What can be done to prevent osteoporosis?

When osteoporosis manifests itself in the form of a fracture, it is because it has been affecting our bones for some time. That is why prevention is so important: simple guidelines for exercise and diet.

As its name suggests, osteoporosis is a condition that causes bones to become increasingly porous and fragile, losing strength and breaking easily. Until that point, it does not manifest itself, which is why we say that osteoporosis is a silent, painless disease with no external symptoms. Naturally, its main consequence is osteoporotic fractures, which, in turn, are the cause of the longest hospital stays in women over 45 years of age.

In fact, although it affects both men and women, it is estimated that one in three women over the age of 50 will suffer at least one fracture of this type during their lifetime. That is why the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified osteoporosis as one of the epidemics of this century. For this reason, World Osteoporosis Day, celebrated on October 20, seeks to raise awareness of this disease—which is not always given the attention it deserves—by teaching people what it is, as well as how to prevent, diagnose, and treat it.

But can we do anything to prevent this disease? Diet and exercise are essential, although it is also advisable to have regular bone density tests from the age of 60 onwards and to avoid falls.

Simple steps to reduce the risk of osteoporosis

And although some risks for osteoporosis are unavoidable, it is necessary to emphasize prevention and all those natural treatments, available to anyone, that can help you reduce your risk and strengthen your bones. Here are some of the ones we recommend at Biosalud:

• Exercise regularly, especially with weights, as forcing the bone to bear a load or work against gravity induces the body to produce more bone cells.
• Drink some alcohol. It may sound strange, but it's true. Drinking three to six units of alcohol per week (no more) helps your body retain calcium and prevent osteoporosis by increasing estrogen levels.
• Limit caffeine intake, as it can cause some calcium loss.
• Limit protein intake, as excess protein causes calcium to be expelled. If this is not compensated for by increased calcium intake, it can affect the bones over time.
• Consume magnesium. Studies show that it plays a key role in strengthening, preserving, and rebuilding bones. Include nuts (especially almonds), whole grains, and broccoli in your diet.
• Get some sun, as vitamin D, which depends on exposure to sunlight, helps calcium absorption in the intestine.
• Use vinegar as a condiment, as it helps extract calcium from food when cooking or eating.
• Eat an apple a day, as they contain boron, a mineral that helps the body retain calcium.

Osteoporosis from the perspective of biological medicine

At Biosalud, we have been treating osteoporosis for many years. However, we do so from the perspective of biological medicine, with an approach that is completely different from that of traditional medicine. For us, osteoporosis is a pH problem; bone demineralization caused by the acidification of the body (a consequence of diet, stress, or electromagnetic pollution) that causes the alkaline reserves in the bones to migrate elsewhere to compensate for this acidity and balance the pH. The result: the bone loses density.

That is why the first thing we do at Biosalud is to study the patient, analyze the case, and look for the causes that have led to osteoporosis (hormonal, excessive stress, dietary deficiencies, and other circumstances). We always study the body's pH and perform an amino acid analysis so that, if necessary, we can combat tissue acidification and deficiencies in certain amino acids, especially those that form part of the collagen in the bones (proline, lysine, and glycine). Various radiological techniques are also used for diagnosis, which are also very useful for assessing the progression of the disease and the response to treatment. The most important of these is densitometry.