Question & Answer #1

I would be interested in your thoughts on the use of “green” powders containing chlorophyll to improve pH balance.

-Maria

Dear Maria,

First I’d like to point out that the most effective way to maintain the desirable alkaline pH in the body is to eat pH balanced meals per the Save Our Bones Program’s easy-to-follow guidelines.

You may know that chlorophyll is what gives plants their green color. And here’s a bit of chlorophyll trivia for you: its chemical formula is identical to human blood hemoglobin except that in plants, the central iron atom present in humans is replaced by magnesium. Heating vegetables, especially overcooking them, causes hydrogen to replace the magnesium. You can visually see the color change of cooked veggies. As I write in OsteoCleanse™, the 7 Day Bone Building Accelerator, raw vegetables are the healthiest choice… and chlorophyll is one of the reasons. You can also steam vegetables if you prefer.

When you follow the Save Our Bones Program, you are already eating chlorophyll-rich foods… all those wonderfully alkalizing greens such as spinach, broccoli, asparagus, bell peppers, celery, lettuce, and more.

For example, Wheatgrass juice is very high in chlorophyll.

To your healthy nutrition!

Question & Answer #2

I have your book and started on your program since June 2010. Previously, unfortunately, I trusted the doctors and took Alendronic Acid for over 4 years. These are my questions:

-Fortune

Dear Fortune,

You’ll probably be surprised to discover that your first question has to do with an area that has been scantily researched. In fact, most of the information we have today about the residual effects of bisphosphonates such as alendronic acid (the generic formula of Fosamax, which has lost its patent recently) is thanks to studies by oral surgeons. Because it is obvious that their profession is most affected by the potentially disfiguring negative effects of these drugs often following oral treatments, and especially dental extractions. Oral surgeons also treat the dreaded Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ), for which there is no known cure.

Now to answer your question, the half-life of a drug represents the amount of time for drug levels in the body to fall to half of its original value. Bisphosphonates attach themselves to bone, and the levels released into the bloodstream are rather low. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be necessary to prescribe the drug on an ongoing basis.

The good news for you and for all those who have stopped the bisphosphonates are two-fold. First, as you quote from the Save Our Bones Program, once normal bone remodeling resumes and new bone gets created, the old bone is covered by the new bone. And guess what: the drug that attached itself to the old bone gets covered by the new bone. Thankfully, this inactivates the drug so that it no longer poses the risk to get the awful osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). And bear in mind that most severe cases of ONJ have been reported with high doses of the intravenous bisphosphonate zoledronic acid.

And to answer your second question, here’s a quote from renowned Dr. Karl Insogna, Director of the Bone Center at Yale School of Medicine:

“We tend to think of the skeleton as at inert erector set that holds us up and doesn’t do much else. That’s not true. Every bit as dynamic as other tissues, bone responds to the pull of muscles and gravity, repairs itself, and constantly renews itself.”

Of course you can restore your bone health by following the Save Our Bones Program!

So believe in your bones and – most importantly – believe in yourself.

Question & Answer #3

My 65-yr. old husband was diagnosed with osteopenia. He checks his AM urine & saliva PH using hydrolized test strips. Consistently his urine is 8.0 and saliva is 6.2. Can anything be concluded from this wide discrepancy?

-Margo

Dear Margo,

Even though your husband’s saliva pH is within desirable levels, his urine checks out too alkaline. Ideally, the urine pH should be more acidic than the saliva pH. That’s because acids are excreted via the urine, detoxifying the body.

An excessively alkaline urine pH may indicate low alkaline reserves, as the kidneys need to generate greater quantities of ammonia to handle the excess acid. Ammonia has a pH of approximately 9.5, making it very alkaline.

So it’s a great idea for your husband to continue with the Save Our Bones Program to replenish his alkaline reserves and reverse Osteopenia.

In good health,

Question & Answer #4

1. Are your recommendations equally valid for men?

-Richard

Dear Richard,

The Save Our Bones Program is designed to nourish bones and increase their density both for men and women. However, due to variations in the factors that cause osteoporosis in men, I have dedicated a section in the Save Our Bones Program specifically for men. But the recommendations are equally applicable to both.

The European drug Protelos, the most common brand name for Strontium Ranelate, is different from the other drugs in that it combines the mineral strontium with ranelic acid, a synthetic molecule. But studies have shown that strontium is a bone thickener, especially affecting the outer cortical layer, thus making bones more susceptible to break. I explain this drug in great detail in the Save Our Bones Program. You can also read lots of good info on it in the free Natural Bone-Building Handbook. If you didn’t get it yet, I strongly recommend you download it.

And to answer your last question, glucosamine is a monosaccharide or simple sugar that occurs naturally in the body and forms part of joint cartilage. Glucosamine supplements are typically used for arthritis.

Stay strong and inquisitive,

Question & Answer #5

I would like to know if swimming in a chlorinated pool has a leaching affect through the skin?

