Podcast #98 - Six Natural Steps for Achieving Optimal Bone Health and Reversing Osteoporosis | Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD
The Science of Self-Healing Hosted by
Dr. Sharon Stills With Dr. Susan E. Brown
About Dr. Susan E. Brown
Susan E. Brown, PhD, is a medical anthropologist, a New York State Certified Nutritionist, and the author of Better Bones, Better Body — the first comprehensive look at natural bone health. She has more than 40 years of experience in clinical nutrition, bone health research, and lay and health professional education. She has consulted widely on socioeconomic, cultural, educational, and health issues. Dr. Brown has taught in North and South American universities and authored numerous academic and popular articles. For more information, see Dr. Brown’s biography. Dr. Brown is a regular contributor to Women’s Health Network where she writes about bone health.
Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD: the natural bone health expert
Dr. Susan Brown PhD has pioneered the natural approach to bone health for over 30 years. She was the first to prove that using only natural methods, nearly every woman can build strong bones for life. Incorporating her research and the latest science, her six-point natural program has helped tens of thousands of women take control of their bone health and enjoy long, active, happy lives.
Dr. Brown first became interested in bone health when she lost her grandmother, at the age of 102, to complications from a hip fracture. Dr. Brown couldn’t help wondering, how much longer might this alert and active woman have lived had she not fractured her hip? Her interest grew into a compulsion as she sought to understand why the disease existed and what we could do about it.
As an anthropologist using a cross-cultural perspective, Dr. Brown discovered that the nature of osteoporosis is very different than commonly believed. She found that cultures with the highest calcium intake also have the highest osteoporosis rates, despite conventional wisdom that calcium levels dictate bone health. Dr. Brown’s research found that though people in many countries have lower bone density than we do in the United States, their fracture rates are significantly lower. Her research led her to a startling conclusion: the disease of osteoporosis is a preventable disorder created by our lifestyles and eating habits.
Dr. Brown’s “rethinking” has led to Better Bones, Better Body — a comprehensive, whole-body approach to bone health that reaches beyond the estrogen and calcium myths to truly support healthy bone growth and regeneration through nutrition and lifestyle.
Through more than 20 years of research, Dr. Brown has learned that our bones need a variety of nutrients in addition to calcium to repair themselves, and that the body needs to maintain a balanced pH to prevent further loss of bone.
There is a Better Way, a way that will not only naturally improve your bone health, but also naturally improve the health of your entire body. We call this “Better Way,” The Better Bones Revolution.
The Better Bones Revolution will give every woman the knowledge and tools she needs to enjoy strong bones for life, naturally. Read the Better Bones Revolution Manifesto here.
Dr. Brown has devoted her career to exploring promising nutritional and lifestyle bone-building therapies, educating the public about these therapies, as well as working one-on-one with patients from around the world. Osteoporosis is not inevitable, and it is never too late to support and rebuild bone naturally.
Resources Mentioned:
Episode Highlights with Dr. Susan E. Brown
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Bones are a reservoir of alkaline mineral compounds which are drawn upon as soon as the body enters into a slight acidic tilt.
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Humans have evolved from a diet rich in alkalizing compounds such as nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables to a highly processed acidic diet. An alkaline diet is essential for good health.
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Potassium and magnesium keep our PH in balance.
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Many people eat a diet high in processed foods and sodium chloride which is very acid forming. Our genetic “machinery” is not well suited for this diet.
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Bone health is compromised when our PH is not balanced.
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PH levels can be tested in the morning following six hours of sleep to assess our acid load and how much reserve the body has to buffer. This level should be between 6.5 - 7.5.
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Older people should aim for 80 grams of protein per day to maintain muscle mass since the body loses muscle mass at the same rate as it loses bone. Enough minerals in the body will buffer the acidity of the protein since only excess protein is acid forming.
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Bone density testing by DEXA does not accurately predict fracture risk.
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20 standard tests are recommended to look for hidden causes of osteoporosis.
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45% of the body’s muscle and bone is lost between the ages of 45 - 85.
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Many cultures have low fracture rates, and 35 other countries have longer life expectancy rates compared to the US.
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Physical inactivity, environmental toxins, worry and fear, and certain medicines also contribute to osteoporosis.
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Bones are multifunctional. They are a reservoir for heavy metals, they maintain the PH and calcium balance, and they produce millions of blood cells every minute.
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The body needs a moderate level of calcium in the range of 500 - 600 mg. Higher amounts increase the risk of arterial calcification.
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Vitamin D allows the body to absorb more calcium. A level between 31 - 32 ng/mL is necessary for calcium absorption, although higher levels of vitamin D are helpful.
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Exercise can build muscle and bone.
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The six steps to bone health are as follows: assess acidity levels, maintain an alkaline diet, include the 20 nutrients essential to bone health, be aware of digestion issues, exercise, and keep a calm mind and body.