May 17th, 2018 | Posted By: Magdalena Wszelaki | Posted in Estrogen Dominance, Menopause

Reversing Osteoporosis With Hormone Balance

Reversing Osteoporosis With Hormone Balance

So many people have been taught that osteoporosis is a normal result of aging. In reality, age is not the only risk factor for osteoporosis. In many cases, age isn’t even the primary risk factor for osteoporosis – it can be a hormone imbalance or poor nutrient absorption.

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by the thinning and deterioration of your bones. When bones start to lose calcium, they become brittle and can break.

Calcium is not the only mineral you need for strong bones. Other nutrients include:

  • Magnesium
  • Zinc
  • Copper
  • Manganese
  • Potassium
  • Boron
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin K


Promoting hormone balance inside our bodies should be the first step in preventing osteoporosis. Our body thrives on homeostasis. When one simple hormone or nutrient is imbalanced that sends a trickle-down reaction throughout our whole body.

Bone loss after age 30 increases significantly, which is why age appears to be a huge factor in osteoporosis. Although, much of this is due to hormone restructuring as we age. We can’t stop aging but we can help slow down the process of osteoporosis by focusing on risks within our control.

Osteoporosis Signs and Symptoms

How can you tell you have osteoporosis? Initially, you won’t have any symptoms. However, as this condition progresses you may experience:

  • Bone fractures (especially in the hip and wrist)
  • Low back pain
  • Vertebral compression fracture
  • Loss of height
  • Stooped posture (Dowager or widow’s hump)
  • Gum disease/excessive tooth decay
  • Premature graying of hair (50% by age 40)
  • Leg cramps at night

Osteoporosis Risk Factors

When it comes to osteoporosis, there are some risk factors within your control and then there are those that are out of your control.

Uncontrollable osteoporosis risk factors:

  • Age, above 50 years old 
  • Female
  • Menopause
  • Family history

Controllable osteoporosis risk factors:

  • Eating acid-forming foods (excessive meat, coffee, sugar, sodas)
  • Nutrient deficiencies (Ca, Mg, K, D3)
  • Low stomach acid and antacid usage
  • Lactose intolerance
  • Poor gut bacteria
  • Low estrogen
  • Low androgens (DHEA and testosterone)
  • Birth control pills
  • Vitamin D deficiency
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Smoking
  • Medication
  • Heavy metals found in the body (cadmium and lead)

Have you noticed that so many more risk factors are in your control?

8 Causes of Osteoporosis

There is a process of growth called ‘remodeling’ that goes on within healthy bones. Each bone uses osteoclast cells to break down old and weak bone. And osteoblast cells are used to build new, strong, and healthy bone. When this process is altered, it signals an imbalance is happening in our body. We are now learning age and a low calcium diet are not the only reasons to blame, but instead an imbalance of the remodeling process.

1. Low estrogen

On a cellular level estrogen is needed in inhibiting osteoclast (bone break down). When you have an estrogen deficiency, this speeds up bone resorption causing low bone density – resulting in increased fractures.

Estrogen deficiencies are not only found in postmenopausal women but also include:

  • Young women with amenorrhea (thin athletes, anorexia)
  • Women with bilateral oophorectomy (both ovaries removed)

The same is true with testosterone deficiency in males. Androgens prevent the loss of bone density and promote bone formation. But we all know the prevalence of osteoporosis in women far exceeds men’s prevalence.

So why is it so important we also focus on a hormonal deficiency in men? Studies show that the mortality rate in men is significantly higher after a hip fracture than women.

3. Low progesterone 

Studies here and here show that progesterone, together with E2 estrogen (called estradiol), prevent the degradation of bones. As women age, our estrogen and progesterone drop – this explains why women (even those who eat a complete, healthy diet), are still prone to bone loss, osteopenia and osteoporosis. Correcting estrogen and progesterone levels might show great results.

3. Other hormones

Our hormones are like an orchestra. If we have any deficiencies within our body, then it causes everything to play out of tune. This is true with our growth hormone and parathyroid hormone. These hormones play a huge role in keeping our bones strong and healthy.

Additionally, increased parathyroid hormones induce calcium loss through the urine. And we all know by now – when we lose calcium we lose bone density.

