Progress Without Pharmaceutical Drugs!

Although I no longer see Dexascan scores as the most telling indicator of bone health, I was encouraged by the results of this year’s scan: A 2.2% gain in the bone density of the hip (femoral neck), correlating with a T-score of -2.4 and a Z-score of -1.7. No longer is my hip in the “osteoporosis” category; instead it is now classified as “osteopenia.”

Having said this, I no longer believe that negative T-scores are abnormal for me. As you can tell from my photo, I am a petite, small-boned woman. I am of Irish descent. I am shorter and tinier than the average woman, and so I cannot be expected to have the same weight and density of bone as the average woman. If you’ve read The Myth of Osteoporosis, which has been recommended by several members of this NOF support group, you also understand that bone density is not the only predictor of bone strength; in fact, it is not even the best predictor.

The fact that my shoulder fractures healed in record time this summer shows that my body is perfectly capable of building bone where bone is needed naturally, without the use of dangerous pharmaceutical drugs. The task ahead is to continue to convince my body that bone is needed in both spine and hip by continuing regular weight bearing exercise, especially walking, running, and weight training. I will also maintain the osteoporosis diet (80% alkaline / 20% acid), as well as allowing 7-8 hours of sleep per night.

After two years on this diet and exercise regimen, I feel great! I am strong and healthy and full of vitality. I take nutritional supplements, but no pharmaceutical drugs. The only side effects of the foods and supplements I take are increased health!

By zeta
Posted December 11, 2008 at 8:23 pm
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Congratulations on your improved scores, quick healing of shoulder fractures, and sense of overall improved health!

One quick question for you. How do you test your ph, and how often? Saliva, urine.. or ? Some say a blood test is necessary to get a correct reading, others say urine should be checked several times a day for a few days to get a general picture in focus. What do you think?

Thanks--zeta

By Alli
Posted December 12, 2008 at 9:16 am
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Yes Congrats, Kathleen on your increase. I would be interested in some info on your OP diet.. alkaline and acid 20%. I am trying to incorpotate that into my lifestyle so if you could give some tidbits i would appreciate it. Keep up your good work its encouraging to hear news like this.

By KathleenAlford
Posted December 12, 2008 at 10:20 am
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Hi, Alli. I have a website that contains all the information you have asked for. However, I have been notified by HeatherH of the NOF Support Community that I am no longer allowed to give out my website in these discussions. She said that is considered "marketing." I told her that I have no ads on my website and that I don't make any money off of it; the website is simply to help others. That did not change her decision, however. If you would like to write me personally, please feel free to e-mail me at kathleen_alford@yahoo.com.

By KathleenAlford
Posted December 12, 2008 at 10:27 am
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Hi, Zeta. I used to test once a week, sometimes with urine and sometimes with saliva--both in a small cup (like a shot glass) or teaspoon. These days I don't do it so often because I know what foods are going to alkalize or acidify my blood. I basically test when I'm not feeling up to par, to see if my pH is off and might be a contributing factor.

By zeta
Posted December 12, 2008 at 2:35 pm
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Dear Kathleen,

I am very sorry to hear that the management of this site will not allow you to post your website. I consider this a form of arbitrary censorship plain and simple, since as you say you aren't selling anything, so how can that be construed as "marketing?"

I must ask the management of this site, by what principle do you decide to let some members post links to their websites and not others, since I note here that others are posting links to their websites, including some like Sara Meeks whom I hold in high esteem. These website links should NOT be removed, but nor should Kathleen be barred from posting hers?!

As Always, thanks so much for your educational posts

zeta

By dianedc
Posted December 12, 2008 at 3:04 pm
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Dear Kathleen,

I am pleased at your progress and find it very inspirational. I am trying to do the same thing. I wonder if you include any red wine in your diet. Is it a no-no?

By heid
Posted December 12, 2008 at 9:51 pm
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Please tell us what your diet and lifestyle were like before going to an alkaline type diet. I still think this is important to know. Although my diet is similar with a few additions (some meat, etc.) I've had no luck in reversing my osteop. by diet and exercise alone. I hope that you are not an anomaly, but who knows? Then again, there has been discussion that my lack of osteoporosis reversal may be because I am genetically predisposed to this condition. Michele

By KathleenAlford
Posted December 13, 2008 at 6:45 am
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Before I switched to an alkaline diet, mine was the "Standard American Diet" (SAD), which included fried food, fast food, processed food, desserts after dinner, and an assortment of dairy products, especially cheese and yogurt. I also drank plenty of coffee and diet sodas to keep going. These food are highly acidifying, and when the blood is acid, the body must find a way to neutralize that acid. One way it does that is by leaching calcium from the bones.

The transition to an alkaline diet was not an easy one for me, but Dr. Steve and Dr. Rogers assured me it would be worth it. I remember crying into my pillow at night sometimes at how unfair it was that other women could eat the foods I was used to, while I was forced by the diagnosis of osteoporosis to adopt what I considered a restrictive, non-appetizing way of eating. However, as the weight dropped off and I created new recipes to go with my new diet, I found myself feeling so much better, and I began to see the alkaline diet as gift--a blessing. After two years on the alkaline diet, I would never want to go back to the SAD diet I ate before.

Exercise before the transition was spotty at best. Only during the summer when school was out, did I engage in regular exercise or outdoor activity. Exercise is an essential part of the OsteoDiet routine. Without it, I obtained health, but I did not build bone. Apparently, my body "understands" the need to build stronger bones only when I engage in weight-bearing exercise on a regular basis.

