Sunday, June 20, 2010

Keep Your Memory Sharp

Many factors can affect your ability to remember, especially a hectic lifestyle, aging, stress, chronic disease, and certain medications. But there are steps you can take to sharpen your mind and help preserve your memory.

Challenge Your Brain

Regularly challenging your mind increases blood flow to the brain and keeps it in top shape. Good mental exercises include:

Crossword puzzles – use a dictionary if you need it; you'll learn more that way
Brainteasers
Crafts, such as wood working and sewing
Hobbies, such as gardening and building model airplanes
Socializing – visit old friends or join groups to meet new ones
Reading
Learning a new language
Taking a class, whether it be art history or any other area of interest
Traveling – experience the food, history, and culture of your destination
Learning to use a computer
Going to museums, the theater, or thought-provoking movies
Changing things in your daily life, such as reversing your pattern in the grocery store or brushing your teeth using your nondominant hand.

Use Memory Aids

There's no need to remember every detail on your own. These memory aids can help:

Calendars and day planners
Electronic organizers to store all sorts of helpful information – these devices can "beep" to remind you of appointments
A book of days to record birthdays, anniversaries, and other occasions that occur on the same date every year
Detailed "to-do" lists and strategically placed sticky notes
Quick "study" sessions – before a gathering, review who will be there so their names will be fresh in your mind
Establish routines – for example, keep your keys, wallet, and umbrella in the same place all the time or take medication with your 8:00 AM glass of juice.

Live a Healthful Life

Many actions that will keep your body strong will do the same for your mind. For example:

Talk to Your Doctor About Herbs and Supplements

Research studies have shown that the herb Ginkgo biloba, the supplement phosphatidylserine (PS), and the herb ginseng may be helpful in improving age-related memory loss. Also, if you have a Vitamin B12 deficiency, this may impair mental function.
Talk to your doctor before taking any herbs or supplements because they may interact with other medications.

Exercise Regularly

Among the many benefits of regular exercise are increased blood flow to the brain and decreased risk of certain diseases that can interfere with memory function. One study found that even moderate exercise has a beneficial effect. Examples of "moderate" exercise are:

Playing 18 holes of golf once a week, without a cart
Playing tennis twice a week
Walking one mile per day.

Manage Stress

It can be tough to remember what's important when your mind is cluttered. Make time for relaxation. Choose activities that calm you down, and make it routine.

Manage Chronic Conditions

Side effects of high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease can interfere with mental function. Many of the lifestyle steps discussed here can help manage these conditions. Strive to eat a healthful diet, exercise regularly, get stress under control, and follow your doctor's advice for your condition.

Minimize Medications

Review the medications you take with your doctor. Some may be unnecessary. Also, healthful lifestyle habits may lower the need for certain drugs.

RESOURCES:

AARP.org
http://www.aarp.org/
Mental Health America
http://www.nmha.org/

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Mental Health Association
http://www.ontario.cmha.ca/index.asp
Mental Health Canada
http://www.mentalhealthcanada.com/

REFERENCES:

Enhancing memory and mental function. EBSCO Natural and Alternative Treatments website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/thisTopic.php?marketID=15topicID=114. Updated May 2008. Accessed June 16, 2008.
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider
Edits to original content made by TriVita.
Copyright © 2008 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Get Rid of Hair Loss and Re-Grow your Hair Naturally!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Health Is the Whole Body, Mind, and Soul

You count grams of fat and fiber, eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, drink green tea and jog four times a week. But you spend most of your time at a high-stress job, have few close relationships and feel that your life lacks meaning. The good things that you do for your body may help increase your resistance to stress and illness, but they only reflect part of a much larger picture.

Health is more than having a body that works properly. It includes physical, emotional, social, spiritual, intellectual and even occupational/vocational dimensions. When these dimensions are working in harmony, they contribute to a sense of well-being and satisfaction. Doctors Donald Tubesing and Nancy Loving Tubesing are pioneers in the field of wellness. In their book, Seeking Your Healthy Balance, they explain that health involves all of mind and emotions, your connections with other people, your sense of hope, your satisfaction with work, as well as your body.

