21:46:00Z

How Lawn Care Pesticides, Herbicides Synthetic Fertilizers Affect Your Health

Spring is wonderful right? The snow gradually melts away as winter loosens its bitter grip and the soil breaths again. This should be a magnificent time, stepping outdoors one should be able to notice the fresh smell that defines this moment in the seasons… spring is here once more.

However, many people do not realize that this is a dangerous time, a point that signals the coming of an onslaught of toxins. No, not form nature, from people. Each year starting in early spring and ongoing into the month of October millions of gallons of toxic chemicals are applied onto the lawns of America's households. These toxins drain into lakes, streams, underground aquifers and water reserves poisoning them and us. When humidity rises from the ground, so do the pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilizers along with it. And we inhale them.

The unfortunate truth is that we cannot avoid these "weapons of mass destruction". They are everywhere. Even if you yourself do not use them (you eat organic food, grow an organic garden use natural home products) it is still guaranteed that the blood levels of these toxins in your body are at lethal amounts, high enough to initiate critical irrevocable damage to your organs and hormonal system. In today's world we cannot choose not to be exposed to pesticides. We are forced to encounter their constant applications. A cigarette you can choose to not to smoke. Second hand smoke affects those who are within a couple of feet of the smoker. Pesticides, on the other hand, are everywhere and merciless with their destructive capabilities.

Homeowners are constantly being brainwashed by the pesticide industry to tolerate nothing on their yards except an artificial grass. Each year beginning in spring we are bombarded with TV commercials describing the application of toxic pesticides and herbicides as something necessary, a must for any homeowner taking pride in his/her property. People were led to believe that this practice is needed. Majority of people cannot imagine not applying pesticides to their lawn. This would be a sign of great neglect of their property and if they live in a respectable neighborhood it would be unacceptable. Oh! That peer pressure.

False Advertising of Pesticides and Herbicides by Lawn Care Manufacturers

Certainly almost everyone in America has seen some sort of TV commercial in which pesticides and herbicides are portrayed as a beneficial necessity to your lawn or garden. Some of these commercials show a man spraying RoundUp on his lawn. This man then lovingly brushes his hand over that freshly sprayed grass and rests his face on the same hand that just touched the herbicide. Looking very content with his work he is obviously unaware that by exposing himself to glyphosate (a major ingredient of RoundUp that is very toxic to humans, increasing the risk for cancer, including brain cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, depression, autism and Parkinson's disease) he has endangered his life and the life of anyone who steps on that lawn.

Homeowners who hire lawn care services believe they themselves are not at any risk.
These people do not realize that by walking on this chemical lawn, pesticides are brought indoors where they become embedded in the carpet or other fabrics and slowly out-gas over a period of many years.

How Pesticides, Herbicides and Synthetic Fertilizers Affect Human Health

Lawn care implies a beneficial act; however the only benefit it brings is the enormous profit to pesticide manufactures. The toxicity to humans is often downplayed by the petrochemical industry. They portray their products as being not harmful to humans. However one must realize that pesticides and herbicides were designed to kill. This is their role. Pesticides may kill an insect instantly, due to the simple fact that an insect is much smaller then a human. Nonetheless these chemical agents will kill you as well. The only difference is that a human will die a very painful, slow and torturous death of cancer inflicted by years of low dose exposure to pesticides.
Lawn chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilizers have been documented to significantly increase the risk for neurological defects such as brain cancer and Parkinson's disease. Scientists at Harvard University found that "low dose exposure to pesticides such as majority of American people experience increases risk for the development of Parkinson's disease by 70 percent".
Men are more susceptible to the mutagenic effects of pesticides then women. Higher levels of the female hormone estrogen in a woman's body seem to play a protective role. Lawn chemicals are endocrine disruptors, which means they damage human endocrine glands and alter normal hormone release.

Want to have the best lawn in the neighborhood? Follow the advice of Harvard Scientists:

Harvard University conducted a study on its campus lawn, where one acre of that lawn was cared for in entirely natural and organic manner without the use of any pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or synthetic fertilizers. The effect of this natural organic lawn care experiment "yielded outstanding results". "The soil in that one acre became far healthier than those acres treated with chemicals and the roots of the organically treated grass grew deeper than anyone could have imagined." Since then, Harvard has been saving approximately two million gallons of water per year. It normally cost $35,000 to dispose of landscape waste from the campus that now is converted into a natural fertilizer. Synthetic fertilizers use to cost $10,000 and produced nothing more then withering grass and dry rock hard soil. Now the soil has the consistency of a moist sponge and the grass' roots are able to sprout further providing for a healthy emerald green lawn.

