The Bone Health Revolution Book Review

The Bone Health Revolution
by Vivian Goldschmidt

Recently my good friend Chris called to say her mom’s latest Bone scan revealed quite a bit of bone loss since her last test and the doc wanted to put her on osteoporosis meds.

This made Chris uncomfortable and she called to ask what, if anything I knew about these drugs, their efficacy, side effects and possible alternatives. My limited research after my own diagnosis of osteopenia a few years ago–a non-disease created to sell more drugs I’m convinced–led me to believe that the drugs were not a good choice and that there were many things to do first to strengthen bones naturally.

I fumbled through some of that I knew but told Chris I’d get back to her after getting my research updated and together. Meanwhile she found this month’s book.

The author Vivian Goldschmidt, has written a book I wish I’d penned.

Chris was correct, the book is a gold mine of the latest information on osteoporosis, osteopenia, and the drugs big Pharma would have us take to slow down this “disease”. Dirty little secret–osteoporosis is not a disease at all simply a function of aging. It is not inevitable and does not need dangerous drugs to prevent, reverse or slow it down. It can be slowed and reversed using diet, supplements, and exercise.

Did you know that the mean against which our middle aged bones are compared for their “health” is 20 – 29 year old women? As Vivian asked, “Are women expected to keep their bone density unchanged as they grow older?” How can we ever hope to have a “normal” bone density score as compared to women who are at their peak of bone health?

Not to mention that bone density–the characteristic of our bones being tested for–is not the best indicator of healthy bones, bone flexibility and strength is.
Bone loss associated with aging is normal, bone strength and resilience is what we should work towards.

Here are some bullet points Vivian covers in detail in her book:
# Osteoporosis is not a disease but actually it’s the body trying to correct an imbalance. And there’s one simple thing you can do to correct this imbalance.

# Osteoporosis is not inevitable. Anyone can easily prevent and reverse it without taking drugs. Actually, a 2006 report by the Mayo Clinic says that over 37% of women older than 50 don’t meet the true criteria of Osteoporosis and are wrongfully diagnosed! Are you one of them?

# The active ingredient in prescription Osteoporosis drugs (Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva) is a bisphosphonate. That’s just a fancy name for a common ingredient used in laundry detergents, fertilizers, and industrial lubricants. Would you put those in your body?

This is not fear mongering nor is it an anti-pharmaceutical rant. It is comprehensive research presented in lay person’s language. Vivian started on this quest when she was diagnosed was osteoporosis some years ago and given Fosamax by her doctor. Her science background-she has a degree in nutrition from New York University–and scientist’s curiosity drove her to research this so called disease and the “cures” being given liberally by many well-meaning docs.

What she found was shocking and she felt she had to write about it and help other women avoid the potentially life threatening–at the very least quality of life damaging–side effects of Big Pharma’s answer to this “problem.

“According to a recent article by Consumer Affairs (February 2007), Merck, the maker of Fosamax, has put aside $48 million to set up a defense fund for lawsuits related to the debilitating side-effects of Fosamax. Does Merck know something that the general public doesn’t?

Caveat: Vivian does not say that drugs like Fosamax, Actonel and Boniva do not harden bones. They do; it’s their ingredients, their side effects, and what we don’t know that encourages us to look for alternatives. And what we don’t yet know is whether the action of these bone building drugs will actually increase density but limit or prevent new bone formation which is more flexible and therefore less prone to fracture than old brittle bones.

If you have been diagnosed with either osteoporosis or osteopenia I encourage you to buy the book and try natural alternatives before a drug protacol. I can’t recommend this book enough.

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