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!
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Progress Without Pharmaceutical Drugs!
- By KathleenAlford
- Posted December 11, 2008 at 7:07 pm · 55 replies
- In Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
Exercise Alli Fractures Fosamax Osteopenia Pain Osteoporosis Cortisol Stress
55 replies
- Oldest first
- Newest first
- By DeskJockey101
- Posted September 13, 2009 at 12:41 pm
- Report post
NEW TO THIS SITE AND STUMBLED ACROSS THIS DISCUSSION. AS I AM INTERESTED IN A HEALTHIER WAY TO ADDRESS MY OSTEOPOROSIS, I AM KEAN ON LEARNING MORE ABOUT THIS FORM OF DIET. IN THE LAST YR IN A HALF I HAVE LOST 30 LBS AND PLANNING ON LOOSING ANOTHER 30 THIS YEAR OR NEXT, I AM IN NO HURRY.
I'VE ALSO SEEN SOMEWHERE THAT RED MEAT IS NOT GOOD FOR YOU BECAUSE IT AFFECTS THE BONE MAKING ACTIONS.
LAST WEEK I WAS FLEXITARIAN WITH NO RED MEAT, AND ACTUALLY THE ONLY MEAT I ATE WAS TUNA. I DO HAVE CREAM IN MY 2 CUPS OF DECAFE COFFEE. AND I DO HAVE YOGERT AND CHEESE STRINGS.
THIS WEEK I ADDED RED MEAT BACK IN AND THE FIRST THING I NOTICED WAS THE INCREASE OF HOT FLUSHES... ANYWAY MAY I PLEASE EMAIL YOU AS WELL. LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE, LINDIE AKA DESKJOCKEY101
- By Gatekeeper
- Posted September 13, 2009 at 12:26 pm
- Report post
Donnalc,
pH strips can be purchased at a health food store or cheaper over the internet, google is your friend.
Winter *is* coming, liquid sunshine in the form of Vit. D3 drops.
I'm glad someone explained the different vinegars, something I knew as acidic... but apple cider vinegar is the key. Interesting.
- By Donnalc
- Posted September 12, 2009 at 11:07 pm
- Report post
Where do you buy the PH testing kit? With or without a RX?
Does anyone know where to buy a portable small water
machine to control the PH & Acid balance?
Does anyone know if Sun lamps can give you vitamin D?
I contacted one company & they replied that theirs didn't. Winter is coming & I won't be able to spend an hour in the sun!
Donnalc
- By Donnalc
- Posted September 12, 2009 at 11:07 pm
- Report post
Where do you buy the PH testing kit? With or without a RX?
Does anyone know where to buy a portable small water
machine to control the PH & Acid balance?
Does anyone know if Sun lamps can give you vitamin D?
I contacted one company & they replied that theirs didn't. Winter is coming & I won't be able to spend an hour in the sun!
Donnalc
- By verginia
- Posted September 2, 2009 at 1:24 am
- Report post
bonnytiz
Balsamic Vinegar is acid.
An interesting article:
http://thehealthytruth.net/blog/?p=157
- By bonnytiz
- Posted September 1, 2009 at 1:09 pm
- Report post
I too was confused about vinegar, can someone tell me whether Balsamic vinegar is ok?
I too eat oats for breakfast but I am confused as to whether they are acid or alkaline.
Thanks everyone.
- By verginia
- Posted September 1, 2009 at 4:41 am
- Report post
summerhour
Apple Cider Vinegar and Lemon Juice are both suitable as a salad dressing. They are both Alkaline. Ordinary vinegar is acid.
- By summerhour
- Posted August 31, 2009 at 10:23 pm
- Report post
Hi,
in this acid/alkaline diet how does vinegar or lemon (as in salad dressing ) fit in?
- By duzy
- Posted August 31, 2009 at 6:02 pm
- Report post
Dear Kathleen,
Your information is very interesting, didyou find doctors who believed in diet change?
Myself I am premenopausal and I since I was started on biphosphonates , had side effect and started reading more, there were never FDA studies long term for premenopausal women and I being physician myself start believing doctors too soon start treatment off label, myself after disagreement with my physician plan to visit osteoporosis center at John Hopkins, search many centers and it looks a little to me drug companies are pushing, problem is not well understood in those borderline, those with osteopenia and long term effect of those drugs available is unknown. It is a choice any of us would decide, my thoughts are if drug will cause problems in 20 years from now I would be 61, at least with osteoporosis my grandma lived till 84 and she was not following alkalotic diet nor did weight training, I like you post so much and I am on the same boat with T score -2.4, I started thinking and shared with other doctors and coworkers pharmacists that dexa scan results are compared to 30 years old healthy woman, in the past no one did dexa scan as often as it is treatment recommendation may change in 10-20 years from now, I belive to treat osteoporosis but a push to treat osteopenic without advising diet, weight training is likely result of drug companies marketing
- By gkg44
- Posted August 31, 2009 at 1:58 pm
- Report post
This is an interesting discussion. I have been trying to eat foods that bring about a more alkaline condition for about 2 years now. One of the things originally recommended to me was apple cider vinegar, which is not to hard to take a teaspoon or two straight or with water.
