The key to understanding bone health is understanding the minerals contained in your bones. The main mineral in bones is calcium, but bones cannot be supported by calcium alone. Throw a piece of chalk (the main ingredient of chalk is calcium carbonate) on the ground and it will shatter easily. Therefore, no one wants to turn all their bones into calcium.
Calcium supplements are the most common strategy for maintaining strong bones, but Americans are more likely to be deficient in magnesium, a mineral that provides strength and elasticity to bone tissue. Without magnesium, it is difficult for bones to absorb calcium, so calcium is either excreted through the kidneys or accumulates in the blood and soft tissues. Excess calcium can lead to symptoms such as bone spurs, kidney stones, constipation, and joint pain. It also increases the risk of heart attack and stroke, and can even lead to weaker bones.
However, many foods are fortified with calcium, especially for women. Meanwhile, dietary magnesium is at an all-time low. Some doctors and other health professionals are increasingly prescribing magnesium supplements to counteract excess calcium.
Western medicine to increase bone density
Stable bones require proper mineral balance, and anything that disrupts this balance can compromise bone health.
Mineral deficiencies due to malnutrition, or excess of a single mineral due to oversupply, are the most direct ways to disrupt this balance, but hormonal changes can also alter the ability of bones to process minerals efficiently. For women over the age of 50, a condition called osteoporosis can occur.
As osteoporosis develops, bones become porous and fragile, increasing the risk of fractures and breaks. The modern solution to this problem is a class of drugs called bisphosphonates, which are sold under the brand names alendronate (alias Fosamax), risedronate (Actonel), and ibandronate (Boniva) .
This class of bisphosphonates appeared in the 1990s, when doctors began to buy machines to scan people for bone loss and Medicare began to cover the cost of bone scans.
Bone scans provide doctors with a valuable tool for early detection of bone loss, but critics say the system is primarily designed to boost drug sales. Bone scan thresholds are set to encourage some women to take bisphosphonates even with a slight decrease in bone density (osteopenia).
Bisphosphonates are effective in increasing the ability of bones to process minerals, and while this treatment strategy has shown some improvement in mineral density and may slow the progression of osteoporosis, it is essential for maintaining a stronger, healthier body. Capability is debatable. Common side effects include hematuria, painful urination, esophageal irritation, lower or flank pain, flu-like symptoms, and anxiety.
In 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a review of long-term trials of bisphosphonates in the New England Journal of Medicine. They found that the drugs could lead to “rare but serious adverse events” such as femur fractures, esophageal cancer and jaw death. The longer you take these drugs, the greater the risk.
5 kinds of herbal teas to replenish minerals and prevent osteoporosis
People with severe osteoporosis may need drug intervention or calcium supplements to relieve symptoms, but most of us should consider food as our main “drug” for strengthening bones. Nutrient-rich bone or mushroom broth, green vegetables, beans, and root vegetables are some of the safest and most effective sources of the minerals we need for healthy bones.
As you do this, you need to cut back on sodium, sugar, caffeine, soda, and alcohol, which have been shown to damage bone health.
Dairy is known to be the top bone-strengthening food, but much of this effect comes from strong marketing claims rather than hard science. There is little evidence that dairy products prevent bone loss better than other sources of calcium.
For those looking to drink to boost healthy bone minerals, consider the following herbal teas.
1. Nettle Tea
Nettle leaf has been used for thousands of years in treating arthritis and physical weakness. It is a good source of calcium and magnesium, as well as silicon dioxide and boron, which are important for bone health. Nettle leaf is rich in vitamins C and D, which promote calcium absorption, and it also contains vitamin K, which makes bones stronger.
2. Alfalfa Tea
The roots of alfalfa can go 20 to 30 feet underground, and the leaves are an excellent source of bone-friendly minerals: calcium, magnesium, boron, silica, and zinc. At the same time, alfalfa leaves are also a good source of vitamins D and K, as well as phytoestrogens, which help ease the fluctuations in hormones that cause bone problems.
When choosing alfalfa, consider its source. For example, some alfalfa grown in the United States is genetically modified.
3. Red Clover Tea
Like alfalfa, red clover is also a good source of minerals and phytoestrogens, which is especially useful for women concerned about bone loss. In a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers found that women who took red clover isoflavones experienced significantly slower bone loss in their spines than women who took a placebo.
4. OatmealstrawTea
Oat straw is rich in minerals and is often found in herbal formulas for treating broken bones. It can also be used to relieve anxiety and improve fertility.
5. Horsetail Tea
Horsetail is the richest plant source of silica, a mineral necessary for strong nails, hair and bones that is often lacking in modern diets. Horsetail has long been used to solve bone problems as well as enhance physical strength. An Italian study found that women with osteoporosis had improved bone density after taking horsetail extract for a year.
Since horsetail grass contains a considerable amount of nicotine, it is not recommended for children or pregnant women. Other sources of silica include almonds, flax and sunflower seeds, whole grains, bananas and asparagus.
The efficacy of medicinal tea
Herbs are available in tinctures and tablets, but drinking a strong, hot tea is the best way to replenish bone-friendly minerals. Nettle leaves can often be found in tea bags, but other herbs may just be loose plant material. For its rich nutritional profile, consider combining some or all of the herbs. Add a teaspoon of dried herbs to half a cup of boiling water, simmer over low heat for at least 20 minutes, then strain through a strainer to remove the plant material and the remaining liquid is ready to drink.
This article was originally published in the English “Epoch Times”. For the English report, please refer to5 Herbs for Bone Health。
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