Our growth hormones are another important regulator in our skeletal growth. As we age, our body produces less of this hormone. With older adults the inability to produce this hormone causes them to lose bone more rapidly than they can replace it.

4. Nutrient deficiencies

Bone matter consists of a few things that are needed to give your bones hardness and flexibility:

  1. Calcium and phosphorus crystals
  2. Protein fibers (collagen)

Our bones house the majority of calcium and phosphate found in our body.

Vital nutrients for bone health and their roles:

  • Calcium – maintains bone strength and is the essential building block
  • Zinc – increases osteoblast and mineralization
  • Copper – helps with bone flexibility and strength
  • Magnesium – increases osteoblast and regulates the concentration of Vitamin D
  • Potassium – neutralizes metabolic acids
  • Vitamin C – synthesizes healthy collagen and regulates homeostasis for healthy bones
  • Vitamin D – facilitates calcium absorption in the intestines and critical in bone remodeling
  • Vitamin K – aids in calcium absorption and improves bone turnover

You can see how important all of these nutrients are in building strong healthy bones. This is why we also focus on these deficiencies in our body – to determine if this could be the cause of osteoporosis.

5. Sedentary lifestyle

The saying “If you don’t use it, you lose it” is so true when it comes to our bones. Exercise increases the secretion of a thyroid hormone called calcitonin in our body. Calcitonin inhibits osteoclast (bone breakdown) –  yet another example of hormones affecting our bones. Weight training is especially beneficial for osteoporosis.

6. Smoking

To add to the long list of negative effects smoking has on your body –  it also decreases your bone density mass. Smoking increases the breakdown of estrogen in the liver. Smoking also has been proven to cause early onset of menopause in women.

7. Certain medications

Drugs like proton pump inhibitors, selective inhibitors of serotonin, hormone deprivation therapy, and glucocorticoids negatively affect bone density – increasing bone fractures.

8. Alcohol

Alcohol interferes with calcium absorption. So, it is no surprise that heavy alcohol consumption can lead to decreased bone density, bone formation, and increased fractures.

Side Effects of Pharmaceutical Drugs on Osteoporosis  

Unfortunately, prescription medications are usually most physician’s first line of defense in fighting this disease. One question to ask before you decide to take the conventional approach to osteoporosis – Do the side effects outweigh the benefits? Studies prove that they don’t.

Bisphosphonates (Fosamax)

  • Using bisphosphonates for treatment completely inhibits osteoclast (bone breakdown). Bones may appear denser, but the overall quality and strength are not.

As I mentioned earlier, our hormones are like an orchestra. We thrive on everything to working together to maintain homeostasis within our body. We can’t have one process without the other — that is why osteoclast (bone breakdown) is so important to the overall process of remodeling. The bone it breaks down is unstable and brittle bone that needs to be replaced. We don’t want to completely stop osteoclast during remodeling— we WANT the old, unstable bone to be removed so new, strong bone can grow in its place.

  • Side effects: Esophageal cancer, atrial fibrillation, osteonecrosis of the jaw, and increased fracture risks.

Raloxifene (Evista)

  • Using estrogen blockers for hormone balance and osteoporosis prevention in women is questionable. Studies show that these drugs do not lower the risk of any fractures in women, but the spine. That’s it – only the spine! But the side effects that follow the drug can be uncomfortable and even life-threatening
  • Side effects: Hot flashes, leg cramps, the risk of blood clots, stroke, and joint pain.

Nutritional Corrections for Osteoporosis

Start with eating calcium-rich foods:

  • Broccoli
  • Kale
  • Collard greens
  • Bok Choy
  • Shrimp
  • Sardines (with bones)
  • Almond milk

Don’t forget Vitamin D (I use this supplement) is needed to absorb calcium so pair your calcium-rich foods with:

  • Fatty fish, like salmon or tuna
  • Orange juice
  • Egg yolks
  • Cheese

Dairy is a good source of calcium, but I don’t recommend it due to increased food sensitivities to most dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt, and butter.

The dairy industry has created the need for dairy consumption by instilling fear in women that avoiding dairy will cause weak bones. To debunk this, let me offer you this analogy: Traditional Chinese cuisine never used any dairy and historically Chinese women had no problems with osteoporosis (this is changing now with Western food entering China).

