Tai Chi & Osteoporosis

Just a quick post: Whilst in hospital yesterday having foot surgery, I was chatting to another patient and she told me how both she and her friend with osteoporosis had discovered that by doing Tai Chi they had improved their bone density exponentially. Thought those of you with it or worrying about developing it, might be interested.

[Hidden]

I have been doing weight training for 20 years, yet have osteopenia. Without enough d3 exercise wont help.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi. I don't know enough about either tai chi or weightlifting to know, but I sense there would be quite a difference in the impact/stressors on the bones, between the two approaches. I agree about D3 being a key factor.

[jimh111]

Excercise helps bone density and Tai Chi is excellent although it drove me nuts, I didn't have the patience. My mother in law did it and was running around until she was 94. The trick is to get a proper instructor and not someone who has just read a book or two. Minerals, vitamin D and exercise are needed.

[Hidden in reply to jimh111]

Thanks jim. Mmmm, I was behind the door when patience was handed out! But am going to google local groups and see what's available. What minerals are you thinking of, in particular?

[jimh111]

Calcium, magnesium, potassium.

[Hidden in reply to jimh111]

Thank you

[sirmot in reply to Hidden]

It is also very important to take K2. K2 helps the calcium to get into the bones and to ensure that calcium is not deposited in the arteries. The quality of calcium is also very important. Calcium citrate is said to be the most absorbable. There are also supplements of calcium derived from algae on the market, which is said to be very good and bioavailable. On K2 I would recommend the book "Vitamin K2 and the Calcium Paradox" by Dr Kate Rheaume-Bleue. It's available on Amazon.

[Hidden in reply to sirmot]

Thank you very much for that, sirmot. Very useful info. And I will check out the book later

[Hidden in reply to sirmot]

I've downloaded the book this evening sirmot, looking forward to reading it

[sirmot in reply to Hidden]

Happy reading. I think you'll find it very interesting. I did and am on 100 mg of K2 now! (I have osteopenia).

[Hidden in reply to sirmot]

So do I, but of course neither GP nor Endo offer suggestions to help. Rather, they tell you you have it as a way of proving how naughty you've been, suppressing your TSH, lol!

[sirmot in reply to Hidden]

Yes, exactly. They are hopeless and the best way to learn is on these kinds of forums. I am following the forum of the national osteoporosis foundation and have seen many excellent reviews of strontium citrate to build bone. Somebody on this forum also said that she increased her bone density very significantly by using strontium citrate, despite having a suppressed TSH! If you want any more details let me know and I will give you the link to the make she used. I am thinking of trying it too. cheers!

[Hidden in reply to sirmot]

Sirmot, I didn't even think about going to the N.O.F forum, so many thanks for that mention. And strontium citrate is new to me too - oooh, a whole new world is opening up to me

Yes please do give me the link and I'll look forward to checking it out. Thank you

[sirmot in reply to Hidden]

From what I have been reading, you have to be careful about differentiating between the synthetic strontium, which is called strontium renelate and which may have many dangerous side effects and strontium citrate which is the natural version and is said to have no side effects. See second link below. Also when you take strontium you need to take it away from calcium, because they both, apparently, compete for the same place in the bones. Thirdly, the strontium gives a higher bone density level, because it is heavier than calcium, so the first DEXA scan after having taken strontium looks quite high - you can assess the real progress when you have your second DEXA scan after having started taking strontium, as you will then be comparing like with like.

The first link below is to the product which has been recommended by many people, including the person I mentioned in my previous message. If you go on the NOF forum and do a search on strontium citrate you can find out a lot there too (I seem to be on the US NOF forum, as all the members seem to be American! In any case, very helpful). take care, good luck. x

shopbestnaturals.com/doctor...

algaecal.com/bone-health-ne...

[Hidden in reply to sirmot]

Thanks again for the great info and advice sirmot. Really really useful. I shall be checking it all out after the weekend

[sirmot in reply to Hidden]

You're welcome.