Anti-foaming agent found in Chicken McNuggets

Ever wonder what's really found in Chicken McNuggets? Some of the ingredients, it turns out, seem to belong more to an industrial factory of some kind, not a food retailer. According to the McDonald's Corporation, its famous Chicken McNuggets are made with ingredients including autolyzed yeast extract (which contain free glutamate, similar to MSG), sodium phosphates and sodium aluminum phosphate. But that's not the freaky part. According to McDonald's own website, Chicken McNuggets are also made with "hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness" and "Dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent." (http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/nutr...)

At least two of these ingredients are artificially synthesized industrial chemicals. TBHQ, a petroleum derivative, is used as a stabilizer in perfumes, resins, varnishes and oil field chemicals. Laboratory studies have linked it to stomach tumors. "At higher doses, it has some negative health effects on lab animals, such as producing precursors to stomach tumors and damage to DNA. A number of studies have shown that prolonged exposure to high doses of TBHQ may be carcinogenic, especially for stomach tumors." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TBHQ)

Dimethylpolysiloxane, a type of silicone, is used in caulks and sealants, as a filler for breast implants, and as key ingredient in Silly Putty. Says Wikipedia:

"PDMS is also used as a component in silicone grease and other silicone based lubricants, as well as in defoaming agents, mold release agents, damping fluids, heat transfer fluids, polishes, cosmetics, hair conditioners and other applications. PDMS has also been used as a filler fluid in breast implants, although this practice has decreased somewhat, due to safety concerns. PDMS is used variously in the cosmetic and consumer product industry as well. For example, PDMS can be used in the treatment of head lice..." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimeth...)

Not that the other ingredients are any better. Because cotton is not regulated as a food crop, cottonseed oil may contain chemical pesticides that are banned in food production. It is also almost always genetically modified. Hydrogenated oils, of course, typically contain trans fats, the artificially produced fats that are unusable by the body and that studies have linked to a number of detrimental health problems. And autolyzed yeast extract is a chemical taste-enhancing ingredient containing free glutamate that manufacturers use as a friendlier-looking replacement for MSG.

And what about the chicken in Chicken McNuggets? It's factory-farmed chicken, not free-range chicken. So it's the kind of chicken that's typically treated with vaccines and hormones while being fed conventional feed products that are medicated with pharmaceuticals and grown with pesticides.

Yum!! Don't forget to ask for extra dipping sauce. We haven't even talked about what you'll find in there...

Vitamin K2-7 in The News!

For more info on Vitamin K2-7 check out 

MenaquinGold Vitamin K2-7

What's a Whole Food vs. a Processed Food?

 
There are only two categories of foods: whole foods and processed foods. A healthy balanced diet should be primarily whole foods with restricted consumption of processed foods. There are numerous ways to differentiate between these two.

Processed Foods

Generally speaking, processed foods are produced using manufacturing methods to transform raw ingredients into neatly packaged goods, which have a longer shelf life. Some of the artificial ingredients used include monosodium glutamate (MSG), flavors, preservatives, hydrogenated oil, fillers, and artificial sweeteners. Usually, consumers can prepare them quickly allowing immediate intake. Disappointingly, they don’t offer much in nutritional value. Most likely, it's processed food if it's wrapped in several layers of plastic, cardboard, and/or foil, and it didn't exist until after 1903 when the hydrogenation process was invented. In addition to being excessively advertised, this food category is well funded by government subsidies. These foodstuffs are located on the shelves of the inside middle aisles in grocery stores. Examples of processed foods include sodas, cereals, and crackers.

Whole Foods

On the other hand, whole foods are grown in orchards, gardens, or greenhouses, are unprocessed and unrefined, and have a shorter shelf life. These foods are authentically flavorful, have vibrant colors, and rich textures. Moreover, they are full of the micronutrient vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytochemicals, and fiber. Typically, they require longer preparation times. In contrast, they receive very little media advertising, and are not well funded with government subsidies. When you are in grocery stores, these foods are mainly found on the store’s wall aisles to the sides and back of the store. Additionally, this food category can be found at farmers markets, and at fresh fruit and vegetable stands. Examples of whole foods include unpolished grains, fruits, and vegetables.

Four Basic Nutrients

The four essential basic nutrients are water, carbohydrates, fat, and protein. These four are the foundation of a healthy diet. In any case, all food is composed of various combinations of nutrients. Carbohydrates supplying energy are found mostly in plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, peas, and beans. They are converted into glucose providing energy for the body’s cells, the brain, and red blood cells, or stored for future use in the liver, or in body fat. Sixty percent of daily calories should come from mainly complex carbohydrates to provide the minimum recommended daily requirement of fiber. Fats are the most concentrated source of body energy. Recently, too much negative attention has been focused upon fats. Fats are not an enemy and are needed throughout life to support growth and provide energy. Unfortunately, consuming excessive amounts of fat can contribute to many health problems. Proteins are the building blocks making up body tissues, muscles, skin, and organs. When consumed, protein is broken down into amino acids providing the body with energy for various vital functions. Examples of good sources include meat, fish, eggs, beans, nuts, and seeds. Regrettably, health problems arise when you consume too much or too little of any nutrients. Instead, endeavor to consume a variety of foods to ensure you get a mix of nutrients. In summary, for a healthy well balanced diet make it a habit to choose unrefined whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, peas, beans, and whole-grains, as opposed to refined processed foods such as soft drink sodas, candy, cookies, and cakes.

