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Bisphosphonates

fgprattcom
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Because of Barretts Syndrome I cannot take a bisphosphonate. What's left? I have osteoporosis in my lumbar spine, left hip and left forearm.

Explore topics in this discussion:

Heart disease Cancer Arthritis Hormone replacement therapy Surgery Scoliosis Boniva Forteo Teriparatide Fractures Stroke Breast cancer Raloxifene Pain Osteoarthritis Osteoporosis Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) Evista

30 replies

debbie59

RmChavin,
You are right. Edamame is growing in popularity in the U.S.. As the U.S. is the biggest exporter of regular soybeans so it shall be soon with edamame soy. There are large portions of the U.S suitable for it's growth. Right here in Ohio and many other states. If it makes money, we'll grow it!

rmchavin

To all people inspired by the magic of soy:

Question: Does China buy soybeans from the U.S. or does China sell soybeans to the U.S.? Let's find out.

If we only wanted to see scientific studies, then we could use the PubMed search bar at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ and type in one, two, three, or four keywords and then click, "Go." However, I think that the Google.com search bar at http://www.google.com/ would be more appropriate for getting us the answer to this particular question.

Answer: According to http://www.soystats.com/2009/Default-frames.htm, "China was the largest customer for U.S. soybeans with purchases exceeding $7.2 billion. Mexico was the second largest market for U.S. soybeans with purchases exceeding $1.7 billion. Other significant buyers included the European Union with purchases of $1.6 billion and Japan with purchases of $1.3 billion."

However, according to http://cpws.cqu.edu.au/FCWViewer/view.do?page=6815, "The [edamame] crop is mostly harvested by hand (Lumpkin et al. 1993) though harvesting machinery is available commercially in Japan (Pan 1995)." Here are the final 2 sentences of this article: "Production [of edamame] in the USA is minimal despite considerable research throughout this century on the crop. Therefore most edamame consumed is imported (Lumpkin et al. 1993)."

Also, according to http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/PDF/edamame.pdf, "Hand harvesting is preferred, but is costly." Under the topic headline of "Economic Considerations," this article says that "Research in Kentucky indicates break-even prices for fresh edamame at about $22 per 20- to 25-pound box of fresh edamame, which is considerably higher than current frozen wholesale edamame prices. (6) This high break-even price is due to high labor costs to both harvest and pack fresh market edamame. (6)....The Kentucky researchers found that harvesting (especially when hand labor is used) and post-harvest handling are the main costs to edamame production."

Finally, according to http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu02/v5-432.html, "Frozen edamame imports into US increased from about 300 to 500 tonnes (t) per year in 1980s to about 10,000 t in 2000 (Lin 2001). Taiwan and China are major suppliers of frozen edamame to the United States. The increasing popularity of soybean as a neutraceutical is currently driving the demand for this vegetable and it is estimated that by the year 2005, US could be importing about 25,000 t of edamame per year (Lin 2001). The current edamame imports are valued at more than $9 million. The recent approval of soybean protein extract as dietary supplement by the FDA has further increased the demand for soyfoods."

So I hope these websites were helpful in answering debbie59's question, "Why should we buy Chinese soybeans?"

The advantages of eating the boiled-from-frozen edamame instead of the boiled-from-dried, mature, brown soybeans include: (1) Edamame is just slightly softer and just slightly better tasting, (2) Edamame is quicker, easier, and more convenient to prepare, (3) Edamame has a slightly better omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of 5.0 to 1 instead of 7.0 to 1 for the mature, brown soybeans, (4) Edamame creates just slightly less intestinal gas during digestion, (5) Edamame contains more ascorbic acid (vitamin C), (6) Edamame contains more phylloquinone (vitamin K1), (7) Edamame contains more folate, and (8) Edamame contains more magnesium (in chlorophyll). However, the mature, brown soybeans can be purchased more economically in giant 50-pound bags from specialty wholesale food suppliers.

In conclusion, the Chinese people who live in Taiwan and in mainland China have the world's best bone health. However, the Chinese people who live in Hong Kong or the U.S. have terrible bone health comparable to U.S. whites. The Chinese have a very vulnerable, high-osteoporosis-risk, delicate, Asian body frame. Thus, when the Chinese living in Hong Kong or the U.S. blend in the grilled-meat-loving Western diet (high in osteoblast-oxidizing free radicals) with their traditional Chinese diet, their osteoporosis rate triples! In their traditional diet, the Chinese consume substantial quantities of soy, cabbage, and green tea almost every day and they try to afford some fish to eat with their rice. I don't think that the bone-friendly Chinese diet is the result of blind luck. After centuries of trial-and-error dietary experimentation, I feel that the ancient wisdom of Confucius is still alive in the traditional Chinese diet: http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-19380378_ITM

debbie59

Sorry OsteoMike,
I don't know how I got soybeans mixed up with China's XLGB. Does anyone know what it's made of or is it a secret? Debbie59 (Deb)

debbie59

osteomike,
the chemicals genistein, daidzein and glycitien are found in soybeans. Is there a difference in chinese soybeans and American soybeans?

OsteoMike

Dear rmchavin,
I agree wholeheartedly. It is a real concern. Whenever a company produces a pharmetucital product, they supply a COA (certificate of authentication) that lists the toxicology levels of various items like heavy metals and arsenic. I will email the company and request such.
Thanks!
Mike

OsteoMike

Hi Debbie,
I'm not sure, but I don't think the level of phytoestrogens naturally occuring in soybeans are sufficient to produce the protection effects desired.
Best regards,
Mike

debbie59

But as far as soybeans and soybean products, why choose China, when after corn and wheat it is the most commonly grown crop in the U.S.?