The Effects of Pesticides on the Environment

According to a U.S. Geological survey 96 percent of all fish in the U.S. streams, rivers and lakes were found to have residues of pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilizers. In addition, all groundwater in the Midwest United States showed Atrazine (an endocrine disrupting and neurotoxic herbicide) contamination higher then levels allowed by the EPA.

Pesticides are immune suppressants. The outbreak of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) in China has been linked to elevated levels of pesticides in the environment.

April Showers Bring Sick Babies

Pesticides are especially toxic to children. The endocrine and immune systems of children are still in the process of development so they are at a much greater risk then adults and their body size is smaller. Children also tend to play more outdoors on the grass.

"Using pesticides where children are present is like sticking a cigarette into a child's mouth".

According to Paul D. Winchester, professor of neonatology at the University of Indiana, School of Medicine, children conceived in spring and early summer have a higher risk for various birth defects including spina bifida, cleft palate and Down Syndrome. This correlates with the increased levels of pesticides in the environment applied during the same period from April to July.

Banning Pesticides, Realizing the Dangers of These Toxic Chemicals

Health Canada, a governmental organization that regulates pesticide use in Canada, announced that all pesticides and fertilizer products used for cosmetic purposes will be phased out by December 2012. This decision was a result of many Canadian public health and environmental organizations including the Canadian Academy of Pediatrics and Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation petitioning their government to stop poisoning Canadian citizens by use of pesticides.

In January of 2009 the European Union banned 22 of the most toxic pesticides linked to genetic mutation, endocrine disruption and carcinogenicity. Many of these pesticides continue to be used in the United States.

In the U.S., New Hampshire Representative Suzanne Smith sponsored House Bill 1456 to investigate the effects of pesticides and herbicide use in residential neighborhoods. However the pesticide industry has already sent lobbyists to kill this bill.

People in America pride themselves as being the leaders setting an example for other nations to follow. Then why when true progress is involved we fall so far behind the rest of the world?

The NATURAL POWER of CHOCOLATE, a seductive sweet that may be more good or bad then you realize.

2010-02-13T19:28:00Z

Chocolate Seduction, Natural Health
Benefits of the Cocoa Bean

A red heart shaped box of chocolates is an iconic gift shared on Valentine's Day. With its ancient traditions and legends chocolate has a long history as the food of luxury, pleasure and romance.

The cocoa tree was discovered by indigenous people in the jungles of the Central America nearly 3000 years ago. Since then the cocoa bean, chocolate and the foods that contained them were always prized and enjoyed. Cocoa beans were used as a mode of currency by the Mayan and Aztec people. The use of cocoa was sacred to the Mayans. Cocoa was reserved for important occasions and religious ceremonies. Cocoa was said to be the "food of the Gods".

Between 1502 and 1504, on his fourth expedition to the Americas, while in Nicaragua, Christopher Columbus became the first European to sample the sacred cocoa bean. He obtained several cases of cocoa beans while raiding the cargo of a Mayan merchant. Believing that cocoa, was a type of almond and that it may be valuable, Columbus brought them to Europe. However, the Europeans did not know how to prepare the beans, thus they were discarded. It took another voyage in 1519, this time by the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes, for cocoa to become viewed as a delicacy amongst Europeans. Mistaking Cortes for a god, the Aztec Emperor Montezuma introduced Cortes to a drink called "chocolatl" that was served in a goblet of gold. The Aztecs believed that cocoa beans were a gift from the heavens and eating the fruit of the cocoa tree would bring power and wisdom.

Today, presenting someone with a box of chocolates symbolizes appreciation and love, but it was not always viewed this way. Many ancient traditions associate chocolate with love and it seemed that chocolate exhibited aphrodisiac qualities. For that reason, the Aztecs prohibited women from eating cocoa. Actual chocolate candies were first manufactured in 1824 by George Cadbury. However, because chocolate was considered an aphrodisiac, it was deemed to be inappropriate for the ladies. A man bestowing a box of chocolates to a lady at would have been an offensive act. Chocolates were only given to prostitutes of that time.

Newly rediscovered Health Benefits of Chocolate and the Cocoa Bean

Cocoa beans are rich in many essential minerals, such as magnesium, calcium, iron, copper, potassium, zinc and manganese. Women who crave chocolate are often magnesium depleted. The pleasure of eating chocolate is not only because of its rich taste melting in your mouth. Chocolate actually has several chemicals that stimulate our brain and make us happy. Specifically these include PEA (phenylethylamine), tryptophan, theobromine and caffeine. Another chemical found in chocolate is anandamide that has a similar effect to cannabinoids (narcotic like substances) on our brain. The chemical anandamide stimulates pleasure sensors, promotes relaxation and was found to inhibit human breast cancer cell proliferation (though there are only trace quantities present in chocolate).

