I received this this morning, from Dr. Fuhrman and it reminded me of a pattern I see over an over again in the world of health; it's when the solution sold is a cause of the very problem it's supposed to solve. In this case, we are talking about taking Biphosphonates (drugs) to treat osteoporosis.
See below:
Osteoporosis Drugs May Be Risky For Bones
The cost of osteoporosis in the U.S. is estimated at $22 billion per year.1 Bisphosphonates (such as Fosamax, Boniva, Actonel, and Reclast) are commonly prescribed by physicians to treat osteoporosis or to prevent osteoporosis in individuals with osteopenia. Unfortunately, bisphosphonates may actually increase one’s risk of mid-femur fractures (the femur is your upper leg bone).
Bone tissue undergoes a continuous cycle of breaking down old bone and rebuilding new stronger bone. Bisphosphonates increase bone mineral density in the short term by reducing bone breakdown, essentially reducing bone loss. However, this is not the same as building natural, healthy bone with exercise. When old bone is not broken down to create new bone, the old bone becomes brittle and fractures easily.
• In individuals with osteopenia, bisphosphonates increased the risk of hip fracture by 85% and wrist fractures by 50%.2
• Long term (4-8 years) users of bisphosphonates have significantly higher risks of atypical hip and leg fractures.3 Most of these fractures are not the result of falls. They occur under minimal stress, often merely walking down stairs or low-energy exercise.4
• An 8-year study of over 88,000 people found that taking bisphosphonates tripled the risk of developing bone necrosis – this means that bisphosphonates caused permanent loss of blood supply to bone, resulting in tissue death.5
Bisphosphonates have been linked with many other side effects, including esophagitis, esophageal cancer, osteonecrosis of the jaw, and atrial fibrillation. They can also negatively affect the musculoskeletal system, gastrointestinal tract, and kidney function.6
Prevention and treatment of osteoporosis does not need to involve potentially dangerous drugs. Instead, osteoporosis should be prevented and treated through physical exercise and proper nutrition, which have been shown to be more effective than drugs and have no negative side effects.7
This same pattern is seen in the world of eating acid forming dairy products to increase calcium intake, when the reality is that an acid forming food can create a negative calcium balance; in other words, actually cause the body to leach calcium from your bones to buffer the acid environment, even though dairy foods have calcium in them.
How about drinking coffee for increased energy; that 's another food stuff sold that is a very cause of the problem of low energy, since all stimulants ultimately exhaust you.
There are many more examples but these three are definitely in the top 5.
Be very careful about what you buy into in terms of "solutions", as many drugs, weight loss programs, energy enhancers, even exercise programs that are not firmly rooted in lifestyle behaviors are not really solutions at all, they are what we call "impotent solutions" that sell you short (literally) because the focus is on such short term results that the so called "solution" never really solves the actual problem and may in fact get you caught up in a pattern that causes the very problem you are trying to solve.
Nutrient Rich eating is a lifestyle solution, with immediate and long term benefits. It is both a quick fix and a long term solution, not one or the other, as any long term solution will also have immediate benefits.
Kale for instance is one of the most nutrient rich foods on the planet, it's tied with mustard green and collars in the top 3 most nutrient rich foods of all. It's got loads of calcium in it and causes a positive calcium balance in the body, not to mention that it comes packed with all kinds of other nutrients and does not include any substances that the body does not require. This is example of a nutrient rich food.
Kale is a part of the Nutrient Rich Way of eating that is a true lifestyle solution.