It’s been awhile since our bones have connected.  I've been in the middle of my own covid-19 experience.  I’m missing our communication however, I needed to be in a place of stillness and quiet understanding my own relationship with Covid-19 and how my / our world will be reshaped.  We have all been touched by this virus in varying ways.

My physical health is fine. I had imposed a 2-week self-quarantined since my masked and gloved flight home from Florida on March 20th.

As a small business owner I applied for Payroll Protection Program (PPP) to pay my independent contractors, who are the bones of my business. They help me with filming my cooking videos, researching the latest in Food for Healthy Bones food science, keeping the back-end of my website running smoothly and supporting members of my Bones Tribe.  All efforts working together.

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When I receive my yearly Complete Blood Count blood work, I look over the numbers with my doctor checking if anything is out of range. I didn't consider blood work to be a measure for osteoporosis related risk factors.   However, in this two part series on Complete Blood Count (CBC) we learn from Dr. Keith McCormick's experience, working with osteoporosis patients for decades, how a simple blood test can assess osteoporosis related fracture ricks.

Complete Blood Count allows a trained practitioner to assess osteoporosis related fracture risk.

Complete Blood Count (CBC) and fracture risk

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Markers:

RBC count (red blood cells) MPV (mean platelet volume) NLR (neutrophil lymphocyte ratio) RDW (red cell distribution width) Hgb (hemoglobin) MCV (mean corpuscular volume)

What do the markers mean?

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There are many bone-loving foods that get a twinkle light shone on them at this holiday time of year and and my Chocolate Almond Date Boney Treats gets a real twinkle. As Skelly and I were making our holiday menu lists, and checking them twice, Skelly realized that the last month of the year can turn into a food free-for-all. 

Inroad to Building Stronger Bones

This can be especially helpful food information for those who are using nutrition as an inroad to building stronger bones.

These featured foods include nuts, root vegetables, leafy greens and fish (when they are of the wild variety) and many are likely to be found at one or more holiday gatherings including, possibly, your own festive meal table.  It’s good news to keep in mind, particularly if you are a person who does a lot of cooking, baking and entertaining during this time of year. (more…)

Skelly and I were talking the other day, noting one of the many ways human beings are interesting; resistance and bone health came to mind.  When something is new or different, rather than running towards it, many times we put on the break, curious but with apprehension and a one-step-forward-two-steps back mentality. 

It moves us into varying spaces of resistance that can look like so many different things. Fear, ambivalence or procrastination all can be a bit dizzying.  And it can show up in all areas of life, including the area of bone loss.

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There are times throughout the day when my Skelly holds her breath out of fear, fatigue or stress and that's not good for bone health. There are many ways that we manipulate breath, from holding it or allowing it in/out on a shallow level to taking in tiny gulps when stressed.

“It’s amazing how many folks do not breathe into their lower lungs and belly,” said Dr. Thomas J. Francescott, ND, a naturopath who practices in New York’s upper Hudson Valley. “Breathing has the ability to help stress hormones, vagus nerve (runs from the brain through the face and thorax down to the abdomen, containing parasympathetic fibres) and general relaxation.  In terms of bone health, stress plays a big role in bone breakdown.  So simple techniques to oxygenate the tissues can help to build bones" 

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This interview offered by Dr. Richard Eastell Director, The Mellanby Centre for Bone Research, Department of Oncology and Metabolism Faculity of Medicine, Dentistry and Health University of Sheffield, UK was presented by the International Osteoporosis Foundation.

Bone turnover markers.  What are they and who needs them?

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Bone Quality:

Since I started working in the field of bone health there is a common thread that drives a bigger question. 

Is the DXA test (which measures bone density) the only way to determine the overall health of your bones?

But what about bone quality?

OSTEOPOROSIS AND BONE QUALITY

Dr. Lani Simpson interviewed the researcher and developer of the Trabecular Bones Score TBS software, Dr. Didier Hans.

They discussed bone density testing, with a special focus on the TBS score.

The recording and notes are now available.

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Holy Basil is twice the spice and benefits the body, inside and out.

While basil may conjure images of fresh pesto and caprese salad, holy basil (or, tulsi) swaps the spice cabinet for the medicine cabinet. 

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