Fido's Food - Only The Best WIll Do

 We as humans get to choose how we eat and typically we like to eat good quality food. Fido, on the other hand I would say in most cases doesn't get fed the best food by the majority of dog owners for budget reasons or for other reasons like laziness.....but whats an extra few dollars if increases your dog's overall health 200%!  

Top notch dog food that is high in essential proteins and packed with good quality ingredients is mandatory for a healthy pup for a myriad of reasons including a healthy shiny coat, clean teeth, strong bones and general happiness!

So if your feeding your dog Alpo, Hills Prescription Diet, pretty much any Purina product or one of these on the 1-3 Star Rating list then your more or less taking years off the life of your own beloved pet...and you didnt even know it. 

Try one of the 4 or 5 star brands...I do Blue Buffalo Wilderness and my pup Jackson is incredibly healthy....surgically repaired front leg and all...not to mention his coat his so soft and shiny!  Think 2x about feeding your pup cheap mass produced dog food packed with byproducts and fillers. They deserve good food with great ingredients just like humans. Check out this site to see what your REALLY feeding your dog. You'll be amazed!

                                                  
  http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/dry/

Mother Nature or GMO - Its Your Choice

Mother Nature has given us the ability to grow a vast variety of food, by her design. We have been living this way for centuries. To see Mother Natures glory, all you need to do is plant a seed into the dirt, give it warmth, and water, then set back and watch. This process can be repeated again and again, bringing forth the pure nutrition that Mother Nature intended for people to partake in. Now, in Man’s self centered pride, we think that we can improve on this concept, and not have any consequences. Wrong!

What I’m talking about are GMO’s. (Genetically Modified Organisms) Scientists have been messing around with our food supply and not telling the public that they are now the laboratory rats in their experiments. Since the discovery of DNA, scientists have been trying to find new ways to use this new technology, and they have. They have figured out that they can manipulate our food supply. Of course this is all done under the label of being the,  “Cure for World Hunger”. They claim that GMO’s use less pesticides, increase yields, and disease resistance. As this real time experiment continues, these claims are being found to be false.

The first GMO to be placed on our dinner plate was called BT corn. BT stands for “Bacillus thuringiensis”, which is a bacterium, used as an insecticide. Today over 72% of Corn,     94% of Soybeans, and around 73% of Cotton that is planted in the US is Genetically Modified. There is major controversy over the use of these foods. In fact Researchers from the Sherbrooke Hospital Centre in Quebec, Canada, have found the BT toxin in the bloodstreams of 93 percent of the pregnant women tested.  How safe are these GMO’s if they are leaving pesticide residue in our bodies. You would think that the FDA would require food’s containing this to have warning labels. Instead, these foods are considered “Safe” by the FDA.

The claim of using fewer pesticides was found to be false! Pesticide use has increased by 400 million pounds since 1996, and the claim of increased yields is also in question. According to a recent United Nations report, eco-farming has boosted food production over any GM method. It’s bad when even the UN can't back up their claims. This just shows you that just because you can do something doesn’t always mean you should.

My conclusion to all of this. Grow your own food, buy at your local farmers market, or buy organic foods at the grocery store. Read labels, and try to avoid GMO’s whenever you can. It’s not easy, or cheap, but it surely is the way Mother Nature intended it to be!
 

Stop The Worst Offender of GMO's -  Monsanto -  Learn More Here

Learn More About Organic Gardening

Learn More About Organic Food & The Benefits of Buying Organic 

Helping Farmers Transition To Organic

Facing supply shortages of organic crops, the US organic industry has launched initiatives to encourage more farmers to transition their land to organic. Stonyfield Farms, a manufacturer of organic dairy products, and Organic Valley, an organic farmer-owned cooperative, have established a fund to help dairy farmers transition to organic. The two companies expect to spend about $2 million on incentives and technical help this year. Whole Foods recently announced a $10 million loan program to support organic farmers.

At organic cereal manufacturer Nature’s Path Foods, Dag Falck, organic program manager, works full time to encourage more farmers to transition to organic. He provides organic farmers with access to organic agronomic resources, and growing and harvesting techniques to ensure the highest quality organic crops. Educated as an agronomist in Norway, Dag has 17 years direct experience in organic farming and processing.

The Organic & Non-GMO Report recently spoke with Dag about the need for more organic farmers and the challenges facing those that make the transition.

What are some of the things you do to encourage farmers to transition to organic?
We assist farmers in finding agronomic resources. We get them in touch with organic groups and certifiers in their area. I serve on the boards of Canadian Organic Growers, Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada, and the Organic Trade Association, which all aim to assist farmers wanting to transition. I represent Nature’s Path at farmer conferences and give presentations about organic farming. I also attend farm field days organized by organic certification chapters and farming research stations and meet with farmers.

Are you seeing more farmers interested in transitioning to organic?
Yes, farmers call us and ask about getting into organics to increase premiums. Sometimes they don’t have much of an idea of what organic is.

Some farmers tell us they don’t use agricultural chemicals, and I try to help them transition. I tell them about organic certifiers in their area and help them understand what to look for when choosing one. I am also happy to conduct a mock inspection to help them prepare for what an organic certifier and inspector will look for.

What are some of the challenges facing farmers that transition to organic?
The biggest challenge farmers face is changing their thinking. Most current organic farmers switched to organic before there were financial incentives. They had environmental concerns. There are not as many farmers from that segment left. Most farmers transitioning to organic today do it for financial incentives, which is fine. But they have to adopt the organic philosophy and mindset. Otherwise it will be difficult for them to make it through the three-year transition to organic. Many farmers who transition based on economics alone don’t last two or three years because there is not enough motivation for them to last. But it’s often not until the fourth and fifth years when the real transition in the mind of the farmer happens.

 

Some experts recommend transitioning a farm to organic gradually instead of all at once to avoid economic risks. What do you think of this approach?
From a financial point of view it makes sense to ease into organics and not risk financial disaster. The problem is you can’t change your approach or mindset to organic if you’re still farming conventionally. You wouldn’t be open to organic solutions to pest control if you’re still spraying pesticides. You can’t think both ways.

Organic is an art form, while the whole process of conventional farming has been put into an oversimplified approach where decisions are often made by fertilizer salesmen and chemical company reps.

Organic is totally different. There are hundreds or thousands of ways to farm organically. You must learn, observe, and experiment to find the style of organic that works best for you.

Doesn’t organic farming also involve some marketing skills?
Marketing organic crops is very different than marketing conventional. Most conventional farmers just sell their grain at a grain elevator. Organic farmers have to find buyers.

There is a lot of organic product that is not selling because the connections haven’t been made. The farmer doesn’t find a buyer and dumps the grain as conventional.

A lot of farmers don’t like to market. One farmer may get on the phone and search the internet making connections, and another may sit at home and wait for the phone to ring. In organic, you have to develop networking skills.
I think organic marketing avenues will increase as the industry grows.

What do farmers need to do to successfully transition to organic?
They need to study the standards or talk to someone who understands them. They need to understand what organic is. They need to develop a transition plan and identify things in their farm that must change and plan how those changes will affect their farm.

To start, I recommend using more organic methods to build the health of the soil before switching to only organic management methods. If the land is dependent on chemical fertilizers and pesticides and you suddenly remove them, there will be withdrawal with low yields and weed pressure. You may need two years of preparation to get the soil into more organic condition before applying for organic certification, which will start your three-year transition. This will help smooth the transition and minimize financial losses due to low yields.

Network with other organic farmers and learn everything you can from them. It’s likely they’ve already learned all the things you’re facing.
A very good resource for farmers thinking about transitioning to organic is the book “Gaining Ground” published by Canadian OrganicGrowers. It’s available at http://www.cog.ca/gainingground.htm.

What are the benefits for farmers who make the transition to organic?
Some benefits farmers will start noticing on their land during the transition are that the soil becomes softer with less compaction, an increase of beneficial insects and bird populations, and weeds, although present, do not affect crop yields in the way you might expect. Also the farmers and their workers will be spared hours of exposure to toxic chemicals, which are confirmed causes of cancer and other human diseases.  Financially there will be less pressure from financing input costs, and the net income tends to be higher in relation to input cost than in conventional farming.

Support Your Local Organic Farmers & Find Your Local Farm Here

Top 12 Toxic Fruits and Vegetables

How would you like a dose of 67 pesticides with your celery? If you’re eating non-organic celery, that’s the number of pesticides you may very well be ingesting. According to the 2010 edition of Environmental Working Group’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides, the top 12 pesticide-contaminated fruits and vegetables contain 47 to 67 different pesticides per serving.  In 2011 Apples are starring in the number 1 spot with Celery coming in a close second. You can view the other contenders on this List from EWG

I love Environmental Working Group (EWG), the hard-hitting and diligent nonprofit focused on public health. EWG analyzes nearly 100,000 produce pesticide reports from the USDA and the FDA–they then determine what fruits and vegetables contain the highest, and lowest, amounts of chemical residue and present the information in a handy shopper’s guide. I love (love, love) this list, it is so practical and puts the ability to eat safely in everybody’s hands. It’s a brilliant workaround.

