Definition

Osteoporosis is defined as a diffuse disorder of the skeleton, leading to bone fragility and susceptibility to fractures. At menopause and sometimes even before, women tend to become demineralized.

Typically, their bone mass decreases at a very rapid rate, making the bones more fragile. Indeed, at this time, sometimes even before, the calcium leaves the bones, passes into the blood and is evacuated through the urine. This demineralization gets progressively worse with age. And, in the end, 40% of women will have a fracture. The most exposed sites are the femoral neck, the lower end of the forearm and the vertebrae. If women are the most affected by this progressive demineralization of the skeleton, men are not spared.

The structure of bone depends on the balance between two varieties of cells: the osteoblasts that make bone and the osteoclasts that resorb it. In osteoporosis, this balance is upset without knowing exactly why. Not all women have the same risk of developing osteoporosis. Factors such as heredity and diet play a major role in the vulnerability to osteoporosis.

We also know that regular sports activity is one of the best ways to prevent

An old adage that is wise to remember reminds us that, "Function creates the organ" so stimulate your bones and oxygenate yourself with gentle, daily exercise, such as walking. Eating habits and physical exercise are two factors that women can influence.

Contrary to popular belief, osteoporosis is not due solely to a lack of calcium, but to more complex phenomena of imbalance between osteoblasts and osteoclasts. It is therefore useless to stuff yourself with animal milks. Choose foods rich in estrogen, which inhibits bone resorption. Chinese women, who do not consume dairy products and eat more soy. They are less likely to have osteoporosis than American women who consume a lot of dairy products and few estrogenic foods.

While calcium deficiency is not the major factor in this degeneration, a direct correlation has been established between adequate calcium intake during childhood and adolescence, increased bone strength and reduced susceptibility to fractures in later life. After the age of 30, Dr. Heaney says, calcium administration cannot restore bone mass, but it can help delay demineralization and thus prevent fractures. The stronger the bone structure, the less rapid and less significant the bone loss that occurs during menopause. The important thing is to go for the richest and least clogging sources of calcium for the body, and it is probably not the dairy products that represent the best intake.

The issue of calcium supplements

We can, however, prevent or treat osteoporosis if it has already set in. This is done through calcium supplementation, but it is essential that this intake is in the form of Pidolates.

To be assimilated by the body, minerals must be carried by a salt transporter or by an amino acid. Chemical carriers (carbonates, chlorides, sulphates, citrates, fumarates...) are not very effective, as they are only assimilated by the body at a rate of 1 to 5%. Thus, taking 100 mg of calcium carbonate provides only 1 to 5 mg of calcium assimilated by our body. On the other hand, pidolates derived from natural substances (produced from whey) allow a much better assimilation of minerals, but above all they ensure an active transport of these minerals to the heart of the cells.

On the advice of their gynecologist, most European women take calcium carbonate daily for the prevention and treatment ofosteoporosis.

Taking calcium carbonate does not solve the problem at all, since on the one hand, the assimilable calcium intake is low and, on the other hand, this calcium intake is in the blood and not in the bone cells, where the body really needs it.

On the other hand, by absorbing this type of substance, women increase the risk of developing kidney stones without stopping the demineralization phenomenon.

Supported by bone densitometry measurements, it appears that only taking calcium pidolate provides calcium, not only in sufficient quantities, but more importantly at the necessary location, i.e., within the bone cells. This type of examination has shown that bone mass generally improves after one year of taking calcium pidolate, whereas, according to "conventional" medicine, it is impossible to remineralize the bones of a woman with osteoporosis.

Ffactor promoting osteoporosis.

It would be a good idea for women to reduce certain dietary intakes once they are over 40.

- The number one enemy is salt. Don't add too much salt to your food: salt can destroy your bones over time by depleting them of their calcium.

- Oxalates, especially sorrel, rhubarb, spinach.

- Cocoa, tea and coffee, as caffeine increases calcium loss.

