Humbug?

Two less than cheery stories to take us up to Christmas this week.

Firstly, organ transplants and skin cancer. One of the unintended effects of improvements in treating once-fatal conditions, is that patients live long enough to get something else. In this case, the longer lives that people can now expect after heart transplant mean that more of them suffer from skin cancer, as a result of the immunosuppressive drugs they need to take to prevent organ rejection. On the (slightly) brighter side, the most common skin cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, which are easily treated by surgery so long as they’re spotted quickly.

My second Guardian story looked at the downside of the injectable contraceptive, Depot Provera, which is known to weaken bones, potentially leading to osteoporosis and fractures. Researchers in Texas looked at risk factors to find out which women were most at risk. They concluded that smoking, eating little dietary calcium, and not having had children were all risk factors – although the associations were weak when you look at them in isolation.

I know, I know. I should have followed the herd and written about Father Christmas as a poor role model for children, or had something to say about the calorie content of mince pies. But there’s only so much Christmas one can take, after all! Have a good one.

Image: Humbugs, by Cari Wallis, from Cari Wallis photostream on Flickr.com, with CCL.

[Via http://annasayburn.wordpress.com]

Falls Disseases and Medicares Role in Treating these Conditions

In seniors who experience diseases such as arthritis and osteoporosis, it is very important to prevent falls from occurring. This is because a fall, even a very small one, can end up being very serious and result in a fracture. If this happens, it can be very difficult for the senior to recover from the accident and in many cases, it will mean a move to an assisted living situation or nursing home. Often, these stays will be covered by Medicare, but this depends on the patients Medicare Eligibility ad what types of benefits they receive.

With such serious ramifications from even a very small fall, protecting against these types of accidents is very serious.

Why Osteoporosis Can Be Dangerous

Osteoporosis is a disease that is most common among the elderly, but can affect those of all ages. However, usually in younger people, it is caused after some sort of injury. Osteoporosis causes the bones to loose some of their density, which makes them very brittle and prone to fracture. It is caused by a lack of calcium and vitamin D and is much more common in post-menopausal women, although it can also affect males.

Osteoporosis is not itself does not cause injuries, but because the bones begin to become more brittle and loose their density, it is more likely for them to break or fracture, even after a very small fall.

Why Arthritis Can Be Dangerous

Arthritis can cause a number of problems and is not actually just one disease, but rather more than 100 different disorders that primarily affect the bodies joints. While, depending on the kind of arthritis, the effects can greatly vary, typically, arthritis causes the joints to become damaged, inflamed, and tender. This can mean that bending the joints becomes much more difficult and even painful.

Unlike osteoporosis, arthritis by itself can cause the affected person to experience dramatic losses to maneuverability and often results in disability. Arthritis can also greatly increase the risk of a fall and if the senior also has osteoporosis, this means that there will be a much bigger chance of injury.

Protecting Against Falls

To protect against falls, there are several options, but often it is important to first take measures to treat the arthritis and osteoporosis. For osteoporosis, maintaining a healthy diet of foods that contain calcium and vitamin D is important, with most seniors also taking vitamin supplements.

In the case of arthritis, treatment is not always as straightforward and depends on what type of arthritis the patient has. Many times, proper diet and exercise are as important as taking medication when it comes to treating arthritis. It is also very important to find ways to make life easier for the patient, as there is no way to work backwards and reverse the effects of arthritis.

In addition to assuring that there is proper treatment, there are also a number of helper aids that are used by seniors with arthritis and osteoporosis. This includes a number of different types of home medical equipment that is designed to either make life easier or safer for the senior. Having a proper pair of shoes with non-skid soles is very important, as is using a walker or rolling walker, and ensuring that all areas of the home can be easily accessed. Lift chairs are also often used, which are like recliners, but are designed to make it easier for the senior to stand.

Medicare’s Role in Treating Osteoporosis and Arthritis

In addition to actually being important for providing treatment, such as covering the cost of medicine and doctors visits, Medicare also covers the cost of a number of different types of home medical equipment. These items are covered under Medicare Part B Benefits and covers a wide variety of medical equipment, including wheelchairs, walkers, mobility scooters, eye glasses, and much more.

Usually, Medicare will provide 80% reimbursement for these items, but this is not always the case. For example, lift chairs Medicare do not qualify for full reimbursement and instead only part of the cost of the device is covered.