The Six Dimensional Model of Wellness
So how do you take care of your whole self? The National Wellness Institute embraces the Six Dimensional Model of Wellness developed in 1979 by Dr. Bill Hettler. The chart below, based on Hettler's model, can provide you with some guidance.

The Six Dimensional Model of Wellness
Category	Development
Physical: Achieving personal fitness and health goals through nutrition, physical activity, safety and self-care	Engage in aerobic exercise at least three times per week, 30 minutes per session. Eat a healthful diet. Stop smoking. Learn to recognize early signs of illness. Get adequate rest and sleep. Use alcohol in moderation, if at all. Use safety precautions whenever possible. For example: Helmets, seat belts Smoke alarms Safe driving See your doctor regularly.
Emotional: Maintaining good mental health, a positive attitude, and high self-esteem; responding with resiliency to emotional states and everyday life	Spend time with friends and family discussing important personal concerns, and providing mutual support. Participate in personal growth activities, self-esteem workshops, or support groups. Read a self-help book that interests you. Practice positive thinking.
Spiritual: Getting in touch with your deeper self and the spiritual dimension of your life, developing faith in something larger than yourself, finding meaning and purpose	Explore your spiritual core by asking yourself questions such as: Who am I? What is the purpose of (my) life? Look for inspiration from uplifting books, movies, TV, spiritual gatherings, soothing music, nature, beauty, meditation or prayer. Spend quiet time alone on a regular basis Practice being fully present in the moment. Practice acceptance of self, others, life, and detachment from outcomes. Look for deeper meanings to patterns and problems in your life. Allow yourself to deeply feel grief and pain. Practice appreciating the depth and expanse of life and the universe. Identify your values and beliefs.
Intellectual: Having curiosity and a strong desire to learn; solving problems; thinking independently, creatively and critically	Take a class or workshop on a subject that interests you. Seek new experiences on a regular basis (try new foods, travel to new places, learn about new cultures). Read informative literature and watch educational TV. Get involved in a creative project or use your creativity to solve problems. In your spare time, work on puzzles and intellectually challenging games such as scrabble and chess.
Occupational/vocational: Engaging in or preparing for work in which you will find personal satisfaction and enrichment	Identify your strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes. Develop a personal mission and goals. Find ways to learn new skills. Develop new occupational or vocational interests. Find ways to use your strengths in work or avocations that contribute to your enjoyment and need for meaning.

According to the National Wellness Institute, the Six Dimensional Model of Wellness is beneficial for the following reasons:

Human Beings Are Multidimensional
All aspects of a person (body, emotions, thoughts, relationships, beliefs, values, activities) affect his functioning as a whole. Further, these individual aspects affect each other. For example, a person who is not utilizing his interests on the job (occupational dimension) may experience boredom and negativity (emotional dimension). A sense of futility (spiritual dimension) results, which causes others to avoid him (social dimension). This increases his frustration (emotional dimension) and can lead him to overeat and become obese (physical dimension).

Most Modern Health Threats Are Not Physical
Although we think about health in physical terms, most health threats today are not physical, writes Brian Luke Seaward, PhD, in his book Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water: Reflections on Stress and Human Spirituality. Instead, they are emotional (feeling overwhelmed, bored, worried, or guilty) or spiritual (assessing relationships, values and one's purpose in life).

Health Is More Than the Absence of Disease
The multidimensional approach is oriented toward maximizing individual potential and functioning. It defines health as balance and complete well-being, being all that you can be, not merely as the absence of symptoms and disease.

Unfortunately, today's medical care is largely based on a disease model of health. You may be able, however, to find doctors who specialize in integrative medicine. This is a practice that places the patient, not a disease, in the center.