It's no wonder people claim that eating chocolate makes them feel less stressed out and easies their depression. Women have been found to exhibit greater sensitivity to chocolate's mood enhancing properties when compared to men. Due to the fact that these constituents of chocolate improve our mood and make us feel "in love", chocolate continues to be considered by many as an aphrodisiac.

Chocolate for the Heart, Cocoa improves more then our emotions

The newest scientific studies on the health value of cacao and chocolate are proving that chocolate is literally good for our hearts. Chocolate is a very rich source of polyphenols, powerful anti-oxidants that protect our cardiovascular health. The higher the cocoa content in the chocolate the higher the ORAC value. Dark chocolate containing more cocoa usually has an ORAC value of around 13,000. For the greatest health benefits choose chocolate that has at least 70 percent cocoa content. Cocoa polyphenols decrease the levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and increase levels of HDL (good) cholesterol contributing to healthy cholesterol levels. Cocoa polyphenols also lower insulin resistance.

In addition, the polyphenols found in chocolate have a very beneficial effect on the arterial wall improving its elasticity and blood flow as well as preventing platelet aggregation therefore protecting against heart attack and stroke. Chocolate polyphenols prevent the inactivation of nitric oxide making it more bio-available. The well known drug Viagra that treats erectile dysfunction (ED) works by enhancing nitric oxide pathways in a similar way to that of chocolate polyphenols. It is said that Emperor Montezuma consumed as much as 50 goblets of chocolate a day. This may have kept his libido on especially high levels and Montezuma was known for having a very large harem that included hundreds of wives.

Nowadays, chocolate isn't what it use to be. Once only reserved for kings and powerful rulers, a "gift from paradise", chocolate is now consumed on a massive global scale by millions of people. The chocolate craze has sparked the growth of an immense cocoa industry and there is something you should know about the world's most seductive sweet.

The Dark Side of Chocolate

You may want to think twice before you indulge in that box of chocolates…
it may contain more guilt then you realize.

The cocoa tree needs a very specific environment in order to produce cocoa beans. Cocoa trees require a shaded plot of land, temperature of at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit and high humidity with over 80 inches of rainfall. Ideal locations that fit this description just happen to be tropical rainforests. The majority of chocolate consumed today comes from cocoa farms that are situated on what once use to be bio-diverse rainforest ecosystems. It is estimated that cocoa production is responsible for the deforestation of 8 million hectares of tropical rainforests including those in Brazil, Peru, Indonesia, Cameroon Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and Ecuador (source: World Wildlife Fund, WWF, Hardner et al. 1999). This type of deforestation is accountable for the release of tons of Co2 into our atmosphere and further amplifies the devastating effects of the climactic imbalance.

How dirty is your chocolate bar? It may be tinted with a child's blood.
Slavery was abolished, right? Not in the sweet production of chocolate.

One of the most controversial aspects of the chocolate industry is the prevalent exploitation of children in cocoa production. Specifically cocoa imported from Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), which supplies 46 percent of the world's cocoa, may be gathered using child labor. UNICEF reported that Ivory Coast farmers use enslaved children from neighboring regions and force them to work through hundred-hour weeks in inhumane conditions. If a child attempts to escape, he or she is then severely punished and brutally beaten. Another report from BBC stated that children under the age of 11 are forced to carry sacs with kilos of cocoa so heavy that open wounds form over their shoulders. These facts were acknowledged by the Chocolate Manufactures Association which admitted that some of the cocoa had indeed been gathered by child slaves. Many international chocolate manufacturers including Hershey's, Nestle, and Cadbury acquire cocoa that has been grown in the Ivory Coast. Maybe we should pause a moment before we take a bite of our favorite chocolate bar or mix ourselves a nice cup of hot chocolate. You simply may be consuming more then cocoa. A little something extra that's not mentioned on the ingredient list. This chocolate may possibly have the blood, sweat and tears of enslaved children on it. Are you still addicted to it now?

In 2008 Fortune magazine stated "little progress has been made" to act upon the current conditions under which coca continues to be produced.

Therefore, you should only purchase chocolate products that use certified fair trade and sustainably cultivated cocoa. In fact, sustainable agriculture methods for growing cocoa provide the farmer a higher standard of living, encourage other farmers to restore deforested areas and do not use child labor.