Usually for a device to be covered by Medicare, it must, of course, be on their approved list of items (PDF), but it will also require that the individual has a doctors prescription and sometimes also a Certificate of Medical Necessity. A Certificate of Medical Necessity is similar to traditional prescription, but is more detailed and must describe the reasons the senior needs the type of equipment. Usually, if a doctor feels there is a need to offer the patient a prescription for the device, it is not a problem for them to also fill out a certificate of medical necessity.

[Via http://medicarenewsnow.wordpress.com]

Una de cada dos mujeres y uno de cada cuatro hombres mayores de 50 años sufrirán una fractura ósea a causa de la osteoporosis

La cuarta parte de las personas que se rompen la cadera fallecen antes de cumplirse el primer año tras la lesión.

 

Un estudio de la Sociedad Española de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología advierte de que una de cada dos mujeres y uno de cada cuatro hombres mayores de 50 años sufrirán una fractura ósea debido a la osteoporosis. La rotura de hueso es la consecuencia “más grave” de esta enfermedad, ya que “una de cada cuatro personas que se fracturan la cadera fallece antes del año”, apuntó el coordinador del estudio, el doctor Manuel Mesa Ramos.

Los autores del trabajo insistieron en la importancia de prevenir una dolencia que afecta de forma mayoritaria al sexo femenino a partir de la menopausia. Una vez que se pierde la menstruación, se origina un déficit en la producción de estrógenos u hormonas femeninas que, entre otras funciones, tienen la misión de fijar el calcio a los huesos. Esto explica que el paciente tipo de osteoporosis sea una mujer que supera los 60 años y acude a la consulta porque le duele la espalda, en la zona de las vértebras dorsales, a la altura de los omoplatos, detalló el jefe de servicio de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología del hospital Quirón de Bilbao, Iñaki Mínguez.

La primera medida médica suele ser una radiografía para analizar si el motivo del dolor es la precaria salud ósea, debido a la pérdida de densidad. Si la prueba radiológica confirma la sospecha, se recomienda a la paciente una vida activa, que incluya la práctica de deporte no agresivo, una dieta equilibrada que se refuerza con tratamientos a base de calcio, y tomar el sol para que el calcio se fije a los huesos gracias a la vitamina D.

“En algunas mujeres, la desmineralización del hueso se produce a un ritmo alto a partir de la menopausia, que suele tener lugar en torno a los 51 años”, comentó el jefe de servicio de Ginecología y Reproducción Asistida de la misma clínica, el doctor Gorka Barrenetxea. Aunque la mayor fragilidad ósea está relacionada de manera directa con el déficit de producción de estrógenos, existen otros factores de riesgo. El primero es la excesiva delgadez. Sin llegar al sobrepeso, la masa corporal protege frente a la osteoporosis, apuntó Barrenetxea. El tabaquismo es otro punto en contra. “Las fumadoras sufren más osteoporosis”, señaló el doctor, que también recomendó la práctica ejercicio moderado. El consumo abusivo de alcohol también es un factor negativo, añadió.

Importancia de la alimentación
“La alimentación es fundamental, pero a lo largo de toda la vida”, aclaró Íñigo Sainz-Arregui, médico especializado en Nutrición y en Medicina de Familia. “Consumir adecuadas cantidades de calcio está demostrado que protege contra la osteoporosis”, aseguró. Aunque el pico de masa ósea está determinado por la genética, la densidad está relacionada con la ingesta de calcio durante el periodo de acumulación ósea, que se produce desde el nacimiento hasta los 25 ó 30 años. Por eso es importante asegurar una ingesta adecuada de calcio para evitar riesgos, explicó Sainz-Arregui.

El calcio no sólo se encuentra en los productos lácteos como la leche, el yogur o el queso, sino también en verduras de hoja verde como la col, la acelga o el berro. Además, hay que consumir alimentos ricos en vitamina D como pescados, huevos o cereales y productos lácteos fortificados para ayudar a la absorción del calcio. El fósforo de pescados, huevos, legumbres, carne y cereales también en juega un papel importante en la salud de los huesos. “En definitiva, una dieta variada y equilibrada, con poca sal y acompañada de ejercicio físico es la mejor opción”, resumió el nutricionista.

Autor: Consumer-Eroski
Fuente: www.consumer.es
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Etiquetas: Medicina Biológica, Medicina Osteoarticular, Osteoporosis

Lower Back Strengthener

Hi everyone,

As a Pilates teacher, I see many people who have lower back pain and problems.   I would estimate that 90% of these problems come from poor posture and from sitting way too much.    Our bodies are not designed for sitting but too many of us sit for hours and hours each day.   I dare you to calculate how many hours a day you sit – from eating breakfast, commuting, working at your desk, eating dinner and watching television.   It’s not uncommon to hear that people are sitting for 8 – 12 hours a day!  No wonder their backs hurt.

