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Vitamin K2 (Menaquinone-7) Can Prevent Osteoporosis!
New studies are shedding light on the complex metabolic functions involved in bone health. Years ago, scientists confirmed that calcium and vitamin D were critical to the formation of healthy bone. Later, other important minerals like phosphorus and magnesium were found to contribute to bone building in the body.
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Now, science has added new knowledge to the bone health puzzle and the picture appears complete. Recently released data on a special form of vitamin K, called menaquinone-7 (MK7), shows it has uniquely effective and quite astounding benefits on bone metabolism and bone growth.
But before we detail this exciting discovery, let’s look at how we got to become a nation facing an epidemic of osteoporosis.
The typical American diet promotes osteoporosis
Americans are notorious for consuming large amounts of processed foods, soft drinks, coffee and foods that are high in sodium and sugar. These foods promote osteoporosis by stripping the bones of the calcium they need to stay strong.
Here are some interesting food facts included in Susan Brown’s book Better Bones, Better Body that will hopefully make you think twice the next time you reach for a six-pack of soda pop, bag of cookies or cup of coffee:
- In the past 100 years, our sugar intake has increased over 1,000 times! Evidence shows that high sugar intake contributes to a wide range of degenerative diseases, including diabetes, arthritis, tooth decay, heart disease, and osteoporosis12
- When sugar is combined with caffeine, as in coffee or soft drinks, even more calcium is excreted3
- Sugar consumption stimulates the stomach's production of hydrochloric acid—This adds to the overall acidic imbalance of the body, which is a contributing factor to bone loss4
- High salt intake causes the body to excrete calcium in the urine, thus contributing to osteoporosis in both the young and old567
- An Australian study found that hip bone loss could be halted in women 10 years or more past menopause, by either lowering urine sodium excretion to 2,110 mg a day or by increasing calcium intake to 1,768 mg per day8
- Caffeine consumption has been found to lower blood calcium and increase parathyroid hormone, both of which signals the body to draw calcium from the bones9—In fact women who drink four cups of coffee a day triple the risk of hip fracture, compared to women who rarely drink coffee1011
Osteoporosis kills women and men
As you can see, dietary habits contribute greatly to the osteoporosis epidemic currently sweeping America. And while it is a well known fact that one out of two women older than age 50 suffers an osteoporosis-related fracture during her lifetime, what’s not as well known is that osteoporosis affects about two million men, and another three million men are at risk.
It is estimated that one in eight men over age 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in his lifetime. In fact, each year men suffer one third of all the hip fractures that occur, and one third of these men will not survive more than a year. In addition to hip fractures, men also experience painful and debilitating fractures of the spine, wrist, and other bones due to osteoporosis. And older men suffer many more rib fractures than elderly women.12
The good news is that osteoporosis is preventable … and even after bone mass density is lost, the condition can be reversed through exercise and by adding certain minerals and nutrients. Cultivating good eating and exercise habits, and supplementing your diet with a bone-supporting dietary supplement can make all the difference.
What causes osteoporosis?
In the human body, there is a constant process of breaking down and remaking of bones. Cross-cultural studies show that, throughout the world, most people lose bone mass as they age.13 After age 40 to 50, men lose 20 to 30 percent of their total bone mass, and women lose as much as 40 to 50 percent.14 Generally, though, the remaining bone is healthy and able to repair itself. This is considered normal aging. When the rate of bone breakdown exceeds that of bone being manufactured, it can result in osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis means “porous bones,” and is used to describe any disease that reduces bone mass, and results in fragile, thin bones, loss of height, lower back, wrist and spine fractures, or dowager’s hump (forward bending of the spine in the upper back). We may notice that our grandparents and our parents are not as tall as they used to be, and eventually we may lose an inch or two ourselves. This is abnormal aging, and according to Susan Brown (Better Bones, Better Body) the major culprit of bone loss mass stems from a lifetime of poor dietary and exercise habits.
Your bones provide structural support for muscles, protect vital organs, and store the calcium essential for bone density and strength. Give them the nutrients they need to serve you throughout your life.
Editor's Note:
The natural health solutions described in this article are available through many on-line retailers including those listed below. By clicking these links you help support the important alternative health research we provide.
Visit www.amazon.com – a great way to find competitive deals on supplements offered by many different manufacturers.
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This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a physician before embarking on a dietary supplement program.
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