"Calcium for strength." - That's what I always say. - And, "Avoid salt and salty food!" - What do you always say?...(o:

When bones are weak and fragile, we tend to think of calcium and of drugs to help with the problem, but what about cutting down on salt? - Salt can deplete your body of calcium and so make you weaker.

See this extremely interesting information: World Action on Salt and Health (WASH)

Look at this amazing quotation from the website:

"It was calculated that a modest reduction in salt intake from 10g to 5g would have the same effect on hip bone density as an increase in calcium intake of 1000mg, a difficult amount to achieve without resorting to supplements."

And this:

"Diuretics, through a reduction in extra cellular volume, reduce calcium excretion leading to a positive calcium balance, increase bone density and reduce bone fractures."

Don't forget to make sure you have enough vitamin D too, because you need vitamin D to metabolise the calcium.

You may be interested to read my Mensa article on Obesity and the Salt Connection

and FAT RETENTION

And see Sodium in foods and

http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/story.html - my 'political' page

http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/socio.html - social and economic considerations

amitriptyline

prescribed steroids and HRT

See advice for pregnant mothers

Associated health conditions

A high salt intake is a major cause of renal stones and also of osteoporosis/osteopenia in humans.

When bones are weakened by osteoporosis/osteopenia we tend to think of calcium and of drugs to help with the problem, but what about cutting down on salt? This also helps with renal stones.

See this extremely interesting information: World Action on Salt and Health (WASH)

Look at this amazing quotation from the website:

"It was calculated that a modest reduction in salt intake from 10g to 5g would have the same effect on hip bone density as an increase in calcium intake of 1000mg, a difficult amount to achieve without resorting to supplements."

And this:

"Diuretics, through a reduction in extra cellular volume, reduce calcium excretion leading to a positive calcium balance, increase bone density and reduce bone fractures."

A new osteoporosis drug

Osteoporosis drug offers women hope - Telegraph

Extracts:

"Women who are given an annual treatment for post-menopausal osteoporosis are less likely to suffer a broken hip or other fractures than those taking daily or weekly pills, according to a study to be published today.

Patients given a drip into the back of the hand of zoledronic acid, sold as Aclasta, cut the risk of hip breaks by 41 per cent and spinal breaks by 70 per cent compared to patients given a placebo.

Around half a million women in the UK take drugs such as alendronate and risedronate, known as bisphosphonates, in pill form daily or weekly to treat post-menopausal osteoporosis.

However, around half of patients stop taking the pills within a year.

The National Osteoporosis Society estimates that more than 60,000 hip and 120,000 spinal fractures take place each year in the UK.

Approximately one in five people die within three months of breaking their hip, which accounts for around 14,000 deaths annually.

Bone density is reduced in patients with osteoporosis, leading to greater risk of fractures.

Hormonal changes during the menopause put women at greater risk."

"Writing in The New England Journal of Medicine, lead researcher Prof Dennis Black, of the University of California, San Francisco, said: "During a three-year period, an annual infusion of zoledronic acid significantly reduced the risk of fracture at all key osteoporotic fracture sites including vertebral and hip fractures.

"A regimen of infusions once a year appears to ensure that patients will have a full treatment effect for at least 12 months.

"In contrast, many patients who receive prescriptions for oral bisphosphonates stop treatment, and most appear to be taking less than 80 per cent of their prescribed pills by 12 months."

The researchers said the infusion reduced the risk of spinal fractures by significantly more than the daily and weekly pills currently in use. Novartis, the company that manufactures the drug, hopes it will be available in the UK by the autumn."

"However, an abnormal heart rhythm, which can increase the risk of a stroke, was nearly three times more common among the 3,889 volunteers who took the Novartis drug.

The most common side effects with Aclasta were fever, muscle pain, flu-like symptoms, headache, and bone pain."

Osteoporosis can also be caused or exacerbated by 'slimming'/dieting. Give up dieting! - Safeguard your bone density by eating good, healthy meals and cutting down on salt and salty food.

Lose weight by eating less salt! Go on! - Try it! - You will feel so much better!
See my website www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk
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