Here’s an easy exercise that you can do just about anywhere and anytime.  It’s not a classical Pilates exercise although you could say that it’s a version of Joseph’s swimming or flight exercise.   It’s known as a McKenzie exercise, named after Robin McKenzie who is one of the world’s leading authorities on lower back pain.

To do the exercise, follow these cues:

1. Stand with your feet a bit wider apart than your hips
2. Keep your knees straight
3. Place your hands in the small of your lower back, fingers turned inward
4. Imagine doing a back dive over your hands, lifting your heart out of your chest
5. Hold for a couple of breaths
6. Repeat three times

Try to do this exercise every hour or so when you need to sit.   If you’re at the office, you can do it in the washroom where it is private.   It will help to strengthen your lower back safely.

Questions?  Don’t hesitate to email me.   I’m here to help.

And please check out the downloadable MP3 workouts on my website.   They’re easy to follow and very effective.   Plus, if you input promo code 4001 when you place your order, you’ll get 10% off your entire order!     

Sherry

Beating Cancers, Step One: Eliminate Animal Milk

For years the animal milk industry has told us that milk is good for us. This was because one ingredient, calcium, is required by our bodies. What the milk industry has never explained is what all the rest of the ingredients in animal milk do to our bodies. Numerous studies, including ones conducted by the animal milk industry, have shown a direct link between consumption of animal milk products and a loss of bone density, not a strengthening of them. There goes the number one selling point, so what’s left? Maybe habit, and the investment of industry. Consumption of animal milk has also been linked to heart disease, cancers, obesity, allergies, diabetes, and other health conditions though, so like stopping smoking, it’s time we began asking ourselves why we are letting advertisements run our lives. Why are we doing this to our bodies, to the environment, and certainly to the animals themselves? Consumption of animal milk has been linked directly to breast cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer. Here’s a recent press release from the chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition. Smoking doesn’t kill you immediately; it’s a slow painful death. Despite this knowledge people find it difficult to quit because they’re addicted. Consumption of animal milk has also been linked to health risks and terminal disease, but in this case quitting is much easier: there’s no addiction to break, only habits. Now almost all markets have products such as almond milk, soy milk, rice milk, oat milk, or others that come in a wide variety of flavors (yes, chocolate too!) and can be used in coffee, on cereal, in recipes, in baking, in anything just like the animal milk we grew up with.

Our parents’ generation smoked, but our generation learned better. Our parents’ generation drank animal milk, but our generation learned better.

Dos millones y medio de mujeres padecen osteoporosis en España

Unos dos millones y medio de mujeres padecen osteoporosis en España, una enfermedad caracterizada por la pérdida de masa ósea, que se acentúa con la menopausia. La prevalencia de esta dolencia es tres veces superior en la mujer que en el hombre y el 80 por ciento de las española presenta disminución de masa ósea.

Ayer, 20 de octubre, se celebró el Día Mundial de Osteoporosis, que se estima que la afecta al 17,2% de las mujeres entre los 50 y los 59 años, al 35,2% de las que tienen entre 60 y 70 años y a más del 50% de las mujeres a partir de los 70 años.

Según el doctor Manuel Sosa, Presidente de la Sociedad Española de Investigación Ósea y Metabolismo Mineral (SEIOMM), “se trata de una patología que sufren principalmente las mujeres y en edades más avanzadas, concretamente afecta a 2,5 millones de mujeres de nuestra sociedad, en contraste con la cifra de hombres, que se estima que en la actualidad es de 750.000 individuos”.

Los importantes cambios hormonales que afectan a la mujer durante la menopausia, sumados a un menor contenido mineral óseo en comparación con el hombre, hacen de la pérdida de densidad ósea un proceso mayoritariamente femenino. Los estrógenos son un importante protector de la masa ósea de la mujer, pero a partir de los 50 años su presencia desciende, coincidiendo con la menopausia. La menor presencia de esta hormona femenina conlleva una reducción en los niveles de densidad ósea de la mujer. Se ha observado que durante los 5 primeros años de postmenopausia, la merma de masa ósea en la mujer se sitúa entre el 2 y el 6% anual.

Asimismo, el incremento de la expectativa de vida de la mujer hace que la salud ósea sea uno de los mayores problemas de salud pública de los países desarrollados. En la actualidad, las mujeres pueden llegar a vivir una tercera parte de su vida una vez superado el período de menopausia y la previsión indica un crecimiento constante durante los próximos años.

