Many women are concerned about preventing osteoporosis. There is a perception that calcium supplementation and estrogen replacement are vital to fulfilling this goal. The media, the milk industry and the pharmaceutical industry have been major sources of this misinformation.

Let me try to clear up some of the misconceptions regarding osteoporosis.

1. Osteoporosis is not caused be a calcium deficiency, however, it is a problem related to calcium metabolism. The calcium must be incorporated into the boney matrix in order for it to contribute to the strength of the osseous tissue.

2. Silica, zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium are essential minerals for proper calcium metabolism.

3. Vitamin D is also essential, especially in the form of sunlight. Sunlight, unfiltered by glass, (or sunglasses for that matter) is extremely important towards reducing osteoporosis.

4. The form of calcium taken is important, depending on your metabolic type. Some forms can lead to high blood pressure. Some forms can lower blood pressure. Calcium can activate the sympathetic nervous system and can also affect lipo-oxidative balance.

5. If you were to measure the total amount of calcium in a woman’s body that has osteoporosis, you would most likely not find a deficiency. However, the calcium would not be in the bones, it would be in the blood vessels (hardening of the arteries), the soft tissues (calcific tendonitis), the kidneys (renal lithiasis), and the brain (dementia) In fact, aging is associated with excessive calcium ending up in abnormal tissues.

6. Estrogen replacement does not prevent osteoporosis. In fact, excessive estrogen can inhibit osteoblastic (bone forming) activity. Progesterone, on the other hand, does help osteoporosis by increasing osteoblastic activity.

So, what can a woman do to prevent/treat osteoporosis?

1. Follow a good diet. This means eating a balanced proportion of carbohydrates/fats/protein 3 times a day. 

2. Take a high quality multi-vitamin/mineral each day. 

3. Get 15 minutes of sunshine (without sunglasses) every day. 

4. Do weight bearing exercises (these stimulate bone growth) a few days a week. 

5. Make sure that your estrogen/progesterone levels are balanced. 

6. Find out your metabolic type and take the right kind of calcium supplement (if needed) for you.