Osteoporosis is a common medical condition that impacts men and women in their 40s and beyond. Someone who suffers from osteoporosis will likely have bone breaks and fractures and also be more likely to fall due to the decrease in bone density. While there are a lot of medications out there to treat osteoporosis, some people would rather focus on natural remedies, because they are thought to be safer than pills. Here are five natural treatments for osteoporosis, which all start in the kitchen, since diet is really important for building bone density.
Black Cohosh
Black cohosh, which is a dietary supplement, is one great alternative and natural treatment for osteoporosis. A lot of women use this supplement to help menopausal symptoms, since it contains ingredients similar to estrogen, and this can also help osteoporosis. The supplement comes from a plant that is native to the United States, and the supplement contains about 20 milligrams of the root extract. If you are looking to treat osteoporosis, you should take about four pills a day, because anywhere from 40 to 80 milligrams is the most beneficial to your health. You can take the pills by itself or with food, and taking it everyday will help increase your bone density naturally.
Red Clover
Red clover is also a great natural treatment for osteoporosis, since it contains phytoestrogens, which is a very similar hormone to estrogen. The flower tops of this plant are used to make various supplements, because it contains a lot of different vitamins and minerals. Red clover helps improve circulation throughout the body, prevents the bones from breaking down, and also can boost bone density overall. You can purchase red clover tea in a variety of retail locations for a few dollars, and make it like you would a regular tea. You do want to make you sure let it steep for about 10 minutes before drinking, and drink no more than one cup of tea a day. You can also purchase red clover pills, which contain the extract of the red clover, it is just as beneficial as drinking the tea.
Tofu
It might seem weird but tofu can actually help treat osteoporosis, since it contains soy, and soy is a great bone strengthener. Soy basically is a low-dose of estrogen, because it contains phytoestrogens, which are plant-based. If you don’t like tofu, you can eat basically anything with soy in it, such as soy milk, and you still get the phytoestrogens. One good thing about tofu though is that you can eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, since you can cook it in a variety of ways.
Licorice Root
Licorice root is also a plant that contains phytoestrogens, and it can be used to treat a variety of ailments, including menopause. You can get a small amount of estrogen from the licorice root, which can help you build bone density, strengthen muscles, and also boost your immune system. You can buy licorice root supplements at your local health food store or any retail store for about $5, so it is an inexpensive option as well. One thing you want to make sure of though is that you don’t take more than 100 milligrams a day, because too much of the licorice root can have adverse effects.
Apples or Boron Supplements
Apples contain boron, which is a mineral that helps your body keep in Vitamin C, which is essential for building and strengthening bones. The boron minerals also have the estrogen-like chemicals, so you can decrease the progression of osteoporosis, and keep your bones density strong. There are a lot of fruits that contain boron besides apples, like pears and grapes. If fruits are not your thing, then you can just purchase the boron mineral supplements over the counter at your local retail store, and you get the important benefits from the extract without the hassle of eating fruit everyday.
An important point about these micro nutrients like boron: the food we are eating may have been grown in boron-depleted or low boron soil. Not all apples are the same in this regard. So while eating more fruits and veggies is always a good idea, supplements seem essential for certain micro nutrients like boron. And so far research has shown that boron is 100% safe as a supplement.