Shoppers can use the list in two ways. If you are unable to buy organic produce, avoid the “Dirty Dozen” and instead opt for the “Clean 15.” If you can buy limited organic, purchase organically-grown items from the Dirty Dozen, and continue buying non-organic selections from the Clean 15. Of course, in a perfect world we wouldn’t be contending with pesticides at all–but in this imperfect world at least we have some tools to help navigate around the n-methyl carbamates and organophosphate pesticides. 

(Did you know that some of the most commonly used pesticides today were originally derived from nerve gasses developed during World War II? Fun fact. Sigh.)

Anyway, by avoiding the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables, you can lower your pesticide consumption by nearly 80 percent. So, at least there’s that. Here’s where to start, number 1 being the most contaminated:

The Dirty Dozen
Try to buy these 12 fruits and vegetables grown organically. But also know that many small farms can’t sustain the paperwork and fees to be certified Organic, even though they practice organic methods. If you shop at a farmer’s market and want to buy products not listed as organic, ask the vendor anyway, there’s a good chance many of the products were grown without the use of pesticides.

1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Strawberries
4. Peaches
5. Spinach
6. Nectarines - Imported
7. Grapes - Imported
8. Sweet Bell Peppers
9. Potatoes
10. Blueberries - Imported

The Clean 15
Produce with a strong outer layer seems to have defense against pesticide contamination. Although buying only organic is the first choice, if you are unable to do so, EWG recommends these non-organic fruits and vegetables which contain little to no pesticides, number 1 being the cleanest:

1. Onions
2. Avocados
3. Sweet corn
4. Pineapples
5. Mango
6. Sweet peas
7. Asparagus
8. Kiwi fruit
9. Cabbage
10. Eggplant
11. Cantaloupe
12. Watermelon
13. Grapefruit
14. Sweet potatoes
15. Sweet onions

 

Although the government says that consuming pesticides in low amounts doesn’t harm you,  studies show an association between pesticides and health problems such as cancer, attention-deficit (hyperactivity) disorder and nervous system disorders and say exposure could weaken immune systems. Last month, the President’s Cancer Panel, generally not the most alarmist of bodies, stated that “our lackadaisical approach to regulation may have far-reaching consequences for our health” and recommended giving preference to food grown without pesticides, chemical fertilizers and growth hormones.

After all, as previously mentioned, many of these chemicals are derived from chemical warfare agents repurposed to kill insects, how healthy can that be for us?
The herbicide Agent Orange (developed by Monsanto, maker of the most widely-used herbicide, Roundup) was used in the Vietnam War in the herbicidal warfare program–a form of chemical warfare meant to destroy the plant-based ecosystem, agricultural food production, and plant cover. Many Vietnamese  people were exposed to Agent Orange, resulting in approximately 400,000 deaths and disabilities, and 500,000 children were born with birth defects. Why would chemical concoctions designed to kill plants and insects not be harmful to humans?

One other note: The pesticide tests used for gathering this information were conducted after the food had been power-washed by the USDA. Although some pesticides are found on the surface of foods, other pesticides may be taken up through the roots and into the plant and cannot be removed. Which is to say, washing is not an effective fix. 

Wash your fruits & vegi's but we suggest that if you want to remove all doubt buy purely Organic Products!

Watch This Video This Video From Sanjay Gupta On Pesticides

The Myth - The Legend - Its Greek Yogurt

Yogurt is a historically revered food that I recommend to virtually all of my family and friends. The primary reason is that the scientific literature consistently reveals varied health benefits associated with the use of this cultured, probiotic-rich product. 

In the past several months alone, peer-reviewed studies report that the regular use of yogurt reduces: 

a) the levels of harmful bacteria that promote dental decay and periodontal disease in the mouths of children;  

b) the risk of premature birth in women with bacterial vaginosis and preeclampsia (high blood pressure) in first time mothers; 

c) the likelihood of diarrhea and other gastrointestinal complaints relating to antibiotic use; d) the incidence of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome according to intervention trials and large population studies.

It’s also important to note that yogurt is now a viable option regardless of which diet you choose to follow. There are fat free, low fat and whole milk options available. Those with cow’s milk allergies or sensitivities can opt for goat’s or sheep’s milk yogurt. Even vegans can enjoy coconut or soy milk based yogurts that are now commonly available in many health food stores. My personal favorite is organic, unsweetened Greek yogurt, which is naturally higher in protein and lower in carbohydrates. 

To this creamy treat, I add a few dried cranberries or dates or no-sugar added fruit preserves and a handful of raw pecans or walnuts. Not only is does this make for a delicious and satisfying breakfast or snack, but I’m also aware that it’s supporting my good health from my mouth on down.