OsteoMike

Dear rmchavin,
I looked up the last link, and it says that both the control group and the treatment group showed positive effects.
The clinical trials performed on XLGB were quite positive.
Best regards,
Mike

debbie59

The last time I heard China was "maybe the economic power in the world" They are our leading trading power, although they seem to be trying to poison the world for profit!! I agree with Char42, as for soybeans, I have them growing all around me right here in Ohio, Why go to China????

rmchavin

Dear OsteoMike:

There are numerous scientific studies that say that the phytoestrogens in soybeans and soy products definitely protect bone health. The soy isoflavones genistein, daidzein, and glycitein are frequently credited for this fracture-preventing benefit of soy. However, the few scientific studies that exist on Xianling Gubao were not as reassuring. This study says that either Xianling or Xianzhen Gubao probably protects bone health in rats: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10743220 And this study says that Xianling Gubao probably improves semen quality in humans: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19157240 However, this study says that Xianling Gubao probably does not protect bone health in humans: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19366101

rmchavin

Dear OsteoMike and Char42:

I'm concerned about the pollution in China getting into the frozen edamame, green tea, canned mandarins, dried plums (prunes), and many other food products that we import from China. Poor nations tend not to be able to afford anywhere near as much environmental protection as wealthy nations. China knows that if they invest too much in industrial pollution control, they might slow down their rate of economic growth and job creation. Fortunately, the Chinese are very smart people (Asians tend to have above average IQs) and I'm confident that they are selling to us only the best (cleanest) food that they have and allocating their slightly lower-grade food to themselves. However, it might be a good idea to mention to the Chinese our concern about their failure to adequately control their industrial pollution.

OsteoMike

Hi Char42,
I understand your concern. Xianling Gubao is made by a highly respected Chinese Herbal Medicine company that goes to great lengths to prove the efficacy of their products through expensive clinical trials, thus giving credibility to the herbal medicine industry (TongjiTang Pharmaceutical Company). I feel good about that, but have no real proof of the purity of the product, other than that it seems to work for me, with no side effects. They list the ingredients too.
Best regards,
Mike

Char42

Hey Osteomike, you are taking Xianling Gubao, how do you know it is pure?

Unless purity is proven I would be very reluctant to take any herb made in China. Products from China can contain anything.
At least we know the chemicals in toxins such as the Bisphosphonates.

rmchavin

For those who are fascinated by fatty acids with unusual omega numbers, up to 20% of the fat in whale meat, seal meat, herring, and capelin and up to 7% of fat in menhaden, anchovetta, and cod contain the omega-11 (monounsaturated) fatty acid, cetoleic acid. This is in addition to the omega-3 (polyunsaturated), omega-6 (polyunsaturated), and omega-9 (monounsaturated) fatty acids found in all fish. Many PubMed studies say that people who have osteoporosis have a much, much higher risk of death from heart disease and stroke than people who don't have osteoporosis. I strongly recommend increased consumption of high-fat fish, fish oil pills, and/or krill oil pills for the omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which have been shown to greatly reduce cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk.

marfakid

I'm new to here and I appreciate all the chatter and suggestions of meds I've never heard of. I'm taking a break from Fasomax right now and was diagnosed with osteoporosis last year at age 66 even after taking Faso for three or four years. My Dr. switched me to Boniva and I had a reaction to that. So I'm looking for options and you've given me a lot of think about and arm myself with when I go see a Dr. Perhaps an osteoporosis specialist would be better able to assess my situation. Oh, by the way, has anyone hears of EZorb? I've been taking that for about three months but won't know if it helps until I have another Dexa. Thanks all.

debbie59

Oh! I forgot gimchi. It's the asian version of sauerkraut, only HOT HOT HOT! The koreans make the best and we would sit at the table and eat this stuff till we turned bright red and sweat like a pig. Talk about detox!! My present husband of 30 years, was stationed in Korea so we both enjoy it too. Kind of hard to find the good stuff in Ohio. If anyone knows on-line where I could get some I'd really appreciate the site.

Cheryl46

I have heard Silica is excellent for bone density. I researched Diatomaceous Earth (only Human Grade-please) and it is 84% silica. Please read on: EarthHealthworks.com and Wolf Creek Ranch about bone repair claims etc. A tea or soup base would be: Nettle leaf, Oatstraw and Horsetail (Shavegrass). Internet: Bone densi tea.

rmchavin

Please don't forget that one reason the Chinese (in Taiwan and in mainland China but not Hong Kong or Chinese-Americans in the U.S.) have such incredibly low rates of bone fractures is that their total consumption of animal-source protein is low relative to the wealthy nations. So although the people of mainland China can afford soy protein foods, animal-source protein foods like fish, pork, beef, dog, and cat are infrequently eaten delicacies and some people can't afford them at all. Here is a study that confirms the extremely low rate of bone fractures in Taiwan and mainland China but not Hong Kong: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19415374 Here are 3 web addresses that tell us who among the Asians is eating cats: http://yellow-menace.com/2008/12/okay-so-chinese-people-do-eat-cats/ http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081016042045AAN3XUs http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090111231811AAKVfoZ Finally, here's BoneLady's blog on strontium citrate: http://strontiumforbones.blogspot.com/ and here's an excellent link on strontium citrate side effects first shared on NOF Inspire by nathji: http://www.healthdiaries.com/blogs/hot/archives/osteoporosis/dexa_tscores_a fter_strontium_citrate.html

RocknRoll

My mom once asked a Vietnamese woman if they also ate cats. She replied, " Noooo, Cats too stringy!!!" Ha! Guess cats are safe at least.

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