By KathleenAlford
Posted December 13, 2008 at 7:22 am
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Hi, Diane. I don't include red wine in my diet myself, but that is simply a personal preference. According to The Acid Alkaline Food Guide by Dr. Susan E. Brown and Larry Trivieri, Jr., red wine is classified as "medium acid-forming." However, the alkaline diet recommended to me by Dr. Robert Rogers is 80% alkaline / 20% acid. Since red wine has beneficial nutrients for the body, perhaps one could include it in the 20% acid part of the diet.

By dianedc
Posted December 13, 2008 at 9:14 am
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Hi Kathleen,
Thanks for your reply. I have been reading your saga for a while, as probably many others have and I feel more ready to make these changes because of you. Thanks for sharing and please continue.

By BoneLady
Posted December 13, 2008 at 3:57 pm
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Dear Kathleen and zeta,

I am also very sorry to hear the management of this site will not allow you, Kathleen, to post the URL for your website. They have taken the same tack with me. Censorship is always offensive, especially when it is this arbitrary. Ditto to everything you wrote on this subject, zeta.

The management here has allowed the posting by April995 on December 11 of a blatantly commercial website that is selling bio-identical hormones and neutraceuticals
while slamming strontium supplements, which they obviously don't sell. Gee, could there be a connection here?

By verginia
Posted May 25, 2009 at 4:05 am
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Hi Kathleen
I'm also small boned and of Irish descent. I have osteoporosis of the spine and hip. Unfortunately I also have an overactive thyroid. I think it is terrible that you are unable to give out your website. I have the greatest respect and gratitude for women like you who are prepared to help other women with their health. I was on Fosamax for about 6 years and it didn't do one bit of good for my bones and I now have the fear that it stays in the system for life.

I'm very interested in changing to an alkaline diet. My diet has consisted of the Standard Australian Diet which is the same as the American one. I have been consuming regular amounts of dairy food not realising it makes the blood acid.

I hope it is alright if I also email you for advise on the alkaline/acid diet which you comsume.
Thank you

By Gatekeeper
Posted May 25, 2009 at 12:29 pm
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Someone wrote that the desired pH of one's urine be between 6.5-7.5. My question, is plan to shoot for the high end or low end of that scale?

By ValerieEvelyn
Posted May 25, 2009 at 1:02 pm
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Hello Kathleen - I would also like permission to e-mail you to ask for your advice on your diet recommendations. Recently diagnosed and decided to avoid drugs and try the natural way, but need to know what dietary changes to make. Would appreciate your advice. Kind regards. Valerie.

By April995
Posted May 25, 2009 at 7:23 pm
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Kathleen,
Its great to hear your doing so well with Osteo, by changing your diet.

BoneLady,
I take Offence to you saying that you seemed to think I have sometype of "in" to this community, "A Connection", cause I gave a site about strontium, and bio hormones (I do not take) I found on Google, that was negitive.
I see allot of people put up google sites here etc.
That was NOT my website as I do not have anytype of website to sell anything , or talk about anything.

I did go into your website that you have posted on here, and found it very informative, and very Pro Strontium.
From what I have read from most of the people here that take Strontium, they have gotten good results.
I took Strontium Citrate a few months back, and unfortunatly, It gave me terrible chest pains (had to go to a Cardiologist), and my left ankle swelled up. (I have skinny ankles ).

Please do not accuse me of something I didn't do, and that I have sometype of connection to the management to this group, which is Absolutley Not True.

Be well,
April995

By KathleenAlford
Posted May 26, 2009 at 6:35 am
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My doctor told me to aim for 7.38, which is the pH level that must be maintained by the blood for optimum functioning.

God bless you,
Kathy

By SequoiaHealth
Posted May 26, 2009 at 9:28 am
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Hi KathleenAlford :
It is great to hear you confirm what we tell people and see in our healthy lifestyle treatment program. Many people doubt the effectiveness of a lifestyle approach but the fact is, even if you decide to use medications, your body still must be in good enough condition to support their use. I personally like to see people try lifestyle changes first before medications. I tell people all the time “A healthy body makes healthy bones.” Not the other way around.

The other area we are finding as important as diet and exercise is stress reduction. High stress levels have a strong negative effect on health in general. High circulation cortisol levels increase calcium excretion. So I will include the lifestyle list we use called “The Big 5 for Bone Health.”

1. A diet that contains 50% fruits and vegetables. Fruits and veggies contain greater amounts of water and minerals with generally lesser amounts of
animal protein.
2. Adequate water intake for maximum hydration. Water is very important in helping the kidneys regulate pH and detoxify the body.
3. Daily stress reduction activities. This helps lower cortisol and homocysteine levels reducing calcium loss.
4. Year round vitamin D3 levels in the 50-80 ng/mL (or 125-200 nM/L).
This should be confirmed by 25-hydroxyvitamin D testing.
5. Sufficient weight bearing exercise to stimulate balance and muscle growth which is essential for bone strengthening determined by regular full body strength testing.

As always, no one change will give the results you seek. The body is too complicated and finely regulated for that to happen.

Woody McMahon
NOVA Osteoporosis Support Group Leader

By sdivas
Posted May 26, 2009 at 2:11 pm
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Hello Verginia, community members may place their websites with their profiles. Also, community members may contact other community members through message which is private in case a community member does not wish to share their email address or website with their profile. Sandi

Welcome to Inspire!

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