To learn more about the studies referenced in this blog please click on the following links:

Study 1 – The Effects of Short-Term Consumption of Commercial Yogurt On … (link)

Study 2 - Comparative Efficacy of Probiotic Yoghurt and Clindamycin … (link)

Study 3 - Intake of Probiotic Food and Risk of Preeclampsia in Primiparous … (link)

Study 4 - Probiotic Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria in a Fermented Milk Product … (link)

Study 5 - Dairy Consumption and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis … (link)

Study 6 - Effect of Probiotic Yogurt Containing Lactobacillus Acidophilus and … (link)

Study 7 - Effect of Functional Yogurt NY-YP901 in Improving the Trait of Metabolic (link)

Beneficial Functions Performed By Probiotics

Source: Biologics. 2011;5:71-86. Epub 2011 Jul 11. (link)

Mind and body — Feel it in your bones

EXERCISE REGULARLY To strengthen your bones.

Among the many conditions that can bog people down as they age, bone-related issues such as osteoporosis are perhaps very common. Thankfully, food, exercise and medication can together work like magic

Occasionally, in life, there's a boohoo moment that makes you wish you were young again! Take osteoporosis, for instance, which makes you feel your age in your very bones.

But, if you know how, there is always a funny bone to tickle that will bring on the laughs once more; and there is always a good diet, exercise and medical plan that will give you a new lease of life, as these true stories go to show. 

Journalist Priya Reddy, 49, has a success story to share: “I was slightly underweight, smoked regularly and never exercised. I visited a doctor when my hip and back started to hurt. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis and recommended regular exercise, calcium supplements and regular meals every three hours. He also suggested that I give up smoking. I followed his advice. Today, I walk five days a week, perform weight training exercises twice a week with my trainer, and carry healthy snacks in my bag to be consumed at regular intervals. I have gained two pounds, and my lower back pain has almost disappeared. I feel fantastic.” How's that for a bright side? 

Avni Kalra, 55, and a chartered accountant, spends most of her days sitting in office. “My back ached when I worked on the computer,” she explains. “On undergoing tests, I discovered I had osteopenia and needed to strengthen my bones. On the advice of my doctor, I started exercising regularly and take calcium and vitamin D supplements. It's such a relief now that my back feels better.” 

To put it simply, osteoporosis makes your bones porous with age, less dense and more susceptible to curvature and fracture. In extreme cases you begin to feel like a porcelain doll, fragile and given to breaking up easily. It is part of the ageing process, sure, but there is nothing inevitable about it. It can strike both the sexes, but more women than men are likely to suffer from it: firstly, because many have smaller, thinner frames than men; secondly, because lower estrogen levels in the postmenopausal phase hampers bone production and hastens loss of bone mass. 

Statistics reveal that one in three women and one in 12 men over the age of 50 are susceptible to osteoporosis. Often referred to as the silent ailment, osteoporosis may have no initial symptoms; it may take an unexpected bone fracture for you to realise that your skeletal frame isn't quite as strong as it used to be. A reduction in height; back and neck pain may be some other indicators. 

The best way to determine whether or not you are suffering from it is to get a diagnosis based on medical history, physical examination, skeletal X-rays and bone densitometry. A more progressive stage indicates the onset of osteoporosis. 

The Risks

Family history of osteoporosis

Being too thin

Smoking

Being physically inactive

Menopause

A calcium-deficient diet

Certain medications, medical conditions, eating disorders

Vitamin D deficiency 

Five ways to fight osteoporosis

 

Count on Calcium ,  Vitamin K2-7 & Vitamin D

The human skeleton holds 99 per cent of the body's calcium, making this chalky mineral the key to bone health. The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for ages between 10 and 30 years is 1,200 mg per day. For those younger than 10 and older than 30, the RDA is 800 mg per day. Postmenopausal women not on estrogen supplementation need 1,200 to 1,500 mg per day. Most women are known to consume less than half this amount. Low-fat dairy products such as milk, cheese and yoghurt are a great source, but you can also derive it from other foods such as green, leafy vegetables, calcium-fortified juices, beans, broccoli and sardines. In addition, your physician may recommend a calcium supplement. In particular, supplementation with menaquinone-7 (MK7), a long chain vitamin K2 molecule, has been shown to protect against osteoporosis and reduce the risk of bone fractures. Furthermore, when combined with vitamin D, the MK7 form of vitamin K2 has actually been shown to promote bone growth. It does this by increasing the production of osteocalcin in osteoblasts, which allows calcium to anchor to bone and thus build bone.

Exercise

Exercise, in particular weight bearing exercises and resistance training, can improve calcium content in your bones. The former involves movements that make your feet and legs bear your body's weight. Examples include walking, jogging, stair climbing, dancing and playing tennis, soccer or golf. Resistance training involves using resistance to strengthen your bones and muscles. In this case, you make use of machines and free weights or simply work with your body weight. 

Avoid fad diets

Poor nutrition caused by crash dieting lowers bone mineral density. If you want to lose weight, eat right and exercise hard. For once, not being skinny (or being slightly overweight) may protect you from osteoporosis. 