-Sharon-Lee

Dear Sharon-Lee,

This is an excellent question because municipal waters have loads of toxic chemicals added to it, and chlorine is one of them. Chlorine is a toxic gas and a strong respiratory irritant, plus studies have shown several other detrimental effects. Municipalities use it to disinfect water, lately mixed with ammonia, forming chloramines. Unfortunately, swimming pools have even more chlorine added.

Here’s a quote from the Missing Link, which is part of the Save Our Bones Program:

When it comes to skin contact with chemicals, it is important to remember that your skin is like a giant sponge, so it actually absorbs potentially toxic chemicals, and some of them may even end up in your bloodstream. Tests have shown that when you take a ten minute shower you could be absorbing as much chlorine through your skin as if you drank 8 glasses of water, especially when the water is very hot, since hot water opens up the pores.

If you live near a beach, try swimming in the ocean whenever you can. But you don’t need to give up swimming pools. Here’s a trick to protect you: Mix about 8 ounces of olive oil with a few drops of your favorite essential oil and spray on about 15 minutes before swimming. The oil acts as a gentle barrier between your skin and the water and also protects your skin from the drying effects of chlorine.

Stay afloat and healthy!

Question & Answer #6

Can alcoholic beverages be consumed occasionally without having any major negative effect on new bone growth if one is following the eating guidelines of the Save Our Bones Program?

-Helen

Dear Helen,

Yes, you can have your occasional drink… and your bone health! I really think that the huge flexibility of food choices offered by the Save Our Bones Program is what makes it so easy to follow and to stay on track with your bone health.

Just make sure that when you drink alcohol you also consume alkalizing snacks or a perfectly balanced meal followed by a 100% alkalizing snack. Celery, cucumbers, or green salad are great to quickly bring up your pH while you drink.

Enjoy life!

Question & Answer #7

Hi Vivian

-Lily

Dear Lily,

The pH of the water you drink doesn’t matter. Unlike foods, water doesn’t have an alkaline or acid ash residue. It simply mixes with the stomach contents and gets extremely acidified by the digestive acids present there. Then the digestive process continues and the water gets absorbed into the blood stream in the small intestines, where it gets alkalized by pancreatic enzymes and bile. So as I recommend in The Missing Link, stick to distilled water with a few drops of fresh lemon juice.

Stay hydrated and inquisitive,

Question & Answer #8

Do you think taking bone building vitamins will help strengthen my bones?

-Jana

Dear Jana,

You’re on the right track, because certain vitamins are necessary to have strong and healthy bones. That’s why I’ve selected the ones that help you build your bones and listed them as Foundation Supplements. And to make it even easier, I’ve given you Foundation Foods that contain those vitamins. But vitamins are a small part of the whole picture. And that’s where the Save Our Bones Program, unlike toxic drug therapies, shines a light: your bone health is dependent on more than just one thing!

Fortunately, taking small steps to improve your bone health is a lot easier than you might think. If you haven’t yet, download the free Natural Bone-Building Handbook, where I list all the bone healthy nutrients to nourish your bones, including important minerals and antioxidants. Plus you’ll get loads of information on the simple nutritional and lifestyle actions you can apply right away to reverse Osteoporosis and Osteopenia.

And if you want to bring your bone health to the next level and build your bones, I recommend you check out the Save Our Bones Program.

To your bone health!

Question & Answer #9

I was prescribed Methotrexate (current dosage 15mgs. per. week) 9 years ago, for treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

-Wendy

Dear Wendy,

I hope you are feeling well these days and that your RA is under control. Like many commonly used drugs such as aspirin, Methotrexate is a potent enzyme inhibitor. It has some significant potential side effects, but fortunately, none that could be related to your bone health.

Because Methotrexate is a synthetic chemical, you should tackle its acidifying effect on your pH. But here’s the good news: you take the drug once a week, and its half-life spans between 3 to 10 hours after taking it. So assuming the worse case scenario of a 12 hours half-life , only 25 percent of the Methotrexate typically remains in your body after one day, 1/16 after two days, and less than one-half of 1% after four days.

So especially on the first few days after you take the drug, pay special attention to your pH balancing, try to snack on 100% alkalizing goodies, and reduce stress as much as possible.

Be strong and positive,

Question & Answer #10

Is jumping rope a good bone-building exercise? Thank you.

-Evelyn

Dear Evelyn,

Jumping up and down sends a loud and clear message to your bones: “get strong… and fast!”. Believe it or not, the effect of jumping in place has been researched by Japanese scientists using laboratory mice. Published in the Osteoporosis International Journal, the study shows that having mice jump 40 times a week for 24 weeks significantly increased their bone density.

Besides this fantastic benefit, jumping is a great aerobic workout and it also helps improve balance and has an invigorating and rejuvenating effect. But it’s a lot safer to forget the rope, and simply jump up and down in place. Without the rope, you greatly reduce the chances of injury. Also, proceed with caution, because this type of exercise can be rather harsh on fragile bones, especially if you had a fracture in the past.

Keep smiling,