If your doctor says your bone density is degenerating or that you have osteoporosis, what can you do? Most likely your doctor will want to put you on a drug. Since most drugs have real nasty side effects, after long-term use, you may want to look for a natural alternative.

First of all, you need to make sure that you are getting a good supplement of calcium and magnesium for reducing osteoporosis. For women up to 1200 mg to 1600 mg of calcium per day and about 600 mg to 800 mg of magnesium is recommended. For men, use around 200 mg less than women.

Realize that calcium is a difficult mineral to absorb in your intestinal tract. Taking magnesium improves your absorption of calcium. Using an ionic form of calcium also improves you changes of absorbing more of this mineral.

Vitamin B12 reduces osteoporosis
There is one other nutrient that you should also take to increase your absorption of calcium. In a clinical study made at the University of California, they found that women who had the highest levels of vitamin B12 compared to the ones that had the lowest levels had a significant decrease in bone loss and bone fractures - reduced osteoporosis.

In another study done by Tufts University, they again found that in 2,500 men and women that high levels of vitamin B12 reduced their chances of getting osteoporosis.

Homocysteine
In previous newsletters I had written of the other serious benefits of Vitamin B12 and the other B Vitamins, B6 and folic acid. These B vitamins are essential for reducing your homocysteine levels. Remember that high homocysteine levels and unchecked homocysteine levels in your blood lead to plaque buildup in blood vessels. Plaque build up in your blood vessels is probably the most serious condition that you will have to face as you age. Plaque buildup in the blood vessels is the major cause of cardiovascular disease.

Celiac Disease encourages osteoporosis
In another article I have also written about celiac disease. This is a disease where more than 1.5 million people have it and many don't know it. It is a disease where grains (gluten) have destroyed the small intestines ability to absorb nutrients.

In studies, it has been shown that those with severe celiac disease also have severe osteoporosis.

To make your Vitamin B12 absorption worse as you age, you produce less intrinsic factor. Intrinsic factor is created in the stomach where is helps you adsorb more Vitamin B12.

Pharmaceuticals block calcium and encourage osteoporosis
Pharmaceuticals of various kinds, especially acid blocker, can also prevent you from properly absorbing Vitamin B12. But you can get plenty of Vitamin B12 from eggs and meat.

So now you can see that it's necessary to supplement with calcium, magnesium, B12, B6, and folic acid to prevent or even reduce osteoporosis. Not only do these supplements help you with osteoporosis, but they also will reduce the plaque buildup in your artery walls.