Go easy on the salt

Excess sodium causes your body to flush it out, along with other important nutrients, including calcium. 

Give up smoking 

For obvious reason!

Limit drinking 

Not just alcohol, but also tea, coffee and soft drinks. They up your risk of osteoporosis by preventing your body from absorbing calcium better

Keywords: osteoporosis, bone diseases

Vitamin K2 (Menaquinone-7) Can Prevent Osteoporosis - Everything You Need To Know

New studies are shedding light on the complex metabolic functions involved in bone health. Years ago, scientists confirmed that calcium and vitamin D were critical to the formation of healthy bone. Later, other important minerals like phosphorus and magnesium were found to contribute to bone building in the body. 

Now, science has added new knowledge to the bone health puzzle and the picture appears complete. Recently released data on a special form of vitamin K, called menaquinone-7 (MK7), shows it has uniquely effective and quite astounding benefits on bone metabolism and bone growth.

But before we detail this exciting discovery, let’s look at how we got to become a nation facing an epidemic of osteoporosis.

The typical American diet promotes osteoporosis

Americans are notorious for consuming large amounts of processed foods, soft drinks, coffee and foods that are high in sodium and sugar. These foods promote osteoporosis by stripping the bones of the calcium they need to stay strong.

Here are some interesting food facts included in Susan Brown’s book Better Bones, Better Body that will hopefully make you think twice the next time you reach for a six-pack of soda pop, bag of cookies or cup of coffee:

• In the past 100 years, our sugar intake has increased over 1,000 times! Evidence shows that high sugar intake contributes to a wide range of degenerative diseases, including diabetes, arthritis, tooth decay, heart disease, and osteoporosis¹²
• When sugar is combined with caffeine, as in coffee or soft drinks, even more calcium is excreted³
• Sugar consumption stimulates the stomach's production of hydrochloric acid—This adds to the overall acidic imbalance of the body, which is a contributing factor to bone loss⁴
• High salt intake causes the body to excrete calcium in the urine, thus contributing to osteoporosis in both the young and old⁵⁶⁷
• An Australian study found that hip bone loss could be halted in women 10 years or more past menopause, by either lowering urine sodium excretion to 2,110 mg a day or by increasing calcium intake to 1,768 mg per day⁸
• Caffeine consumption has been found to lower blood calcium and increase parathyroid hormone, both of which signals the body to draw calcium from the bones⁹—In fact women who drink four cups of coffee a day triple the risk of hip fracture, compared to women who rarely drink coffee¹⁰¹¹

Osteoporosis kills women and men

As you can see, dietary habits contribute greatly to the osteoporosis epidemic currently sweeping America. And while it is a well known fact that one out of two women older than age 50 suffers an osteoporosis-related fracture during her lifetime, what’s not as well known is that osteoporosis affects about two million men, and another three million men are at risk.

It is estimated that one in eight men over age 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in his lifetime. In fact, each year men suffer one third of all the hip fractures that occur, and one third of these men will not survive more than a year. In addition to hip fractures, men also experience painful and debilitating fractures of the spine, wrist, and other bones due to osteoporosis. And older men suffer many more rib fractures than elderly women.¹²

The good news is that osteoporosis is preventable … and even after bone mass density is lost, the condition can be reversed through exercise and by adding certain minerals and nutrients. Cultivating good eating and exercise habits, and supplementing your diet with a bone-supporting dietary supplement can make all the difference.

What causes osteoporosis?

In the human body, there is a constant process of breaking down and remaking of bones. Cross-cultural studies show that, throughout the world, most people lose bone mass as they age.¹³ After age 40 to 50, men lose 20 to 30 percent of their total bone mass, and women lose as much as 40 to 50 percent.¹⁴ Generally, though, the remaining bone is healthy and able to repair itself. This is considered normal aging. When the rate of bone breakdown exceeds that of bone being manufactured, it can result in osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis means “porous bones,” and is used to describe any disease that reduces bone mass, and results in fragile, thin bones, loss of height, lower back, wrist and spine fractures, or dowager’s hump (forward bending of the spine in the upper back). We may notice that our grandparents and our parents are not as tall as they used to be, and eventually we may lose an inch or two ourselves. This is abnormal aging, and according to Susan Brown (Better Bones, Better Body) the major culprit of bone loss mass stems from a lifetime of poor dietary and exercise habits.

Your bones provide structural support for muscles, protect vital organs, and store the calcium essential for bone density and strength. Give them the nutrients they need to serve you throughout your life. 

Why is supplementation important?

Many of us—young and old—suffer from calcium deficiency in our diets. This may show up as arm and leg muscle spasms, back and leg cramps, poor growth, osteoporosis, tooth decay, or depression. Calcium deficiency is most prevalent in women who have had children and have never supplemented their own diets with calcium. Experts believe that 33 percent of all women will develop osteoporosis severe enough to cause a broken bone.

