Oh My Aching Back.... I, for one, know that I am more informed than my doctors about osteoporosis as well as my gut, and my doctors tell me this all the time! Almost all the doctors know to do is prescribe bisphosphonates and other "bone building" drugs - but they don't understand how they work. And they really don't know about nutrition. I have been to countless doctors about osteoporosis - endocrinologists, internists, spine surgeons - you name it, I've been there. There IS a lot to learn about nutrition - I have always been a student of how the human body works and nutrition, and I have a graduate degree in psychology and social work. I worked decades with scientists and medical doctors, even the chief of surgery in a big-city teaching hospital. I have made a point to study the bones in our bodies and nutrition, and I also healed my own gut. I read medical journals like most people read romance novels. Five years ago I was dying - literally dying - because of drugs I was prescribed and the horrible side effects they caused me. I still have to take those drugs, but I had to take myself completely off sugar and heal my gut. I begged my doctors to help me and got no help, and this caused me to be house-bound for over three years, suffering in the worst pain. I got so sick I got to the point of considering suicide. At the last minute, I had an epiphany that paid off. I knew what was wrong with my body, and that's when I went off sugar and changed my life. I developed candida overgrowth because of a low-dose steroid I have to take for adrenal insufficiency. My doctors are in awe of me - and now they take notes when I come in. Since going off sugar, the precancerous cells in my gut are gone! This is not the first time I had to figure out what was wrong with my body and turn things around. Doctors have HUGE caseloads - there is NO WAY they can stay on top of all the research being done in multiple systems in the body as well as nutrition. I have posted this website before, but here it is again: http://www.ConsumerLab.com. ConsumerLab tests supplements to be sure they are what they say they are, they open in the body, and they are the strength they say they are. Twice I have found that something I am taking has too much lead in it thanks to ConsumerLab.com. They also post so many medical journal submissions about various vitamins, minerals, and herbs. I have studied the human body for decades, and I have concentrated on osteoporosis almost exclusively for the past two or three years. One thing no doctor will tell you that will help your body tremendously is to stop eating all forms of sugar. Sugar causes inflammation and inflammation causes disease. Sugar is very bad for your bones. Certain nutrients and minerals are necessary for bone growth and these are pretty much undisputed: Calcium, magnesium, potassium, boron, Vitamin D3, Vitamin K2 (mk4 mk7). Probiotics, a good vitamin C (not ascorbic acid), a good multivitamin, B complex, Omega 3 also help. Every time you eat, you are making a choice to either support your body or hurt your body. Of course you should check with your doctor before you change anything. Talk to a nutritionist. A good functional doctor and a good nutritionist will help you a lot. I also take advantage of a great support group on Facebook (the group is called Osteoporosis Natural Remedies). My bookshelf is nearly collapsing under the weight of all the nutrition books and medical books. My pharmacist and doctors have a complete list of everything I am taking. All of this information is out there if you choose to become informed. I realize it is not for everyone. I have very complex medical issues, and my quality of life has been greatly improved since I took over. I run everything by my infectious disease doctor who is the best doctor I have ever found. She knows a lot about supplements and medicines. When I was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, a nurse once tried to hang a bag of magnesium for IV - this is death to a person with MG. You need to. become informed. As always, please run everything by your doctor before making changes. I'm not even going to bring up anti-nutrients in this post.