Finding Balance in an Unbalanced World
But life can be so busy and complicated these days. Who has the time to address all these dimensions? Many wellness experts suggest numerous opportunities to find more balance. Strategies may include:

Finding Single Activities That Meet Multiple Wellness Needs
For example, taking a daily walk with your spouse and children can fulfill needs for physical activity, emotional bonding and relationship enhancement. And, if you use the time to discuss ideas and career aspirations, your family walk could also contribute to intellectual and occupational needs.

Clarifying Your Values and Priorities
Take time to know the deepest purposes for which you live, and use them to set goals and make decisions. For example, you may find that you'd prefer more time with your family rather than a bigger paycheck. Don't wait for a crisis to show what really matters to you.

Identifying Areas Where You Want More Balance
Using your values and the Six Dimensional Model of Wellness, identify your current wellness deficits and develop a few goals that will help you find more balance.

Being Realistic and Flexible
Perfect balance in all dimensions is not possible in an ever-changing world. There will be times when you're overextended, lonely, angry and tired. Over the years, you'll need to make adjustments until you find a balance that enhances your quality of life.

RESOURCES:

National Wellness Institute
http://www.nationalwellness.org

National Mental Health Information Center
http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Mental Health Association
http://www.ontario.cmha.ca/index.asp

Mental Health Canada
http://www.mentalhealthcanada.com/

REFERENCES:

California State University website. Available at: http://www.calstate.edu/.

Seaward BL. Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc; 1997.

Six dimensions of wellness. National Wellness Institute website. Available at: http://www.nationalwellness.org/index.php?id=391id_tier=381. Accessed June 16, 2008.

Tubesing DA, Loving Tubesing, N. Seeking Your Healthy Balance: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Whole Person Well-Being. Duluth, MN: Whole Person Associates; 1991.

Dehydration

Dehydration

DefinitionDehydration is the condition that results from excessive loss of water from the body. The body requires a certain amount of water and other elements, called electrolytes, to function properly. Fluids are lost through sweat, urine, bowel movements and breathing. Drinking and eating both help to replace fluids, especially drinking. When the body loses too much water and it is not replaced, dehydration sets in.

CausesDehydration occurs when fluid loss exceeds fluid intake. Factors that contribute to dehydration include:

Vomiting
Diarrhea
High fever
Exposure to the heat and sun
Excessive exercise
Medications, including:

Diuretics (water pills)
Laxatives

Inadequate fluid intake due to:

Mobility problems
Mental or memory problems
Decreased thirst perception
Desire to limit incontinence

Fluid imbalance caused by illnesses, such as:

Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes insipidus
Lung disease
Kidney problems
Burns

Risk FactorsA risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition.

Age:

Younger than 2 years old
65 and older

Living in a nursing home
Neurological conditions, such stroke or cerebral palsy
Memory problems or dementia
Chronic medical conditions
Athletic competition

SymptomsSymptoms vary depending on the degree of dehydration. Dehydration can be extremely serious and life threatening and may require immediate medical care.
Symptoms may include:

Dry mouth
Limited tear production
Thirst
Weakness
Decreased urination
Concentrated urine

Darker color
Stronger odor

Wrinkled skin or tenting when pinched
Eyes that appear sunken
Parched, cracked lips
Dizziness or feeling faint
Drowsiness
Nausea
Irritability
Confusion
Fever
Low blood pressure
Increased pulse
Weight loss
In infants, sunken soft spot in the skull

DiagnosisThe doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history and perform a physical exam. This will probably include measuring your vital signs. To help provide information for the doctor, keep a diary of:

Your daily weight
Number of times you have vomited or moved your bowels
Your fluid and food intake
Your urine output
Recent travel
Self-treatments you have tried

Tests may include:

Stool sample – to look for the cause of diarrhea
Urine tests – to check the urine's concentration
Blood tests – to check body fluids and body chemistry

TreatmentTherapy aims to rehydrate the body, replace lost electrolytes and prevent complications. If an underlying cause is identified, therapies to treat that condition may be included if appropriate.
Treatment includes:
Fluid Replacement
To help replace fluids:

Drink a small amount of clear liquid every 15 to 30 minutes. For small children, this may mean 1 teaspoon every few minutes initially.
Increase the amount of liquid as you can tolerate it.
Stick with clear liquids for the first 24 hours.
If you cannot keep any liquids down, try sucking on ice cubes.
Avoid beverages with alcohol or caffeine, such as coffee, tea and soft drinks. These promote fluid loss.
Avoid sweetened drinks, fruit juices and gelatin because they can make diarrhea worse.
If you are unable to adequately replace fluids and your condition does not improve, contact your doctor. You may need intravenous fluids or other medical care.