Según afirma la International Osteoporosis Foundation, la prevención de la osteoporosis comienza con un óptimo crecimiento y desarrollo óseo durante la juventud. Los huesos son tejido vivo, y el esqueleto crece constantemente desde el nacimiento hasta la adolescencia, y alcanza la fuerza y el tamaño máximo (pico de masa ósea) alrededor de los veinticinco años. De este modo, durante los primeros 25-30 años de vida de las personas la masa ósea aumenta, lo hace en mayor o menor medida dependiendo de las ingestas de calcio y vitamina D que se hagan. Durante la cuarta década de vida la masa ósea se mantiene constante, pero a partir de los 45 años la pérdida de calcio es mayor que antes.

Por ello, según los expertos, la alimentación tiene un papel clave en el estado de salud en general y en la prevención de la osteoporosis en particular. Para ayudar a mantener una adecuada densidad ósea, numerosas evidencias científicas avalan la importancia de una alimentación equilibrada y especialmente de una dieta rica en calcio y vitamina D.

Según Meritxell Gómez, Experta del Programa NUSA (Nutrición y Salud), “el yogur es una de las fuentes de calcio más importantes de la dieta. El consumo de 3-4 productos lácteos al día ayuda a mantener a lo largo de toda la vida una buena densidad ósea, y su efecto es todavía mayor si está enriquecido con vitamina D”.

Autor: E.P.
Fuente: www.salut.org
___________________________
Etiquetas: Medicina Biológica, Medicina Osteoarticular, Osteoporosis

Joan Rivers and Osteoporosis

I recently stumbled across several television spots produced by the AAOS (American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons).  One of them features Joan Rivers talking about osteoporosis.  While the spot is humorous, the subject matter is serious.  Part of our job as healthcare providers is to educate people about preventing injuries and diseases, or at least what they can do to reduce their risk of becoming victim of one or the other, or both. 

Two of the easiest ways to prevent injuries and bone diseases are exercise and eating right.  This doesn’t mean that you have to compete with Lance Armstrong or participate in a triathlon.  It just means that instead of watching your favorite reality show for an hour after work while devouring a pack of Twizzlers maybe you walk your dog and eat some carrots.  

Exercise doesn’t have to be torture, and eating healthily doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on all of the delicious flavors associated with red dye 40.  Hopefully, with the right diet and exercise, the only thing you’ll miss out on is osteoporosis.  For some more information about staying healthy and the benefits to your bone and muscle health, check out the AAOS’s website www.saveyourknees.org.   

 

Jennifer

"What do I Have?" - Overlapping Symptoms & Coexisting Conditions - Ashley Boynes, Community Development Director, WPA Chapter

One problem that arthritis patients have in getting an affirmative arthritis diagnosis is that many forms of arthritis imitate one another, and even mimic other conditions. This makes it a difficult task for doctors to diagnose certain types of arthritis, and can often lead to frustration in patients, as well.

For one thing, there are over 100 types of arthritis. Additionally, some forms, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, share many common characteristics with other diseases – specifically chronic and invisible autoimmune illnesses.

With so many symptoms overlapping and so many coexisting conditions, it is no wonder that patients and doctors are sometimes left in a state of confusion over the actual cause of the problem, or problems, at hand.

Conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Fibromyalgia, Sjogren’s Syndrome, and Multiple Sclerosis, for example (just to name a FEW!) have many of the same symptoms: aching joints, muscle tenderness, overall pain and discomfort, stiffness, severe fatigue, headaches, a feeling of weakness, and so on. Many patients with these symptoms have an elevated rheumatoid factor and coexisting symptoms such as vision/eye problems, gastrointestinal issues, etc. Additionally, many of these conditions’ symptoms lull and flare, and are not consistent on a day-to-day or even hour-to-hour basis, which makes it a hit-or-miss situation when visiting a doctor to try to “show” them your symptoms upon physical exam. All of the above conditions are autoimmune in nature, causing a weakened immune system that attacks itself, and that can cause other illness, as well. In fact, many medications and natural courses of treatment overlap for all of the above-named conditions, too. Even more perplexing is that these conditions often coexist in the same patient, at the same time!

