overwhelmed by so much (often conflicting) info on natural approaches

Why are chia seeds not good to take?

Chia seeds are really high in oxalates but I'm no nutritionist and some of the comments above may as well be written in Greek (for me). I find all of this confusing and paralyzing. There are foods that have been highly recommended by others that are the "worst offenders" chart here. Per usual with this diagnosis, I don't know what to do.

Didn't Irma say she LOVES sweet potatoes? They are on the "worst offenders" list. Maybe it was a side comment unrelated to OP??

Thank you so much for the link. Much appreciated.

I’ve had no side effects. The majority of the supplements I take were recommended by my doctor who is a functional medicine doctor. They are made with clean ingredients.

I think a lot of health promoters, practitioners and influencers latch onto things as being definitive when it's likely more nuanced. That's what gets the headlines, looks and gets people buzzing. I recently listened to an interview with a registered dietician (sorry, I don't recall her name) and she validated what I strongly believe and that is that these are all really healthy foods and you do yourself a disservice to eliminate them. She is just one practitioner and there certainly runs the gamut of opinions on this but is it truth or hype? We can't really know for sure. Oxalates do inhibit the absorption of calcium but it's not an all or nothing. The foods high in oxalates are also high in many nutrients and including them may offer overall benefits. When it comes to spinach, probably best to replace that with other greens as it is super high in oxalates. If that is you go-to for calcium, that may be a problem but having it occasionally likely is not. I may have missed it on that chart but I did not see collards listed (??). They are a great source of calcium. I start every day with a mountain of them :). There is mixed info online as to the oxalate content but from most of the literature i've seen, it appears they are on the lower side and one of the most calcium-rich greens. Of course if you are prone to kidney stones, oxalates are a serious consideration and should likely be minimized. Overall, drinking lots of water helps to flush the kidneys and is a good idea if you are consuming higher oxalate foods.

There's a downside to lots of foods; peanuts and peanut butter have a naturally occurring mold called aflatoxin, rice contains arsenic, chocolate & flax can be high in cadmium as it is absorbed from the soil, algae can be high in lead. Moderation not elimination is probably a good idea so that the health benefits of these foods can be obtained while minimizing the downsides. Also, choosing best sources when possible is a good idea.

In osteoporosis, there is so much fear. I don't want to fear foods that I know offer really good health benefits. If I ever have kidney stones (knock on wood here), I'll know I have to take a good hard look at my diet but for now, I include all of those healthy foods with gratitude for the nutrition they provide.

Thank you again! Your story is inspirational and gives me hope!

I have been doing osteostrong for almost 2years. (it will be two years next month).
I recently got my first DEXA scan since I started the program. I was scheduled to get one this year ANYWAY because my last one in 2022 showed osteoporosis. I have NEVER taken a single osteoporosis prescription medication but I have had them prescribed. I started Osteostrong because of my 2022 DEXA. And I was nervous to see the results of this newest one nearly 2 years after starting the program.

I was DELIGHTED to see that my spine (L1-L3) had increased by 7.2 % and my total left hip had increased by 4.4% without taking anything OTHER THAN a REALLY good Calcium supplement for the past several years. (I take BONE BUILDER FORTE by METAGENICS because the type of calcium is HYDROXYAPATITE (a HIGHLY absorbable calcium).

My RIGHT HIP was reported as NSC (No Significant Change). The only negative result was to my right femur neck which got SLIGHTLY worse but I have an issue with that leg that we're now addressing in my regular routine at OSTEOSTRONG. I go once a week and use the vibration plates before and after using the osteostrong machines. They have been shown to sort of trigger the bones before the compression. And I WISH I only had to pay $99 a month. In BOULDER CO in 2024 the monthly fee is $199. But I have a friend who pays $1000/month WITH INSURANCE coverage for DAILY FORTEO shots that she has to self administer. I'll gladly pay $200/month for non invasive Osteostrong!

I'm beyond thrilled with my first dexa since I started Osteostrong. I'd say it's worth EVERY DIME.

By the way, my MEDICAL DOCTOR wrote to me after she assesssed my test results (after years of trying to get me to do Fosamax or Reclast): "While you still have some readings that are in the range of osteoporosis or osteopenia my recommendation is to STAY OFF MEDICATION and CONTINUE WITH THE OSTEOSTRONG PROGRAM." FYI she didn't capitalize those words...I did for you guys because I thought they were remarkable coming from a medical doctor!

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Another opinion:

great informative presentation! thank you for posting!

Opinions certainly vary. Some LOVE and swear by Osteostrong, but I've heard one too many stories about no studies and high fracture risk.