My question is about bone density measurements in relation to small vs large boned people. I have small bones, and am very thin, I have always been so. Is the dexa measurement weighted to show small bones as less dense because there is much less mass to the bone than a larger boned person? Or is the measurement process corrected adequately for the differences on bone size?
- By BarbaraDeLu
- Posted August 31, 2009 at 10:53 am
- Report post
wow finally someone with actual feedback about the diet and exercise
is there any way you can share with us what a typical daily diet is for you
I am having a problem trying to figure out what to eat as I dont like many items
please advise !!!!!!!!
and thanks for the wonderful story,
- By verginia
- Posted August 30, 2009 at 10:43 pm
- Report post
Kathy, I was just looking at the list of 10 bone building
foods on your website. No. 10 says organic oats. I thought oats were acid. I aways had organic oats for breakfast but stopped because of this.
- By verginia
- Posted August 17, 2009 at 2:07 am
- Report post
Hi Kathleen
Thank you for going to so much trouble. The site on saliva testing was very interesting and informative.
I have been on the Acid/Alkaline Diet since the 6 June and I haven’t had a migraine since that date which is a miracle. I have always suffered from debilitating migraines although the severity eased after middle age.
I retired a couple of years ago and the migraines became very frequent. I thought it was because I was having trouble adjusting to retirement but whereas I always had a salad for lunch when working, since retirement I have consumed a lot of bread and tahini every day. Add this to the rolled oats I had for breakfast every morning which made my diet totally acid until dinnertime when I had a salad.
I've been eating out a lot lately which presents a problem. When I get home and test my urine it is very acid so I sip several cups of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar (through a straw to protect teeth) and the next morning I test alkaline again.
My freezer is now full of vegetable broth which I cook with organic vegetables. The bought broths contain too much salt. I heat some up every day and add vegetables and garlic which is high alkaline, this enables me to have a small amount of bread with it. I make my own Almond milk and a Carrot and Raisin Quinoa Bread which is alkaline. The recipe is from www.susanjanemurray.com. I’m going try your Roasted Cajun-Style Veggies which sounds very tasty.
Kathleen, thanks to you so generously sharing your story I am now migraine free. I started this diet because of my bones but being migraine free is an enormous side effect. It’s given me back my life. My bones have a long way to go but at least I have hope now.
Again, I thank you, you wonderful lady.
- By Irish59
- Posted August 13, 2009 at 8:49 pm
- Report post
Kathleen,
I am also very interested in the 80/20 Alkaline/Acid diet. I'm a petite Irish lady like you and very used to the SAD diet but really want to improve my bone health before it gets worse without taking any more meds. I will email you and will really appreciate any info you can share with me.
- By gjw
- Posted August 13, 2009 at 7:45 am
- Report post
Thanks Kathy for the link to your website. I'm like a dog with a bone(no pun intended) since I received a diagnosis of osteoporosis and your site has a wealth of information. I'm eager to read through it and I'm sure I'll have questions later. Thanks again.
Gloria
- By KathleenAlford
- Posted August 12, 2009 at 9:05 pm
- Report post
HoneyFoxx, please feel free to email me at kathleen_alford@yahoo.com for details.
God bless you,
Kathy
- By KathleenAlford
- Posted August 12, 2009 at 9:03 pm
- Report post
Congratulations, Lynn! That's wonderful progress!
Kathy
- By KathleenAlford
- Posted August 12, 2009 at 9:02 pm
- Report post
Absolutely, Mrs. Thistlebottom! Please feel free to write me at kathleen_alford@yahoo.com.
God bless you,
Kathy
- By KathleenAlford
- Posted August 12, 2009 at 8:59 pm
- Report post
Dear Whoever,
If you would like to email me at kathleen_alford@yahoo.com, I can refer you to my website that contains much information about the alkaline diet.
Kathy
- By whoever
- Posted August 12, 2009 at 5:28 pm
- Report post
Hi Kathleen,
I have been looking into the acid/alkali diet but amd still not quite sure how to calculate the percentages.
The thing that I have read about twice that I would like a comment on is sodium bicarbonate which is supposed to alkalise. The suggestion was 1/2 teaspoon in water 30 minutes before breakfast and 90 minutes after supper. Do you have any comment on that??
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