NutritionDietary modifications include:

If you have diarrhea but no vomiting, continue eating small amounts of food frequently.
If vomiting, once you can keep fluids down, slowly and gradually return to a regular diet.
Eat a well-balanced diet with fruits, starches and fluids.
Only eat small amounts of red meat and proteins.
Avoid spicy foods and milk products until your symptoms are gone.

MedicationMedications may include:

Anti-emetics – used for severe vomiting
Anti-diarrheal medicine – used for severe diarrhea or abdominal cramping
Antibiotics – used for severe diarrhea caused by a bacterial infection

If you are diagnosed with dehydration, follow your doctor's instructions.
PreventionTo prevent dehydration:

Drink plenty of fluids, even if you are busy or sick.
Drink fluids regularly while exercising or when outdoors on a hot day. Stop frequently for fluid breaks.

RESOURCES:
American Academy of Family Physicians
http://www.aafp.org

American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.aap.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:
About Kids Health
http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca

Alberta Health and Wellness
http://www.health.gov.ab.ca/

REFERENCES:

American Medical Association website. Available at: http://www.ama-assn.org/.

Conn's Current Therapy 2001. 53rd ed. WB Saunders Company; 2001.

Keeping dehydrated patients out of the hospital. Patient Care. Feb 1999.

Kleigman RM, Jensen HB, Behrman RE, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2007.

The Physicians' Desk Reference. The PDR Family Guide Encyclopedia of Medical Care.

Practice of Geriatrics. 3rd ed. WB Saunders Company; 1998.

Clif Shot Electrolyte Drink Mix Cran Razz- Can, 2.01 lbs Tub

Are you at risk for Vitamin D deficiency?

Test yourself for "D"eficiency

With your thumb, press on your sternum (breastbone). Is it tender or painful? Now, press on the tibia (shin bone) of both your legs. Is it sore or tender? If the answer is "yes" to both of these tests then you have a 93% chance of being Vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D deficiency is very prevalent in our culture. What is Vitamin D and what does it do for us?

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is both a vitamin and a hormone. It acts as a vitamin when it binds with calcium for proper absorption. Humans cannot digest calcium without adequate amounts of Vitamin D. It is a hormone because your body creates it in response to sunlight on your skin. Humans mobilize essential fatty acids, such as Omega-3, with Vitamin D. In order to properly use calcium and Omega-3 you simply must have enough Vitamin D. Yet, many people don’t.

Signs of deficiency

The "thumb" test above is one way of checking for low levels of Vitamin D. You see, calcium is delivered to an area in your bones by Vitamin D. Collagen in bone structure resembles the steel bars that are used in a concrete foundation. Calcium and other minerals collect around the collagen and harden into sturdy bone the same way concrete hardens around steel bars to form a sturdy foundation. Calcium can only arrive in this matrix if it is escorted by Vitamin D. If you are deficient in Vitamin D, the surface of the bone cannot harden. Tenderness and bone pain will result.

This kind of bone pain can be seen in cases of osteomalacia (softening of the bones), as well as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and even the pain associated with chronic depression.

Further, Vitamin D deficiency can result in:

Obesity
Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Psoriasis

Eventually, Vitamin D deficiency may even lead to cancer (especially breast, prostate and colon Cancers), osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s disease.

