Degenerative Disc Disease

An Intelligent Approach to Joint Pain, Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis,
Osteoporosis and other Degenerative Diseases

Degenerative skeletal disease affects over 43 million Americans. That is 15% of the total population and represents 1 out of 6 people. Arthritis accounts for over 44 million outpatient visits and more than three-quarter of a million hospitalizations every year. Arthritis is second only to heart disease as a cause of work disability, costing the nation over $65 billion each year. And, as the baby-boomers age, experts calculate that arthritis will affect 60 million Americans, or 20% of the total population.

The formulator of the Skeletal Support Series of supplementation believes that a lot of the suffering and pain associated with degenerative skeletal diseases can be minimized, and even avoided altogether with proper diet, exercise and intelligent dietary supplementation. Intelligent dietary supplementation begins with a mineral supplement that has calcium properly balanced with other nutrients that are necessary for calcium absorption and re-absorption into the bones. Without these other nutrients, calcium is deposited into the soft tissues of the body rather than absorbed into the bone matrix. Since proper calcium metabolism and utilization does not occur without these other nutrients, they are just as important as the calcium itself! Additional research on calcium/magnesium ratios

They also do not believe in mega dosing on calcium. Here’s an interesting paradox for you. The Recommended Daily Requirement (RDI) for calcium has increased over the last 50 years, from 400 mg per day in 1947 to 1000 mg in 1996. And as it has increased, cardiovascular diseases and degenerative skeletal diseases, especially osteoporosis, has steadily increased.

Pathologists report that over 85% of all autopsies done on people over 65 demonstrate calcification of soft tissue within the body. Therefore, it does not appear that a calcium deficiency causes degenerative bone disease, but rather a condition whereby the calcium is being leached from the bones and being deposited in the soft tissues. This condition is caused by excessive calcium consumption relative to other nutrients required for proper calcium metabolism. Improper food choices and lack of exercise allows the body to become too acidic which exacerbates this condition and leads to cellular toxicity and impaired immune function.

Did You Know?

• Calcium Hydroxyapatite and Ipriflavone restore bone loss.
• Coral calcium alkalinizes the body to healthy pH levels.

These can eliminate many chronic and degenerative diseases. Calcium balance studies have indicated that man can adapt to relatively low calcium intake by increasing calcium absorption and decreasing urinary excretion The body adapts to a low calcium intake by utilizing vitamin D to synthesize 1, 25 (OH)2 D3, the most calcium-conserving substance. It increases calcium and phosphate absorption in the small intestine and decreases calcium excretion in the urine. However, a low phosphate diet increases and a high phosphate diet depresses 1, 25 (OH)2 D3. This is why excessive soft drink consumption which is high in phosphates is dangerous. They trigger mechanisms in the body that suppress calcium absorption from the small intestine into the body and increase calcium excretion through the urine.

Besides 1, 25 (OH)2 D3 there are two hormones that play a vital role in calcium metabolism: Calcitonin (CT) and Parathyroid Hormone (PTH). CT and PHT regulate skeletal turnover of calcium and availability of cytoplasmic calcium. The major skeletal effect of PTH is to increase bone re-absorption by stimulating osteoclasts, thereby increasing mobilization of calcium from the bone. PTH also favors cellular uptake of calcium by soft tissues and phosphate excretion by the kidney. CT has the opposite effect, that is, it increases deposition of calcium in the bone matrix and blocks cellular uptake of calcium by the soft tissues.

Proven nutraceuticals and herbs that support skeletal health and prevent degenerative bone loss (osteoporosis) and joint stiffness (arthritis) are: Calcium hydroxyapatite, coral calcium, glucosamine, chondroitin, organic silica, MSM methylsulfonylmethane, bamboo stems, horsetail, curcumin, boswellia serrata, nettles and sea vegetation

The Vital Role of Magnesium

Magnesium suppresses PTH and stimulates CT secretion, therefore favoring deposition of calcium in the bone and removal of calcium from the soft tissue. Furthermore, magnesium enhances calcium absorption and retention, whereas increasing calcium intake suppresses magnesium absorption. In our society, magnesium deficiencies are often caused by excessive calcium intake. This results in elevated PTH which prevents the utilization of the absorbed calcium for bone formation and favors soft tissue calcification. Is there any wonder why magnesium deficiencies are most notable in heart attack victims? Could out of balance and excessive calcium consumption by women be the reason for the huge increase of female heart attacks over the last ten years?

While excessive calcium intake causes magnesium deficiencies, higher magnesium intake increases the intestinal absorption of calcium and increases serum ionized calcium. Magnesium has a calcium-sparing effect and thereby decreases the need for calcium.

Recent studies suggest that calcium requirements are increased by an acidic, high-protein and high sulfur diet. To increase the efficiency of calcium, every attempt should be made to ingest foods containing a relatively equal ratio of magnesium to calcium. These foods should be consumed in a neutral or alkaline base diet without excessive phosphate, sulfur, proteins, refined sugar, fats and other substances that drain the body of both calcium and magnesium. It is the formulator's of the Skeletal Support Series opinion that the traditional 2 to 1 ratio of calcium over magnesium is a causal factor in most degenerative skeletal disease states. A more beneficial ratio of calcium to magnesium is closer to a 4:3 to even! This is how they have formulated their "Skeletal Support Series" of products. All research over the last ten years on this subject points to that reality.

When considering calcium supplementation, it is important to remember that the average American gets 400 — 500 mg of calcium every day in their diet. Therefore, to achieve the 1000mg Daily Value, dietary supplementation should be no more than 500mg — 600mg per day.

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Copyright 1997-2010 Carol A. James All rights reserved. Last update: July 14, 2010