With all of this being said, you may wonder why it matters to get an official diagnosis, if many of the symptoms, outcomes, and courses of treatment are the same. Getting an official diagnosis is important because, although many aspects of these illnesses do overlap, each has its own exclusive set of symptoms, as well. For instance – someone with RA may have swelling – but no swelling or inflammation is typically present in fibromyalgia by itself. Depression, while a common factor in any chronic illness, is more closely associated with MS than any of the other aforementioned conditions. Likewise, patients with MS and RA may have vision issues, while someone with Lupus may not. People with Sjogren’s deal with severely dry eyes and mouth, which isn’t always common to the other conditions. Rheumatoid Arthritis is closely associated with certain forms of cancer, heart disease, low-grade fevers, and thyroid problems; and MS is associated sometimes with musculoskeletal issues and food allergies. Lupus patients typically get a red butterfly rash on the face, as well as occasional edema in the lower legs. As you can see, it is important to treat each illness on its own, in order to take care of each individual symptom, despite so many of them overlapping.

All of the similar traits of these types of illnesses can often lead to misdiagnosis, or, a “missed” diagnosis. This is why it is important to share EVERY symptom or change in your health – even if you think it is irrelevant – with your health care professional, so that they can make a reasonable assessment and an accurate diagnosis. The one symptom that you neglect to tell your doctor may be the key in proper diagnosis of your condition.

So how DO they know what you have? In diagnosing forms of arthritis and related conditions, a doctor usually couples a physical examination with bloodwork. Additionally, they also factor in the patients’ personal description of ailments. In many cases, the lab work is used to rule out other conditions, and a diagnosis is often made using a “process of elimination” of sorts. Unfortunately, people who have one form of arthritis (for example, RA) often have another co-existing form (i.e. osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia.) Likewise, patients with one autoimmune condition typically have more than one – often, three, overlapping conditions at once.

Other reasons for coexisting conditions and overlapping symptoms in arthritis patients include medications and lifestyle. Arthritis patients with a more sedentary lifestyle are more prone to obesity which can then lead to diabetes or heart problems. Additionally, many medications can cause nasty side effects ranging from partial blindness to neurological and gastrointestinal problems – and even cancer.

It is important to stay proactive in your health. If you are unsure “what you have” – see a doctor.  A helpful tip is to keep a health journal, and, before your appointment, document every symptom that you have – even if you aren’t sure it is a concern. If you are unsatisfied with a diagnosis, seek a second or even third opinion until your issue is resolved. Do not ever write anything off. If you have these types of conditions, you need to be aware of everything that is going on with your body. Educate yourself on your disease. For instance – if you have arthritis, do you know what type you have? Is it rheumatoid, which is autoimmune in nature? Or, is it osteoarthritis, which is more mechanical; more “wear-and-tear”? Is it another rheumatic condition – bursitis, myositis, gout, Sjorgen’s, Still’s Disease, ankylosing spondylitis? Make sure you understand your illness and the array of symptoms associated with it. If anything new pops up, let your doctor know – it is better to be safe than sorry.

For your information, here are a few quick facts and tips to keep in mind:

• There are 117 types of arthritis. You can read about them from the Arthritis Foundation here: http://www.arthritis.org/types-arthritis.php
• There are over 100 known autoimmune diseases – many of which are also considered – you guessed it – forms of arthritis and rheumatic disease.
• A symptom common to all of these conditions is severe, debilitating fatigue. Another is widespread weakness and pain.
• Another attribute common to all of these types of illnesses is the fact that they are chronic. A chronic illness is one that is ongoing, long-standing, and typically, permanent. Often, chronic illnesses may be treatable to an extent but have no cure.
• If you have a chronic illness like arthritis, be certain not to neglect the needs of your spouse/partner, family, and loved ones. It is sometimes all too easy to concentrate on yourself and your symptoms and overlook the needs of others.
• People with these types of diseases are prone to anxiety and depression. Be on the lookout for any signs of mental or emotional distress.
• An accurate and official diagnosis is often needed in order for health insurance to cover your condition and provide benefits.
• The Arthritis Foundation provides brochures and literature on the 117 types of arthritis. Contact us if you need any types of resources or support.
• Keep in mind that all of these illnesses CAN AFFECT CHILDREN, too! If your child’s pediatrician gives you a diagnosis you disagree with, keep tabs of his/her symptoms and seek out a second opinion.

Please note, too, that we will not be airing a new episode of Arthritis Radio this week, due to the G20 Summit being in town here in Pittsburgh. However, in correlation with this blog, we encourage you to go back and browse our archives – you will learn a lot from episodes 1-8 about rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, juvenile arthritis, fibromyalgia, and overall wellness.

Check it out here:  http://arthritisradio.podbean.com or search, “Arthritis Radio” on iTunes!

