One of the defining benchmarks of the aging process is the progressive movement of calcium and other bone minerals out of the bone (demineralization) and into the soft tissues of the body (calcification). America leads the civilized world in bone loss and in degenerative diseases. To understand the connection, we must first take a look at how bone loss affects the body.
Bones Are Much More Than Structural Support!
Our bones are a living and readily accessible storehouse of life-giving minerals that play a major role in regulating our body systems. Bones undergo constant change in a process known as remodeling, with old bone being removed (resorption) and being replaced by new bone (formation). Without this mechanism for on-demand access to our mineral stores, the body would be hard pressed to maintain our blood pressure, heart rate and pH - among many other things.
Minerals serve as catalysts in enzyme systems, and are critical for nerve signaling, blood clotting, muscle contraction/relaxation, and hormone regulation. Our absorption of minerals naturally suffers as we age due to lower stomach acid levels and less protein in the diet. When dietary intake (or absorption) of minerals is not sufficient, the body robs its own resources in order to meet its many regulatory demands.
Bone Loss (Demineralization)
The result is a progressive bone mineral deficiency that is all too common in our culture. Agribusiness has depleted our topsoils of essential minerals. Our high carbohydrate diet of fast foods and sodas has a strong acidifying effect, greatly accelerating the bone loss process. The body responds to the accumulation of acid wastes by mining alkaline minerals from the bone to neutralize them.
According to the WHO definition, more than 70% of all women over age 50 have either osteoporosis or osteopenia. Common risk factors for bone loss are a lack of exercise, smoking, an acid promoting diet, hysterectomy, menopause, thyroid insufficiency, fluoride exposure, and exposure to certain tranquilizers. It is easy to see why bone loss is such a rampant problem in our country. Today half of all women over 50 suffer fractures of the hip, wrist or vertebrae (which lead to 50,000 premature deaths per year).
Calcification (Buildup of Calcium in Soft Tissues)
Much of the calcium that is being leached from our bones ends up accumulating in our soft tissues. Calcification is present as an underlying symptom in virtually every known degenerative condition, from gall bladder and kidney stones to cataracts, from prostate cancer and arterial plaque to bone spurs.
Whatever the cause, calcium can and often does build up in the arteries, kidneys, gall bladder, prostate, breast, lungs, brain, tendons or connective tissue. Some of the symptoms associated with excess calcium are muscle weakness, heart arrhythmias, muscle spasms, twitching, memory loss, depression, constipation, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, frequent thirst and urination, brittle bones, bone and joint pain, spinal column curvature, bone spurs, and of course kidney and gall stones.
How Can We Reverse Bone Loss and Stop Calcification?
First and foremost, we can reverse calcium excess by eliminating magnesium deficiency. It is estimated that 75% of Americans lack adequate magnesium levels to allow efficient calcium absorption and assimilation. If you have ever had a salt water aquarium, you know that it is impossible to balance calcium levels in the water unless there is adequate magnesium present... the same principle applies in the body.
Replenishing magnesium levels (and making available the other critical bone nutrients mentioned above) creates an environment that is conducive to assimilating calcium into the bone. Eliminating refined carbs, sodas and fast foods from one's diet and eating an alkalizing diet (fresh fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds and small quantities of organic meat) will lower the body's demand for bone nutrients. Moderate load bearing exercise is extremely beneficial in building and maintaining strong bones.
As we have seen, taking good care of our bones is the key to maximizing our quality and quantity of life. In fact, understanding this issue and taking appropriate action may well be the single most important thing you can do to impact your quality and quantity of life.