Reasons for deficiency

The primary reasons people become deficient in Vitamin D are cultural. For instance, Islamic women that wear veils are almost universally deficient in Vitamin D, as are submariners who spend extended time submerged. Neither group spends much time with their skin exposed to direct sunlight. The most common reasons for Vitamin D deficiency in North America also relates to lack of exposure to sunlight and infrequent consumption of cold-water fish. (Cold-water fish such as wild salmon, mackerel and sardines are good food sources of Vitamin D – as well as good sources of calcium and Omega-3 fatty acids).

Many foods have been supplemented with Vitamin D, but this has not resulted in an overall increase in Vitamin D levels. This is likely because food and supplement manufacturers rely on an inexpensive form of synthetic Vitamin D called "ergocalciferol" – a form of Vitamin D-2. Food sources of Vitamin D and supplements such as TriVita’s Bone Builder and VitaCal-Mag D use Vitamin D-3 (cholecalciferol), which is the same form that your body makes from sunshine.

What to do?

If your bones are tender or if you have a low blood level of Vitamin D, the solution may be as simple as increasing your sun exposure. Spend 20 minutes daily in the sunshine with 40% of your skin surface exposed. Morning sun is best; afternoon sun is acceptable but never allow yourself to sunburn.

When supplementing with Vitamin D, always choose D-3. It is also good to remember that this is a "fat soluble" vitamin. That means that you can store the nutrient for many days. I will often suggest two capsules of TriVita’s Bone Builder or two tablets of VitaCal-Mag D to be taken at every meal. In six months I suggest reducing the recommended dosage to one capsule or tablet per meal if the tenderness has disappeared from the sternum and shin bones. It is good to get a blood test for appropriate blood levels of Vitamin D and use this as a factor to help you structure a supplement program.

Eventually, health comes down to healthy habits practiced every day. Every day we should nourish our body and nurture our spirit for sustained health.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis

Definition

Osteoporosis is when bones become weak and brittle. If left unchecked, it can lead to bone breaks and fractures. Any bone can be affected, but of special concern are fractures of the hip, spine, and wrist.

Osteoporosis – A Close Up Look

Causes

Throughout life, old bone is removed and new bone is added to the skeleton. During childhood and adolescence, new bone is added faster than old bone is removed. As a result, bones become heavier, larger, and denser. Peak bone mass is reached at around age 30. From that point, more bone is lost than replaced. If not treated, bone losses may lead to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is more likely to occur if full bone mass was not achieved during the bone-building years.

Bone density also plays a role in bone health. Bone density is determined by the amount of calcium, phosphorus and other minerals within the bone framework. As the mineral content of a bone (especially calcium) decreases, the bone weakens. Getting enough calcium and vitamins and exercising regularly can keep bones strong throughout life.

Risk Factors

There are many risk factors that may increase your chance of developing osteoporosis. Some of the risk factors include:

Age (risk increases with age)
Low weight
Smoking
Alcohol abuse
History of falls
Certain conditions, such as:

Rheumatoid arthritis
Cardiovascular disease
Type 2 diabetes
Asthma
Liver disease
Eating disorder
Depression

Use of certain medicines (e.g., antidepressants, warfarin, coumadin, long-term heparin, corticosteroids, thyroid medicine, anticonvulsants, antacids)
Low hormone levels (low estrogen levels in women, low testosterone levels in men)
Inactive lifestyle
Certain restrictive diets (eg, not getting enough calcium or Vitamin D)
Too little sunlight (The effect of sun on the skin is a primary source of Vitamin D.)
Cancer, including lymphoma and multiple myeloma

More women than men develop osteoporosis. Some specific risk factors that affect women include:

Family history of osteoporosis
Postmenopausal
Amenorrhea (no menstrual periods)
Gastrointestinal malabsorption
Having another endocrine disorder (eg, thyroid disorder, diabetes)

Symptoms

Symptoms include:

Pain when bones break or collapse
Severe back pain with fracture of the vertebrae, wrists, hips, or other bones
Loss of height with stooped posture (kyphosis)

Kyphosis – Comparing Spinal Alignments

http://services.epnet.com/GetImage.aspx/getImage.aspx?ImageIID=2541

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. Early signs of osteoporosis can be seen with bone density testing:

Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry — measures bone density in the entire body

For older men, the American College of Physicians (ACP) recommends that your doctor check for risk factors for osteoporosis. The ACP also recommends that you have this test if you are at an increased risk and are a candidate for drug therapy. Ask your doctor about what is right for you.