Osteoporosis the "Silent Disease" Tearing You Down From Inside Out, protect your mobility by ensuring the integrity of your bones

2010-01-28T00:52:00Z

Bones, the Foundation of the Body

Bones are the only part of your body that will virtually outlast every aspect of your life. In a hundred, thousand, even millions of years, there is a good chance that your bones will still be here. If only the rest of your body could last that long...

Nutrients, hormones and physical movement maintain our bones in good health and are the essential factors that influence proper bone development. After all, bones are the support of the human body and the infrastructure of the musculoskeletal system. Even after they stop growing in size, our bones are being continuously changed and rebuilt.

The process in which old and worn bone tissue is replaced by new healthy bone cells in known as bone remodeling. Minerals that are the building blocks of bones, vitamins that assist bone metabolism (including vitamin D and vitamin K) and hormones such as testosterone, estrogens and progesterone that support correct bone formation must remain in balance to assure healthy bone remodeling.

Different forms of weight bearing exercises (such as push-ups and squats with added weights) that place resistance and involve muscles pulling and pushing against the bones enhance the bone remodeling process. Studies suggest that these types of weight bearing exercises do more then simply prevent bone diseases including osteoporosis; these exercises may actually help replace current bone loss.

Diseases and age can slow down bone tissue replacement, especially when it comes to new bone development. This can lead to weak, less dense bone formation and conditions such as osteopenia and osteoporosis. People with low bone density are predisposed to fractures.

The importance of nutrition for the growth of strong bones is not a new concept. Significance of calcium in a diet is well-known to everybody. An average American diet usually provides adequate amounts of calcium. However, if there is a low level of vitamin D in the body, calcium cannot be properly incorporated into the bone.

Nutritional factors and hormonal imbalances that affect bone loss:

Women after menopause are at an increased risk for bone density loss due to a decline in hormones such as estrogens and progesterone. Postmenopausal women therefore are advised by their doctors to increase their calcium intake, either through diet or nutritional supplements. This scenario may actually be dangerous. If an adequate amount of vitamin D is not present, then calcium cannot be integrated into the bone. This unabsorbed calcium is referred to as "circulating calcium". An excess of circulating calcium levels can be deposited in the arterial walls causing stiffening of the arteries. In addition, a surplus of circulating calcium can create kidney stones and breasts calcifications.

Studies show that an overload of calcium and a lack of vitamin D can increase the risk for cardiovascular disease and hypertension in postmenopausal women. Young women who drink excessive amounts of carbonated soda beverages are also at risk for decreased bone density due to an imbalance of the calcium to phosphorus ratio.

Many believe that osteoporosis is a disease of women after menopause; however men over the age of 50 are also at risk for osteoporosis due to a decline in androgenic hormones such as testosterone and DHEA.

Allopathic medicine addresses osteoporosis with prescription drugs such as Fossamax® and Actonel® (known as bisphosphonates). These drugs increase binding of calcium into the bone. This makes the bone harder, denser, but less flexible and easier to break. Unfortunately, bisphoshonates have very serious side-effects, the most infamous being "jaw death" (a condition in which bone tissue in the jaw cannot heal after minor injury like a dental procedure). Bisphoshonates have also been known to increase one's risk for esophageal cancer and cardiac arrhythmia.

So why would anybody risk such devastating negative outcomes with prescription drugs when more effective natural treatments for preventing and reversing osteoporosis are readily available?

These natural alternatives and therapies for ensuring bone health include:

1. Natural bioidentical hormone replacement therapy - BHRT through the use of
     bioidentical hormones strengthens bone structure by preventing bone loss and restoring bone
     tissue that already has been lost. Bioidentical hormones have been effectively used in the
     treatment of osteoporosis for both men during andropause and postmenopausal women.

2. Mineral supplements - consisting of calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, strontium, boron,
     silicon, zinc, manganese and copper, facilitate proper levels of bone specific nutrients needed
     for the development of healthy bones.

3. Vitamins that support bone health - vitamin D, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin B6 and
     vitamin A. These specific vitamins are required for bone remodeling as they allow for the
     satisfactory incorporation of minerals into the bones.

4. Adequate protein - protein will sustain collagen support in the bones. Collagen acts as a
     connective tissue for bone cells. However, an excess of protein can cause the body's acidity
     level to increase that results in accelerate calcium loss from the bone.

Hormones play a very important role in correct bone formation and metabolism. Hormones that have a profound influence on the health of bones are steroid hormones such as DHEA, testosterone, estrogens, progesterone. Other hormones include thyroid hormones, cortisol, human growth hormone HGH, calcitonin and parathyroid hormone.

Women at menopause and men during andropause (male menopause) who take nutritional supplements for bone health, exercise regularly and are on bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can enjoy strong and healthy bones for years to come.