Dr. Lani's No-Nonsense Bone Health Guide : The Truth about Density Testing, Osteoporosis Drugs, and Building Bone Quality at Any Age

Saving Your Bones is part whistle-blower book, part bone health bible. This is the first consumer book to expose the shocking difficulty of getting an accurate bone density reading and the serious risks of long term use of the most recent osteoporosis medications such as Fosamax, Boniva, and Reclast, which are often handed out automatically based on inaccurate readings. At the same time, Dr. Lani Simpson, both a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) and a Certified Clinical Densitometrist (CCD) cuts through the confusion and inaccuracies surrounding osteoporosis and explains what readers can do now to build and maintain healthier bones. In addition to discussing the pros, cons, and serious risks of medications, Dr. Simpson shares her whole-body approach to bone health, which includes discussions of digestive health, diet, supplements, and exercise. Readers will learn surprising facts about what foods and medicines might hurt bone health and which ones will help in building strong bones. Dr. Simpson includes a careful breakdown of calcium supplementation and which kind is best. The book also includes basic bone biology, statistics about bone disease and fractures, how aging affects the bones, comparisons of different fracture-risk assessment procedures, the risks and benefits of drugs and alternative treatments, and even recipes for bone-building meals! Nearly 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 every day, and those readers will be concerned about bone health and osteoporosis. Dr. Lani’s No-Nonsense Bone Health Guide will answer their questions and help them have long, healthy, fracture-free golden years.

Dr. Lani Simpson is a chiropractic doctor and a Certified Clinical (bone) Densitometrist (CCD). She has been an expert in women’s health care for 25 years, treating thousands of patients with a multidisciplinary and holistic approach to health. She co-founded the East Bay Menopause and PMS Center and the Osteoporosis Diagnostic Center in Berkeley, CA. She is an expert in bone density, osteoporosis, and menopause and aging, and gives continuing education seminars to health professionals about these issues. M. C. Blakeman is a health journalist and editor. Her work has appeared in publications such as The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Ms. Magazine, and Mother Jones. Ms. Blakeman is also the coauthor of Safe Homes, Safe Neighborhoods, editor for the National Brain Tumor Foundation and the Society for Nutrition Education, and the developmental editor for several health books including Are Your Meds Making You Sick? and The Secret of Vigor.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Fractures — Facts and Fears

Chapter 2: Bone Density Testing — Worthwhile or Worthless?

Chapter 3: Rating Your Risks — FRAX, FORE, and Other Health Assessments

Chapter 4: Osteoporosis Drugs — The Good, the Bad, and the Broken

Chapter 5: Osteoporosis Treatments — Consider the Alternatives

Chapter 6: Gut Check — The Digestion Connection to Bone Health

Chapter 7: Bone Meals — Fight Fractures with Food

Chapter 8: Support Your Skeleton — Be Supplement Savvy

Chapter 9: Strong Moves — Exercise for Better Bones?

Chapter 10: Beyond the Bones — What’s Really Going on in Your Body?

Appendix