Single-energy x-ray absorptiometry — measures bone density in the arm or heel
Dental x-rays of bone
Ultrasound bone density measurement — measures bone density in fingers, heels, and leg bones

Other tests may include:

Blood and urine tests — to test for calcium levels or substances created when bone is broken down

Treatment

Treatment includes:

Nutrition

Decrease your intake of caffeinated beverages and alcohol. Eat a balanced diet rich in calcium and Vitamin D. Calcium is in:

Dairy products
Green leafy vegetables
Canned fish with bones
Calcium-fortified products

Smoking

Do not smoke. If you smoke, quit.

Exercise

Exercise improves bone health. It also increases muscle strength, coordination, and balance. Do weight-bearing and strength-training exercises for maximum benefit. Balance training may prevent falls and fractures.

Dietary Supplements

People who cannot eat enough calcium from food might want to take calcium supplements. Calcium citrate has the best absorption and is well-tolerated. Other vitamins and minerals may be recommended, including Vitamin D, magnesium, potassium, and Vitamin K. A study showed that Japanese postmenopausal women who took Vitamin K supplements had a reduced rate of fractures. Talk to your doctor before taking herbs or supplements.

Safety Measures

Falls can increase the chance of fracture in someone with osteoporosis. Here are ways to prevent falls:

Use a cane or walker for stability.
Wear rubber-soled shoes for traction.
Use plastic or carpet runners when possible.
Keep rooms free of clutter.
Install grab bars in bathrooms.

Prevention

Building strong bones throughout the early years is the best defense against osteoporosis. There are four steps to prevent osteoporosis:

A balanced diet rich in calcium and Vitamin D
Weight-bearing exercise
Healthy lifestyle (eg, no smoking, drinking alcohol only in moderation)
Bone density testing and supplements or medicines where appropriate

RESOURCES:

The National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases
http://www.osteo.org/

National Osteoporosis Foundation
http://www.nof.org/

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Osteoporosis Canada
www.osteoporosis.ca/

Women's Health Matters
http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca/index.cfm/

REFERENCES:

Fall prevention. National Osteoporosis Foundation website. Available at: http://www.nof.org/patientinfo/fall_prevention.htm . Accessed June 10, 2008.

Ho-Pham LT, Nguyen ND, Nguyen TV. Effect of vegetarian diets on bone mineral density: a Bayesian meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009;90:943-950.

Khosla L, Melton LJ. Clinical practice: osteopenia. N Engl J Med . 2007;356:2293-2300.

Nelson M. Strong Women, Strong Bones: Everything You Need to Prevent, Treat, and Beat Osteoporosis . New York, NY: Putnam; 2000.

Osteoporosis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php. Updated March 2010. Accessed March 12, 2010.

Osteoporosis: frequently asked questions. Womens Health.gov. Available at: http://www.womenshealth.gov/FAQ/osteoporosis.cfm#c. Updated September 22, 2009. Accessed December 22, 2009.

Osteoporosis: risk factors. Mayo Clinic website. Available here.

Prevention: who's at risk? National Osteoporosis Foundation website. Available at: http://www.nof.org/patientinfo/fall_prevention.htm . Accessed December 22, 2009.

Sambrook P, Cooper C. Osteoporosis. Lancet . 2006;367:2010-2018.

10/6/2006 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.dynamicmedical.com/what.php : Cockayne S, Adamson J, Lanham-New S, et al. Vitamin K and the prevention of fractures: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Arch Intern Med . 2006;166:1256-1261.