As always, thanks for reading, and be well!

Best,

~ Ashley Boynes

Community Development Director

WPA Chapter

Saving your Bones: Important Tips

Osteoporosis was an issue that many doctors thought only affected older white women, but more recently studies and health care professionals have stressed the importance of calcium and Vitamin D to all women and their bones. I’ll admit that bone density isn’t always my first health concern, but I had to link to this article, which gives tips about maintaining bone density and better bone health. I hope you find it useful!

Dr Kelly Sennholz Discusses: What’s the Buzz on Vitamin D?

Why is there so much discussion about vitamin D right now?

 Historically, the medical knowledge regarding vitamin D was limited to its role in the deposition of bone. Over the past 2 decades, an immense amount of research (over 3500 medical journal articles and counting) have allowed us a more comprehensive view of what this vitamin/hormone does. It is becoming clear that vitamin D has a role in the function of every body system we have. It is linked to diseases such as heart disease, osteoporosis, cancer, Alzheimer’s, bowel disease, brain development, etc., etc., etc.

Some of these new studies are finding vitamin D deficiency to be an epidemic in developing countries. So not only are we discovering the importance of this nutrient, but we are finding that most people are either mildly or severely deficient. It is no wonder scientists are excited.

 

Why are people so concerned about the dose of vitamin D we take?

Unlike the water soluble vitamins which are excreted if taken in high doses, vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin. This means you can actually overdose on it. Luckily for us, the safe levels of intake appear to be much higher than previously estimated. In addition, there are medical conditions which would cause a hypercalcemia (or high blood calcium) if external vitamin D is taken. For these and other reasons, it is wise to get medical counsel regarding vitamin D intake.

 

What exactly does vitamin D do for my body?

Firstly, vitamin D does assist with the process that allows bone to be deposited in your body. It is important for bone health. Especially for children, whose bone structure is being developed, it is critical for these kids to get adequate D, calcium and other important nutrients to prevent fractures down the road. In addition, vitamin D acts as a hormone, mediating untold functions in our cells including boosting a healthy immune system and supporting apoptosis, which is normal healthy cell death. If your cells don’t die normally, this is cancer. As many studies are revealing pronounced declines in cancer rates with high levels of vitamin D supplementation, I will assume we will continue hearing more about this nutrient in the future.

 

Who can I consult regarding vitamin D levels and intake?

As mentioned above, it is important to have medical direction on your intake of this vital nutrient to make sure you don’t have any medical conditions which would contraindicate oral supplementation.

www.symtrimics.com

[Via http://drkellysennholz.wordpress.com]

The Benefits of Tofu

The star of yesterday’s recipe, Tofu Stir Fry, was none other than tofu. As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, tofu is a versatile source of protein that takes on the flavors of whatever you cook it in, which makes it stand out in the protein world. But what is tofu and what are some of it’s benefits?

Tofu is made from the curds of soybean milk and is a great source of protein, which is wonderful for those who maintain a vegetarian diet. It is also a good source of iron, calcium (especially if it is enriched with calcium), and omega-3 fatty acids, which have cardiovascular benefits. Research has also shown that soy protein:

• lowers total cholesterol, LDL (”bad”) cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. It also may increase HDL (”good”) cholesterol levels.
• helps alleviate symptoms associated with menopause.
• helps reduce bone less and decrease risk of osteoporosis.
• is a good source of antioxidants selenium and copper.

There are various types of tofu ranging from silken to extra-firm tofu.  The more firm the tofu, the more calories and protein it has. Here is a general breakdown of nutrition stats for different types of tofu (per 3 oz serving):

• Silken: 45 calories, 2.5 grams total fat, 4 grams protein
• Soft: 60 calories, 3 grams total fat, 6 grams protein
• Firm: 70 calories, 3 grams total fat, 7 grams protein
• Extra-Firm: 80 calories, 4 grams total fat, 8 grams protein

As you can see there isn’t a big nutritional difference between the different forms of tofu, so you should feel free to use any kind you want without worrying about calories and fat.

What’s your favorite tofu dish?

[Via http://nutritioulicious.wordpress.com]

Alendronate reduces the excretion of risk factors for calcium phosphate stone formation in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Potential approach with BPs may be associated with thiazide diuretics or indapamide in the management of post-menopausal women with HC and associated bone loss.

Studies on the larger sample size are needed to demonstrate the efficacy on the fracture outcome.

ALN not only improves BMD and osteoporosis, but also reduces the risk of calcium phosphate stone formation in postmenopausal women.