Hormonal Causes – The hormones estrogen, progesterone and cortisol all play a role in maintaining bone mass. Cortisol, like cortisone or prednisone, is a corticosteroid hormone. All corticosteroid hormones accelerate bone loss, which is why they are used only when absolutely necessary and why long-term steroid therapy puts people at great risk for osteoporosis.

Even your body’s over production of the naturally occurring hormone cortisol will inhibit bone growth. In many cases, therefore, osteoporosis is a direct function of hormone imbalance caused by stress, as the adrenal hormones, oestrogen and progesterone move out of balance.

Digestive Causes – Calcium is the primary mineral of bone formation. It is best absorbed in an acidic environment, but due to digestive dysfunction most people suffer from a lack of acidity in the stomach that impedes calcium.

Examples of digestive dysfunction would include hydrochloric acid deficiencies from B vitamin and zinc deficiencies, bacterial infections of the stomach such as h. Pylori, and stress, which inhibits hydrochloric acid production. Your immune system is designed to both protect from invading organisms and repair worn out cells.

If your immune system is focused on fighting infections or food allergies, it is less able to carry out its other basic functions, including repair of bone. Bone is a dynamic structure and on a daily basis is being broken down and replaced: so much so that every seven years, your entire skeletal structure is torn down and rebuilt.

Detoxification Causes – High levels of mercury, lead and other heavy metals directly interfere with bone strength. These toxic metals lead to leaching of calcium and magnesium out of bone as the calcium and magnesium attempt to chelate, or pull out heavy metals. The toxic heavy metal lead is actually stored in bone tissue, which leads to further weakening of the bone structure.

Testing - Once symptoms and history have been discussed, lab tests such as the Adrenal Hormone and Female Hormone Panels can be recommended to identify imbalances and design a nutrition, lifestyle and supplement program to rebalance female hormones naturally. Typically, women will benefit greatly from avoiding gluten in their diet, eating smaller, regular meals to balance blood sugar, altering sleep habits and performing appropriate exercise that doesn’t over stress the body.