5/16/2008 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.dynamicmedical.com/what.php : Qaseem A, Snow V, Shekelle P, Hopkins R Jr, Forciea MA, Owens DK; Clinical Efficacy Assessment Subcommittee of the American College of Physicians. Screening for osteoporosis in men: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med . 2008;148:680-684.

1/30/2009 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php : Loke YK, Singh S, Furberg CD. Long-term use of thiazolidinediones and fractures in type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis.CMAJ. 2009;180:32-39. Epub 2008 Dec 10.

12/29/2009 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php: Hippisley-Cox J, Coupland C. Predicting risk of osteoporotic fracture in men and women in England and Wales: prospective derivation and validation of QFractureScores. BMJ. 2009;339:b4229.

Reversing Bone Loss

The shocking statistics – according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation:

10 million people in North America have osteoporosis.
80% of those affected by osteoporosis are women.
1 in 2 women and 1 in 4 men over the age of 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture as they age.
Following a hip fracture from osteoporosis, 1 in 4 people will die within a year (the death rate is twice as high for men as for women). Also, 1 in 4 will become complete invalids requiring long-term care.
Only one-third of the people suffering an osteoporosis-related hip fracture will heal and return to a normal life.

A childhood disease?

To understand the process of premature bone loss we must first understand the nature of bone. Your bones are alive. But every cell in your skeleton has a lifespan. It is "born" from stem cells, it lives for many years and then it dies. When it reaches the end of its lifespan, a new bone cell replaces it.
During our youth, there are more new bone cells being born than there are old bone cells dying. As a result, our bones get longer, bigger, denser and healthier. By our teen years our bones reach PMD (peak mineral density). Therefore, the healthier our bones are as children, the longer they will last as we age. Good nutrition during childhood is so important because we are building a healthy bone foundation for our senior years.
At about age 30 the rates of bone cells being born and those dying are about equal. By age 40 the pendulum definitely swings to the other side and the amount of bone cells dying every day exceeds the amount being born. Over time, your bones become thinner, less active and are more challenged to support your body.
Bones that thin too fast are called osteopenic. About 45 million people in North America suffer from bones that are too thin. When thinning continues to the point where a bone resembles Swiss cheese (full of holes and pores), the condition is said to be osteoporosis. The bone at this stage is diseased and can fracture with the slightest stress.
Reversing premature bone loss

The best way to reverse a problem is to help prevent it in the first place.
Children and adults up to age 30 should:

Take a calcium, magnesium and Vitamin D supplement every day.
Focus on leafy green vegetables as a dietary source of calcium and magnesium.
Get at least 20 minutes of direct sunshine on 40% of their body every day as a natural source of Vitamin D.
Perform weight-bearing exercises most days of the week.

Adults over 30 should do the same things. However, bone-building requirements for adults (including supplements) need to be more rigorous. This is especially true if they have any risk factors for osteoporosis.
Growing new bone

Regardless of your age or bone density, you can help slow or stop the process of bone loss and you can start producing new, healthy bone cells. All it requires is a little time every day for exercise and sunshine, plus the right nutrients. The nutrition you need is found in whole foods – especially leafy green vegetables. Supplements can also play a critical role by providing the intense, specific nutrients needed for restoring healthy bones.

TriVita's VitaCal-Mag D™ is designed for people under age 30 as well as those over that age who have no risk factors for bone loss.

TriVita's Bone Growth Factor™ is designed for people over 30 who have risk factors for osteoporosis. This disease is characterized by the decrease in bone mass and density; i.e., the bones thin and become more porous. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, there are many different risk factors for this disease, including genetics, age, gender, menopause, certain medications and others. (For a full list of risk factors, see the National Osteoporosis Foundation link listed under the Learn More! section below). Because Bone Growth Factor has been clinically proven to re-grow bone, it is an ideal supplement for those that have Osteopathic risks.

The good news is that you can add more new, healthy bone mass every year you follow these steps – no matter how old you are or how thin your bones are. Help turn back the clock on bone loss with proper lifestyle choices and intense nutrition.

© 2010 TriVita, Inc