Most nutrition experts agree that food is our best source of vitamins and minerals. But, because of our hectic lifestyles, it’s almost impossible to rely on food for all the nutrition our bodies need to stay healthy and strong. Research has shown that, due to a steady decline in the nutritional quality of our food, even an adequate diet might not enable us to maintain the vitamin and mineral balance required to avoid related health problems.

What should you take?

Doctors recommend getting 1,000 to 1,200 mg of calcium in your diet daily. Most Americans don’t even come close. Unless you’re eating plenty of calcium-rich foods and vegetables, chances are you’re not getting this amount from your diet, and are inadvertently suffering from a calcium deficiency.

What’s the best form of calcium?

Recently, calcium from chicken eggshell was shown to be superior for building bone mass when compared to calcium carbonate. Eggshell calcium is low in heavy metals like lead, cadmium, mercury and aluminum. It is also a good source of strontium, a rare mineral, which, along with calcium, plays a vital role in bone health.

Several Dutch studies have shown that chicken eggshell powder has a beneficial effect on bone density in people with osteoporosis and osteopenia (bone thinning). A study published in March, 2002 indicates that healthy late post-menopausal women, who had been getting adequate calcium to begin with, increased their bone mass density of the hip within 12 months of supplementation with a chicken eggshell powder-enriched calcium supplement.

The group of women who received a placebo lost bone mass density.¹⁵

An earlier 1999 pilot study indicated that a chicken eggshell-powder enriched dairy-based supplement increased the bone mass density in participants who had osteoporosis or osteopenia. Over a period of four months, the group took a supplement containing eggshell powder, vitamin D, and magnesium. Within the four to eight month period, all participants experienced a significant increase in bone mass in the lumbar spine, femur and trochanter (lower leg), and within a period of four months, the participants reported a reduction in pain and a general improvement in how they felt. The women in the control group, however, experienced a significant decrease in bone mass density over the same eight-month period. The study concluded that the supplement helped build up bone mass in the short term, and as a consequence delays bone demineralization over a longer period.¹⁶

But calcium alone isn’t enough—You need to combine it with other proven nutrients to help your body absorb and assimilate the calcium

Supplement your diet with nutrients to make sure you’re getting the daily-required minimum of calcium in order to slow down bone loss. And start early. Whether you’re in your teens or 70s, man or woman, now is the time to increase your calcium intake and aid your body in building and maintaining healthy bone mass. 

The key is to take a superior form of calcium with added minerals and vitamins

For calcium to actually strengthen bone it must be consumed along with several other nutrients. Phosphorus is particularly important, and magnesium, boron, and vitamins D and K are also needed for bone metabolism. Also, daidzein, a compound found in soy and other legumes, has been shown to stimulate bone formation and mineralization.

• Vitamin D plays a pivotal role in bone building, allowing the body to absorb calcium, and for maintaining the proper balance of calcium and phosphorus. You could take calcium all day long, and if you are not getting the proper amount of vitamin D with your calcium, you will not be able to absorb it properly. Vitamin D can be formed in the skin when it is exposed to sunlight. It is also added to milk. However, many people do not produce enough vitamin D or get enough from food. Vitamin D deficiency can be a problem for older people and those who are homebound or bed-ridden.

• Vitamin K has recently been identified as an important nutrient in bone health. According to Sarah Booth, at the Vitamin K Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston,vitamin K activates at least three proteins involved in bone health. Several studies have indicated that low vitamin K levels are associated with risk for osteoporosis and bone fractures, and that supplementation with vitamin K increases bone mass and mineralization of the bone matrix.¹⁷¹⁸¹⁹
  
  In particular, supplementation with menaquinone-7 (MK7), a long chain vitamin K2 molecule, has been shown to protect against osteoporosis and reduce the risk of bone fractures. Furthermore, when combined with vitamin D, the MK7 form of vitamin K2 has actually been shown to promote bone growth. It does this by increasing the production of osteocalcin in osteoblasts, which allows calcium to anchor to bone and thus build bone. It also inhibits the production of osteoclasts, which break down bone.²⁰ 
• Boron is important in preventing calcium loss, as it improves calcium absorption and reduces the amount of calcium excreted in the urine.

• Phosphorus is the second most prevalent mineral in bones and makes up more than half the mass of bone mineral. Thus, the diet needs to have sufficient phosphorus in order to have healthy bones. Inadequate levels of phosphorus in the diet may be more widespread than previously thought, especially in the elderly and in people who eat little meat.
  
  Researchers recently completed a detailed study on the co-dependence of calcium and phosphorus on growth and bone development, which they presented at the National Osteoporosis Foundation Fifth International Symposium. The presentation detailed how bone disease can develop when calcium and phosphorus are not balanced and within good levels. When phosphorus is too high, the body takes calcium out of the bones to bind with the phosphorus and remove it from the blood. Bones become brittle as a result.
  