- Animal fats and proteins.

- Avoid all alcoholic beverages, especially spirits and beer, but allow yourself a daily glass of wine to benefit from the action of bioflavonoids, which help you absorb calcium.

Foods to direct you to.

It seems that the ingestion of soy triggers estrogenic activity. Among soy derivatives, only soybeans, textured soy protein, tofu, soy milk and tempeh - the high-protein soy products - appear to have estrogen-like properties. Soy sauce and soybean oil do not share these virtues.

Plants are better than dairy.

It is often thought that a diet based on dairy products and meat provides a good supply of calcium: this is not at all the case, because we must not neglect the high intake of saturated fats. It has been shown that a saponification reaction occurs in the intestines between fats and calcium, which prevents the assimilation of the latter. On the other hand, the option for an ovo-lacto-vegetarian diet allows a synergistic action at the level of bone mineralization.

Turn to fruits, vegetables (greens and cabbage) and legumes

To preserve your bone capital, drink pineapple juice regularly or include other manganese-rich foods in your daily menu. Manganese is directly involved in the metabolism of calcium. A study shows that women with osteoporosis have 33% lower blood levels of manganese than healthy women. After giving them manganese supplements, it was found that they assimilated the mineral in half the time of the others, indicating that the body was deficient in this respect.

Pineapple is extremely rich in manganese, but you will also find it in :

- oats

- nuts

- cereals

- dry beans

- spinach

- whole wheat

- tea.

Studies from the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicate that boron can raise estrogen levels in postmenopausal women as much as estrogen replacement therapy would.

The following foods are excellent sources of boron:

- apple, pear, grapes, dates, raisins and peach

- legumes and in particular soybeans

- almonds, peanuts and hazelnuts

- honey.

Consuming 100 grams of peanuts each day is to ensure a quantity of boron considered sufficient to prevent the harmful effects of menopause.

The importance of vitamin D

To prevent decalcification and weakening of the bone structure, it is imperative that the body have an adequate supply of vitamin D. Older women, who do not absorb vitamin D as easily, would need at least 220 IU per day of this nutrient. Fatty fish is an excellent source of vitamin D. Eel contains no less than 5000 IU of vitamin D per 100 g.

You should know that the body's need for vitamin D is increased during the winter because the duration of sunshine is shorter.

- Do not neglect essential fatty acids, raw fruits and vegetables, vitamins A, B, C, E, K, bioflavonoids, low protein foods rich in tryptophan, calcium, magnesium and zinc.

In concrete terms, which supplements should you choose?

We can prevent osteoporosis, and if it has already set in, we can treat it by taking calcium supplements, but these are only really effective if consumed in the form of pidolates.

To be assimilated by the body, minerals must be carried by a salt or an amino acid. Chemical carriers or salts, such as carbonates, chlorides, sulfates, citrates, fumarates..., are not very efficient, because they allow the body to assimilate only 1 to 5% of the minerals they carry. Thus, taking 100 mg of calcium carbonate provides only 1 to 5 mg of calcium assimilated by our body.

On the other hand, pidolates from natural substances allow a better assimilation of mineral salts, but above all an active transport of these minerals to the heart of the cells, where they are most useful.

Most European women take a daily calcium supplement on the advice of their gynecologist, unfortunately, these intakes are in most cases in the form of calcium carbonate, which they say is used to prevent and treat osteoporosis. However, it appears that taking calcium carbonate does not solve the problem at all, since on the one hand, the assimilable calcium intake is low and, on the other hand, this calcium intake is in the blood and not in the bone cells. Women thus increase the risk of developing kidney stones and clogging their arteries without remedying the demineralization phenomenon.

In conclusion, it seems that one of the only effective contributions of calcium, not only in sufficient quantity, but especially at the right place, is constituted by pidolates.

Extract from the book "Révélations-Santé" by Dr. Thierry Schmitz at Ed. Trédaniel.