CLEAR MEDICINE BONE HEALTH

 According to the Osteoporosis Canada:

  • At least 1 IN 3 WOMEN and 1 IN 5 MEN will suffer from an osteoporotic fracture during their lifetime
  • ONE IN THREE HIP FRACTURE PATIENTS will re-fracture within one year
  • OVER 80% OF ALL FRACTURES in people 50+ are caused by osteoporosis
  • 2 MILLION CANADIANS are affected by osteoporosis
  • Women and men alike BEGIN TO LOSE BONE IN THEIR MID-30S
  • 28% OF WOMEN and 37% OF MEN who suffer a hip fracture will die within one year

Osteoporosis: “a pediatric disease with geriatric consequences”. Peak bone mass is achieved at an early age (16-20 in young women and 20-25 in young men), so think of bone as a bank account where you “deposit” and “withdraw” bone tissue. During childhood and the teenage years, new bone is added to the skeleton faster than old bone is removed. As a result, bones become larger, heavier, and denser. For most people, bone formation continues at a faster pace than removal until bone mass peaks during the third decade of life.

After age 20, bone “withdrawals” can begin to exceed “deposits.” For many people, this bone loss can be prevented by continuing to get calcium, vitamin D, and exercise and by avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol use. Osteoporosis develops when bone removal occurs too quickly, replacement occurs too slowly, or both. You are more likely to develop osteoporosis if you did not reach your maximum peak bone mass during your bone-building years.

Bone is made mostly of collagen, bone is living, growing tissue. Collagen is a protein that provides a soft framework, and calcium phosphate is a mineral that adds strength and hardens the framework. This combination of collagen and calcium makes bone strong and flexible enough to withstand stress. More than 99 percent of the body’s calcium is contained in the bones and teeth. The remaining 1 percent is found in the blood.

Women are more likely than men to develop osteoporosis. This is because women generally have smaller, thinner bones than men. Also, women can lose bone tissue rapidly in the first 4 to 8 years after menopause due to the sharp decline in the production of the hormone estrogen.

Produced by the ovaries, estrogen has been shown to have a protective effect on bone. Women usually go through menopause between ages 45 and 55. After menopause, bone loss in women greatly exceeds that in men. However, by age 65, women and men tend to lose bone tissue at the same rate. Although men do not undergo the equivalent of menopause, production of the male hormone testosterone may decrease, and this can lead to increased bone loss and a greater risk of developing osteoporosis.

Maintaining and IMPROVING bone health is not just about calcium and vitamin D. Our comprehensive bone health program considers all the aspects of bone health from a functional and a structural point of view.

Our functional approach to bone health includes the following modalities implemented by one of our licensed Naturopathic Doctors, Holistic Nutritionists and our Virtual Personal Trainer:

  • Nutrition for bone health, including optimal intake of the proper amount of protein for bones and muscle (inflammation control, nutrient intake, blood sugar and insulin balance, all of which can impact bone health).
  • A naturopathic medicine-based supplement prescription or bone health supplements for bone health including newly researched recommendations and the basic nutrients needed to support bone repair and maintenance of bone mass.
  • Extensive blood testing to identify the risk factors that impact bone health
  • Physical exam including an adrenal stress test and body composition testing by medical-grade bio-impedance machine (or recommended method for at-home means of monitoring progress), which assesses fat mass and lean body mass.
  • Stress and sleep recommendations to support bone maintenance and repair.
  • Bio-identical hormone replacement (if deemed necessary).

We recommend requesting a baseline bone density scan from your MD.

Our bone health program, the first in of its kind in Ontario, includes:

  • Three Naturopathic appointments to be completed within the first 8 weeks of your program
  • One Holistic Nutrition appointment
  • A minimum of eight virtual personal training sessions of either 30 or 45 minutes so that you can learn the proper way to exercise for bone health
  • One session on the basics of Nordic Pole Walking (which can aid bone and muscle mass)
  • Comprehensive Blood and urine testing

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