Another analogy: cows don’t eat dairy and don’t seem to have a problem with their bones :-).

Learn how to add more hormone-balancing ingredients to your meals with our FREE 19 Estrogen Balancing Superfoods Guide here.

Alkalize your body

If you are having trouble eliminating acid-forming foods such as alcohol, meat, sugar, and soda (although I strongly recommend that you do), try alkalizing your body. Start by mixing 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice in water before your meals. This helps neutralize the pH in your stomach–which helps your stomach absorb calcium better.

Supplements and Hormones for Osteoporosis

Correcting the nutritional deficiencies 

Together with our formulators, we developed Osteo Foundation for preventing osteoporosis because I noticed most supplements were incomplete or unbalanced. This is not just a calcium supplement. With its unique blend of nutrients, it helps aid in the absorption of important building blocks for healthy bones.

Plus, Osteo Foundation provides all the necessary vitamins and minerals to prevent osteoporosis in one pill as opposed to needing 9 separate supplements.

Osteo Foundation includes:

  • Calcium
  • Magnesium
  • Zinc
  • Copper
  • Manganese
  • Potassium
  • Boron
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin K
  • Vitamin D

Correct your progesterone levels 

Like I mentioned above, low progesterone cn contribute to break down of the bone tissue. If you experience other symptoms of low progesterone including anxiety, mood swings, sleeplessness, mid-night waking, consider adding topical progesterone. I personally use ProgestPure–a yam-derived progesterone we formulated to be the cleanest, quickly-absorbed and efficacious oil in the market. It contains no phthalates, fragrances, chemicals, mineral oils or additives.

Test your estrogen and DHEA levels 

I don’t recommend using DHEA or estrogen (even if it’s bio-identical) without a supervision of a skilled practitioner. These hormones can break down into metabolites that may cause or contribute to estrogenic cancers, ER+ breast cancer amongst them. You can test your estrogen levels and see you break down them into “clean” and “dirty” metabolites by using the DUTCH test. The results should be interpreted by a hormone specialist. Correct your estrogen levels by working with a practitioner who can re-test your levels after 3 to 6 months.

It’s time we stop looking at pharmaceutical medications as our first line of defense to osteoporosis. Also, rethink your dairy intake.

You must first understand the actual cause of osteoporosis in your own body before you are able to effectively treat it. In my experience, changing your diet and adding a high efficacy supplement can work like a charm for most women. For some women, diet alone is not enough, especially if the osteoporosis is at an advanced stage. And, supplements alone without a good diet can only go that far. It’s best to combine these two forces.

Learn more with Overcoming Estrogen Dominance

Overcoming Estrogen Dominance

“The body has an amazing ability to heal. We just need to give it the right resources.”

In Overcoming Estrogen Dominance, my goal is to empower and give you the tools to take control of your hormones and health.

More than 70% of women experience estrogen dominance. The symptoms range from lumpy and fibrocystic breasts to thyroid nodules, hot flashes, fibroids, uterine polyps, painful, heavy or irregular periods to infertility and miscarriages, from mood swings to insomnia, weight gain to fatigue.

So many women have experienced the pain and frustration that comes when they feel their symptoms and complaints are dismissed or minimized. This is particularly true for women who are experiencing the symptoms of hormone imbalance. Even when doctors do offer treatment, it’s typically in the form of prescription medication or invasive surgical procedures.

In Overcoming Estrogen Dominance, I hope to show that those extreme interventions are often unnecessary, and to give women a roadmap to reverse estrogen dominance using food, herbs, supplements and natural protocols to rebalance hormones.

To get your copy of Overcoming Estrogen Dominance, go here.

References

https://www.nof.org/patients/treatment/calciumvitamin-d/a-guide-to-calcium-rich-foods/

https://www.bones.nih.gov/health-info/bone/osteoporosis/conditions-behaviors/alcoholism

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2811355/  

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4542296/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18052753

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9801732

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK45504/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9610739

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8615336

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3909232/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20920685

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4206646/

26 Comments to Reversing Osteoporosis With Hormone Balance

  1. I have finally gotten myself on the right track by doing this all on my own.. my DEXA scan was up last year finally.. lots of rich calcium foods is key.. exercise too and as little of stress in the life style!! My bones are great and assisistant Hygiene gal says my gums look awesome!’

