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There are still other problems with dairy products. They con-
tain antibiotics, oestrogen hormones, pesticides and an enzyme
that is a known factor in breast cancer. In addition, another recent
study revealed that lactose-intolerant women who drank milk
were at greater risk of ovarian cancer and infertility.”
believes that "no matter where you are on the bone health continu-
um, no matter what your lifestyle has been, it is never too late to
begin rebuilding healthy bones".
Some of the leading lights in safely preventing, halting and
restoring bone mass include supplementation with natural proges-
terone, hydroxyapaptite, calcium citrate, or Chinese herbal formu-
las. When it comes to ensuring healthy bones, it's important to
remember it's not only about what one puts in the body but also
what one doesn't. (See box, The Real Bone Calcium Thieves.)
More and more studies are validating the extremely beneficial
effects of a regular weight-bearing exercise program in increasing
bone density in postmenopausal women. A woman's lifelong ten-
dency to diet has been an unrecognised cause of bone loss. At
least seven well-controlled studies have shown that when a
woman diets and loses weight, she also loses bone. A recent
study found that in less than 22 months, women who exercised
three times a week increased their bone density by 5.2 per cent,
while sedentary women actually lost 1.2 per cent.** Effective
strength-training includes such exercise as walking uphill, bicy-
cling in low gear, climbing steps and training with weights.
Osteoporosis is not an ageing disease or an oestrogen or calci-
um deficiency but a degenerative disease of Western culture. We
have brought it upon ourselves through poor dietary habits and
lifestyle factors, and exposure to pharmaceutical drugs. It is our
ignorance that has made us vulnerable to the vested interests that
have intentionally distorted the facts and willingly sacrificed the
health of millions of women at the altar of profit and greed. It is
only by our willingness to take responsibility for our bodies and
make the commitment to return to a healthy, balanced way of life
that we'll be able to walk tall and strong for the rest of our lives. co
THE BONE-BUILDING DRUGS SCAM
The drug companies boast one other weapon in their anti-osteo-
porosis arsenal: medication that promises to halt bone loss. One
of the drugs in favour is Fosamax, the only non-hormonal drug
approved by the US FDA to treat osteoporosis. Studies of this
drug were cleverly stopped after four to six years. This is just the
point at which the fracture rate for women taking similar drugs
began to rise. So, although Fosamax will superficially appear to
increase bone density, in reality it decreases bone strength.
Fosamax is a metabolic poison and will actually kill osteoclast
cells which are required to maintain dynamic bone equilibrium.”
In addition, Fosamax can cause severe and permanent damage to
the oesophagus and stomach. It is also hard on the kidneys and
can cause diarrhoea, flatulence, rashes, headaches and muscular
pain. Rats given high doses developed thyroid and adrenal
tumours. Fosamax also causes deficiencies of calcium, magne-
sium and vitamin D, all essential for the bone-building process.*
BUILDING HEALTHY BONES
It is clear that the osteoporosis treatments doctors most often
recommend to women—HRT, calcium supplements, dairy prod-
ucts and drugs—have certainly benefited the medical establish-
ment and drug companies most of all. The real long-term benefit
to women is minimal at best, and life-threatening at worst.
Fortunately there are other options that not only can prevent
further deterioration of bone density and poor bone repair but can
actually increase bone mass in women of all ages. According to
Dr Susan Brown, the six intervention areas that form the
strongest, surest program for building and repairing bone include:
maximising nutrient intake, building digestive strength, minimis-
ing anti-nutritive intake, exercising (especially with weights),
developing an alkaline diet and promoting endocrine vitality. She
About the Author:
Sherrill Sellman is the author of Hormone Heresy: What Women
MUST Know About Their Hormones. Due to the great demand
from women around Australia for counselling on hormone health
and natural hormone alternatives, and for referrals to sympathet-
ic health practitioners, Sherrill has started the Natural Hormone
Health Counselling and Referral Service. It will be available
from 16 November 1998 by calling 1902 211 191 (in Australia).
Endnotes 15. Bonn D., "HRT and the Media", paper given at and breast cancer", J. NCI 90(11):814-823.
1. Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Working © Women's Health Concern Conference, Cardiff, 31 33. Melton, L. and B. Riggs, "Epidemiology of Age-
Party on Osteoporosis, report, 1991. May 1989. related Fractures", in The Osteoporotic Syndrome:
2. USA Health Facts, www.MedicineNet.com, p. 1. 16. Stevenson, J., "Osteoporosis: the silent epidem- Detection, Prevention and Treatment (L. Avioli, ed.),
3. Reuters news release, 5 November 1996. ic’, Update, 1 August 1986, pp. 211-16. Grune & Stratton, New York, 1983, pp. 43-72.
4. Transcript of press conference interview with 17. Frost, H. (1985), "The pathomechanics of osteo- 34. Brown, op. cit., pp. 62-63.
Robert Cohen, 10 June 1998, website