5 Natural Remedies for Osteoporosis That May Help
As we age, it’s more important than ever that we consult a medical professional to monitor the overall health and well being of our bodies. Often referred to as the “silent disease” because you cannot feel your bones weakening, osteoporosis is a bone disease that occurs when the body produces too little bone, too much bone, or even a combination of both.
The results of osteoporosis weaken bones, making them more prone to breaking should you have an accident. More serious cases can even go so far as to make bone breakage possible from sneezing too hard or experiencing a tiny bump.
While there is no cure for osteoporosis at this time, there may be ways you can help protect and strengthen your bones. Today we’re taking a look at five natural remedies for osteoporosis that may improve your bone health, keeping you strong and allowing you to enjoy your life to the fullest!
Finding Natural Remedies for Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis affects an average of one in two women and one in four men with an estimated 54 million adults living with osteoporosis in the United States alone. Even though there’s no current way to cure osteoporosis, there are a number of natural remedies for osteoporosis that may help. Before trying any natural treatment for osteoporosis, however, consult your doctor to be sure it’s safe to do so as cases vary.
Natural treatment for osteoporosis is about finding ways to protect and strengthen your bones to offset bone loss or fragility. A few potentially effective remedies include:
- Trying a vitamin D supplement
- Managing stress levels
- Exercising regularly
- Adopting an osteoporosis diet plan
- Using a zero gravity chair to alleviate pressure along your body
Adding a Vitamin D Dose For Osteoporosis
First up on our list of natural remedies for osteoporosis that may help protect your bones and keep them strong is taking a vitamin D supplement. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, which is important for strong bones. Having a calcium deficiency is a major contributor towards heightened risk of osteoporosis, making vitamin D immensely beneficial.
More than just possibly helping osteoporosis symptoms, however, fixing a calcium deficiency with vitamin D may also help with painful swollen joints, improve digestion, and even help symptoms of depression.
When you think of vitamin D you likely think of sunlight. Hanging outside or soaking up sunlight while relaxing in your sunroom may not be enough during winter months or in areas with more cloudy days. A vitamin D supplement may be just the thing you need as a first foray into natural remedies or osteoporosis.
Pro tip: Liquid vitamin D supplements absorb more efficiently in your body than other forms.
Avoiding Stress Induced Osteoporosis
As with many health ailments, stress is a contributing risk factor for osteoporosis, as well. When the body is stressed, it reduces digestive ability, which leads to low stomach acid. Lower levels of stomach acid reduces the body’s ability to absorb calcium from the foods we eat, and may be a contributing factor for increased risk of osteoporosis.
In addition to digestive issues, the psychological effects of stress have been shown to be potentially linked with increased risk of osteoporosis as stress negatively impacts the central nervous system (specifically the hypothalamus), which regulates bone metabolism.
To help manage stress levels, you could learn to meditate at home, write in a journal to get your thoughts out, or start a relaxing night time routine to help you unwind before bed.
How Zero Gravity Chairs Work as Natural Remedies for Osteoporosis
Part of finding natural remedies for osteoporosis includes determining safe ways to sit, sleep, and relax. When choosing between a zero gravity chair or recliner, you’ll find zero gravity chairs may help treat osteoporosis symptoms at home by enhancing how the body heals itself, increasing poor blood circulation, and reducing pressure on the lower back.
In a traditional recliner, pressure is focused on the lower back and pelvic region. In the zero gravity position, the legs are elevated above the heart level and weight is distributed along the body. This distribution of weight takes pressure off the lower back and pelvic areas, which may help reduce the risk of injury or pain from sitting too long in those with osteoporosis.
Relaxing in zero gravity recliners are also great for managing stress levels with zero gravity meditation, improving sleep quality, and may even help with digestion.
Exercises for Osteoporosis
Next on our list of natural remedies for osteoporosis is exercising. While it’s important to consult a doctor before starting any natural treatment for osteoporosis, it’s especially critical before beginning any exercise routine as it may be unsafe for some cases.
Exercising can help keep bones strong, potentially help lower the risk of developing osteoporosis, or possibly help treat it at earlier stages. Experts also agree that exercise can help improve balance, lower your risk of bone fracture, improve posture, and potentially work as a pain reliever.
When it comes to choosing full body workout exercises to use as natural remedies for osteoporosis, there are several areas for particular focus. You may want to focus on strength training exercises, ways to increase mobility and flexibility, or low impact activities like tai chi.
Sticking to Osteoporosis Diet Plans
When it comes to our bodily health, it’s important that we be discerning in what we eat. As a natural treatment for osteoporosis, you may want to look into adopting a healthy diet with anti-inflammatory foods. You’ll also want to avoid foods with phosphorus as it can contribute to bone loss.
High-phosphorus foods include red meat, soft drinks, as well as many foods with additives. In addition to watching out for these foods, your osteoporosis diet plans should also limit or eliminate alcohol and caffeine. These both reduce your body’s ability to absorb calcium at rates you need to maintain healthy bones.
Trying out natural remedies for osteoporosis may help you prevent its onset or treat symptoms of this health condition. Consulting a doctor before beginning any natural treatment for osteoporosis is crucial as there may be some activities that are unsafe depending on the case. If you’ve been given the clear from your doctor, see if changing your diet, increasing your vitamin D intake, managing stress levels, or choosing a zero gravity chair for safe relaxation is right for you. While there is no cure, learning to manage osteoporosis may help you keep living your life to the fullest.
Want to learn more about the health benefits of zero gravity chairs? Check out these resources to see how the benefits of zero gravity chairs for all ages:
