Osteoporosis is a disease that targets mostly post-menopausal women. The disease is characterized by abnormal bone loss which causes bones to become brittle and breakable. Osteopenia is the early stages of bone loss and tends to strike earlier on. Learn the causes of bone loss and what steps you can take to prevent it naturally.

Causes of Bone Loss

Bone loss can be caused by a variety of factors, the most common being a deficiency in calcium and vitamin D or an inability of the body to be able to properly absorb these nutrients. Less common causes include a sedentary lifestyle, anorexia nervosa, hyperthyroidism and kidney disease. Certain drugs such as cortisone, Depo-Provera, Lupron and prednisone can also contribute to bone loss. Less common causes are Whipple disease, acrodermatitis enteropathica, biliary atresia and pernicious anemia.

Prevent Bone Loss Naturally:

Diet

When investigating the cause of bone loss, it is important to determine the reason nutrients are not being properly absorbed by the body. One of the most common causes of malabsorption is hidden food intolerances. Those with hidden food intolerances often experience abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, brain fog and learning difficulties. To determine if a hidden food intolerance is causing your malabsorption, try an elimination diet. Remove all wheat, gluten, corn, dairy, sugar, citrus fruit, nuts, processed food and shellfish from your diet for one week then reintroduce foods one day at a time to test for a reaction. If you're symptoms lessen on the diet and become worse when certain foods are eaten, you've found the food or foods you need to eliminate. A balanced diet rich in organic meats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains are key to your overall health and well-being and can help prevent it naturally.

Supplements

If your body is not properly absorbing both calcium and vitamin D, this can contribute to the problem. A great way to prevent this loss naturally is to supplement the diet with chelated magnesium and a high dose (1,000 - 2,000 IUs) of vitamin D each day. If you have a serious medical condition, it is advisable to consult your healthcare provider before adding supplements to your diet.

Exercise

Those who are experiencing bone loss can maintain bone density by performing weight-bearing exercises such as running, lifting weights and climbing stairs.

Vibration Platforms

A vibration platform can be used in conjunction with weight-bearing exercise for natural prevention. A vibration platform is a machine that gently works muscles by causing 40-50 gentle muscle contractions per second. This can help prevent bone loss naturally by increasing circulation, flexibility and muscle strength. Increased muscle strength means the ability to bear more weight, thus increasing bone density!

It's important to note that if you are pregnant or have conditions such as blood clots, bone tumors, deep venous thrombosis or retinal detachment, you should not use a vibration platform. Those with other serious medical conditions should consult their health care provider before using this exercise method.

To prevent loss of bone naturally, start following these steps early!