Posts Tagged ‘osteoporosis’

I don’t believe any mineral has received as much notoriety in recent years as calcium. Walk into any health food store or pharmacy and you will be greeted by an array of calcium supplements, but keep in mind your best source will always be food.

Of all the minerals in the body, calcium is the most important and used by the human body more than any other mineral. Evidence indicates that when the level of calcium changes in a tissue, so do all other mineral levels.

Here are a few important reasons why calcium so vital to your health:

1. Calcium determines the ratio or proportion of all other minerals in our cells.
2. Calcium is essential to the development of peak bone mass and prevention of osteoporosis later in life.
3. Calcium is the best tranquilizer nature ever supplied.
4. Calcium releases the mineral energy of your food during digestion. The less calcium in your food, the less mineral energy you will get out of your food.

Ever wonder why you crave sweets, even after a great meal? The answer is that low calcium foods mean low mineral sugars in those foods, leading to poor energy release during digestion. When you are unable to extract enough energy out of your meal, sweets become much more appealing.

Consider this…….calcium actually helps us keep weight off! The reason has to do with your body’s response to a calcium deficit.

When you are low in calcium, your body thinks you’re starving and enters emergency mode, releasing parathyroid hormone. This hormone stimulates your bones to release calcium into your bloodstream. In addition, your kidneys are delivering a dose of a hormone called calcitriol, a form of vitamin D that increases your ability to absorb calcium.

The problem is that parathyroid hormone and calcitriol also stimulate the production of fat and inhibit its breakdown. As a result, your body not only stores fat but stubbornly holds on to it, even on a low-cal diet!

On the other hand, a high calcium intake suppresses these hormones so your body stores less fat and breaks it down easily.

A  few of my favorite sources that are now in season are: fresh coconut, avocado, pineapple, mango, and papaya. Most of the tropical fruits require lots of calcium in their soil, therefore are rich in this mineral. They are also excellent sources of  potassium and manganese, two minerals I find most women lacking in.

Some great vegetable sources would be: kale, cabbage (but have it lightly steamed or fermented to inactivate the anti-nutrients that can impair thyroid function), broccoli, and spinach

We will explore more about the wonders of calcium in upcoming posts…..so keep reading.

Despite the recent boom in popularity of coffee merchants and drive-thru java stations, coffee drinking may be having a negative impact on your health, especially for mature women. Women are faced with new health challenges as they age.

Here are the top seven reasons for limiting coffee and caffeine to improve health and ease aging symptoms.

1. Coffee drinking is associated with increased risk of heart attack - Heart disease is the number one cause of death for women in the U.S. and studies show that coffee consumption may be linked to an increase in blood pressure, cholesterol, and inflammation, all risk factors for heart disease.
2. Coffee interferes with mineral absorption - Studies show that caffeine, along with other ingredients found in coffee and decaf coffee can reduce iron availability up to 50%. Caffeine also interferes with your body’s ability to absorb calcium, magnesium and potassium. This may affect energy and strength.
3. Coffee consumption may lead to osteoporosis - Low bone density increases a woman’s chance for developing osteoporosis. Studies suggest that women with high caffeine intake experience higher rates of bone loss. The high acidity of both regular and decaf coffee decreases the body’s ability to absorb calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron essential for strong bones.
4. Coffee drinking is associated with increased incidence of hot flashes - Women who drink less coffee report lower rates of hot flashes during menopause. Coffee drinking can increase the intensity of hot flashes during the night.
5. Caffeine negatively interacts with hormone replacement - Research suggests that postmenopausal women who take hormones and also drink coffee have an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
6. Caffeine increases breast pain and fibrocystic breasts in susceptible women - Studies show a link between caffeine consumption and fibrocystic breasts (non-cancerous lumps in the breast tissue). Women who experience regular breast pain decreased their pain by omitting caffeine from their diet.
7. Caffeine may affect sleep - Mature bodies metabolize caffeine more slowly. Caffeine can still be in your blood stream up to 18 hours after consumption. One cup of coffee in the early morning may still be interfering with your sleep cycle.

Try TeeccinoTM and Dandy BlendTM as excellent coffee substitutes. Teeccino is brewed like coffee and available at Whole Foods. Dandy Blend comes in an instant form and makes a delightfully healthy frappuccino! It is available in my office.

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• Are you ready to create optimum wellness and vibrant health?! Ready to feel strong and alive? Then it’s time to get in touch with Jill Redfern at Women’s Health Advantage to assist you in creating your best life ever! Jill can guide you in any dietary, digestion, and nutritional issues and help you get going with vibrant health TODAY! After all, if not now… when?

Jill Redfern is a registered nurse in the Valencia area with 30 years of experience in both traditional and alternative medicine and a pioneer in the field of women’s alternative health and enzyme therapy.