  The balance of calcium and phosphorus can especially impact women over 60, whose diets often contain less than the recommended dietary allowance of 1,000 mg of phosphorus. According to one of the researchers, Dr. Heaney, a scientist at Creighton University’s Osteoporosis Research Center, “For these women, the usual calcium supplement, calcium carbonate, may block most of the absorption of phosphorus. If this happens, the calcium won’t do much good because bone mineral consists of both calcium and phosphorus.”
  
  Another presenter, Dr. Shapiro of Product Safety Laboratories in Dayton, New Hampshire said, “Both calcium and phosphorus are needed to support an increase in bone mass. If the diet is low in phosphorus, calcium supplementation alone will be inadequate, and may aggravate a phosphorus deficiency. A phosphorus-containing calcium source would seem to be preferable to one providing calcium alone.”²¹
  
  So not only is it important that a bone-building supplement contain eggshell calcium that enhances calcium absorption, but it should also contain phosphorus.

• Magnesium is essential for proper calcium absorption and is an important mineral in the bone matrix. It has specific effects on the parathyroid hormone, which helps regulate proper calcium metabolism.

• Daidzein is an isoflavonoid found in soy. Soy has become very popular for promoting women’s health due to its phytoestrogenic activity. Soy contains two phytoestrogen compounds, daidzein and genestein. Genestein has become a very popular supplement and has been promoted for the benefits of soy in a concentrated capsule. However, genestein has recently raised concerns over its potential negative effects on immune function, brain function, and DNA repair. Daidzein doesn’t share these negative effects, and is more effective than genestein at maintaining bone health.

How do hormones affect bone health?

Hormones play an important role in maintaining bone mass. Once women reach menopause and hormone levels decline, bone loss escalates. Rapid bone loss continues for about five years during menopause, and can reach three to four percent of total bone mass. This surge of bone loss eventually tapers off after a few years, and is about equal to the amount of bone loss in men of the same age. But the loss of bone minerals continues throughout the rest of a person’s life—which is one of the reasons there is a lot of excitement about research into daidzein’s ability to help stimulate bone formation and mineralization in the same way that hormones do.

Animal experiments as well as bone-tissue and bone-cell-culture investigations have demonstrated daidzein’s effect on bone metabolism. Also, daidzein has been shown to enhance bone formation, and help prevent and treat osteoporosis in elderly women.

Progesterone promotes bone health

There’s been a lot of discussion about the controversy of hormone replacement therapy. Yet, natural progesterone has been proven time and time again to be safe and effective for promoting bone health and balancing problems associated with estrogen dominance.

Osteoblasts, the bone-building cells, contain progesterone receptors and this hormone appears to directly encourage bone building. Also, during the reproductive years, progesterone works with estrogen to conserve calcium within the body and limit the withdrawal of calcium from the bones.²⁶

In 1991, when Dr. Jerilynn Prior of British Colombia was studying young women athletes, she inadvertently discovered that many of these seemingly normal and healthy athletes had abnormal menstrual periods and were not ovulating. Why? Because they all suffered from a progesterone deficiency. The hormone deficiency was also linked to excessive bone loss. Progesterone supplementation alleviated the menstrual irregularities and corrected the excessive bone loss.²⁷

For more than 20 years, the late Dr. John Lee had successfully used natural progesterone supplements for reversing excessive bone loss and preventing new fractures in women with osteoporosis. Interestingly, Dr. Lee said that natural progesterone builds bone with or without estrogen therapy. In cases of severe osteoporosis, Dr Lee found that natural progesterone could increase bone density within six months. Many of the women in his study added natural progesterone to their estrogen therapy, but others dropped the estrogen and utilized only natural progesterone. His research clearly shows that natural progesterone replacement leads to new bone formation, actively increasing bone mass and density.²⁸

And don’t forget weight-bearing exercise

Weight-bearing activity—along with supplementation—is the last piece of the puzzle when it comes to bone health. First, weight-bearing exercise helps to stimulate bone formation. Second, it strengthens the surrounding muscles that in turn pull or tug on bones. This action keeps bones strong. And third, physical activity improves your strength, balance, and coordination—all of which help reduce your risk of falls and bone injuries.

The benefits of weight-bearing exercise on bone health are site-specific. This means that you strengthen only the bones used directly in the exercise. Therefore, it’s a good idea to participate in a variety of weight-bearing exercises. To maintain the bone-building benefits, exercise should be continued on a regular basis.

What about exercise when I’m older?

Weight-bearing activities at any age benefit bone health. Physical activity strengthens bones in children, teens, men and women, and even adults 90 years of age and older.

So play it safe. Think of your bones as a savings account. There is only as much bone mass in your account as you deposit, so you want to build as much bone in your early years as possible.

And start now! Whether you’re in your teens or 70s, man or woman, now is the time to increase your calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K2 intake and aid your body in building and maintaining healthy bone mass.

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