    • Hi Winona, Thank you for sharing your story with us, that is wonderful! ~ Jeanne HB Team

  2. Extremely valuable information for-me and I plan to begin apple cider vinegar in mypre- meal water consumption.

  3. I have been very dilligent in supplementing for my age factors. However, I was told by my ND that the progesterone I was taking was a precursor for Estradiol, not Estriol ( the favorable estrogen). I have therefore switched to a DHEA (non-soy based) to help boost the Estriol.

  4. Another cause for osteoporosis, likely less common, could be excessive thyroid hormone replacement. Direct T3 seems to be especially catabolic on all tissues.

    Natural dessicated thyroid has close to a 1 to 4 ratio of T3 to T4. The human thyroid produces a 1 to 10 ratio of T3 to T4.

    While I think dessicated thyroid is the best option for hypothyroidism, in excess where the TSH is suppressed to well below .1 could also contribute to osteoporosis.

    • We are glad to hear of your results. However, we cannot comment on another brand/product. besides ours Thank you for understanding. Heide.
      ~HB Team

  5. Great article! I am 46 and one fine day I slipped from stairs and had severe pain in my lower back. When I got an X-ray, I came to know that there was an early onset of osteoporosis. Even though I was on a healthy home-made food and supplements and regular exercise, I further researched and added rest of the supplements mentioned in the article, I also started taking my strength training seriously by regularly increasing weights, and a combination of all this has made a huge impact on my overall health especially my bone structure. Reading the article it seemed, it was my protocol except for few things…..Thanks!

  6. I have started to take ground flaxseed to help support with low oestrogen, as it provides phytoestrogens, so helps with ostoroposis ( I think. Please correct me if I am wrong). It also help bringing m back higher levels of serotonin in the brain and, finally, it could also help prevent breast and prostate cancers.

    I am not too sure what effect it has on endometriosis. Maybe you can advise me on this aspect and any other characteristics I am unaware of.

    I had ashwaghanda for 6 weeks as I felt terrible after a laparoscopy with a bit of surgery a few months ago, it supported me. Unfortunately, 2 months later it made me sick, tummy pains and feeling unwell, so I had to stop. The taste is horrible too!

    I have been buying and taking Rhodiola and this works really well, without side effects. Much better than all other anti-anxiety and anti depressants prescribed by GPs. There again, the NHS is in an appalling state and there is no support (psychological and/physical). The GPs are also abysmally ignorant when it comes to women’s so-called ‘problems…. beyond shocking!
    Thanks God for all these natural remedies and specialists like you.
    A massive Thank You!

  7. This is a comprehensive strategy for bone health. Even so, I discovered that most bone-specific health strategies do not mention including (or considering) what have been major rebuilding-blocks for my entire body (I am 59 years old): MSM (sulfur), HCl Betaine with Pepsin at meal time, Multi Collagen powder and a high quality, food based Vitamin C (no ascorbic acid). Most people are deficient in sulfur and cells become less permeable. Nutrients need to flow into each cell and allow toxins to flow out for elimination.

    • Hi Heather,

      Yes, Supplements are most effective when taken in conjunction with a supportive diet. We appreciate the time you have taken to share your thoughts
      ~HB Team

  8. I’ve read that supplementing with calcium can have negative impacts on your health, such as increasing your risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney stones and therefore it is recommended to get calcium from dietary sources. Any thoughts on this?

  9. the picture is taken in Slovak republic, in High Tatras specifically Štrbské pleso 🙂

  10. Thank you for your generous advice. I have very low levels of estrogen and take HRTs, which I’m not comfortable with based on the risks. This month I started your seed rotation for hormonal balance. I’m eager to substitute HRTs with this natural booster. I’ll monitor progress.

  11. I greatly appreciate your knowledge and writing.
    We milk a fat little cow and drink tons of her milk and eat lots of yogurt. I know you said that cows don’t eat dairy and have no trouble with bones. They require a lot and I mean A Lot of mineral supplementation in order to not have deficiencies. Milk fever is a huge issue if they don’t have very calcium rich feed for the first six weeks. Milk fever is also seen in beef cattle and other mammals.
    I think that processed store milk is acid and mucous forming, but rE milk has the opposite effect.

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