My DXA 2020
Written by
Irma Jennings, INHC
Uploaded
November 17
My latest DXA and TBS report. As a reminder, I was diagnosed with osteopenia in 2005 and given a script for Fosamax. I declined. My intention was to implement my 6 pillars for bone health for a better outcome:
I took my 90 minutes pilgrimage to Hospital of The University of Pennsylvania. DXA during Covid of course had its moments. Masks, temperature testing, hand sanitizer, distancing...we all know the necessary Covid drill.
(more…)Skelly and I love to quench our thirst. Instead of reaching for filtered water, we drink one 750mg bottle of Gerolsteiner Mineral Water. Not only for the bioavailability of the calcium and magnesium but because mineral water offsets a highly-acidic Western diet characterized by high grains and animal products. Drinking 1,500-2,000 mL of mineral water rich in bicarbonate (>1.8 g/L) can help reduce the net dietary acid load. [1]
Personally, I am a mostly grain-free animal protein eater. Animal protein keeps me grounded. Otherwise I float away and my brain does not function in a sharp way. Not everyone eats this way as we are all individuals with different dietary needs. Vegetarians typically eat more grains which are more acidic.
(more…)Vitamin D has gotten a lot of attention lately, especially when talking about bone health. Can we get enough Vitamin D from the sun and Vitamin D from our food?
But, for the average person, the topic of vitamin D can get confusing. Since anyone can be at risk for having a vitamin D deficiency, I want to make it easier for people to optimize this essential nutrient. Here are some tips for getting your vitamin D level just right.
(more…)Is Vitamin D covered by Medicare?
Getting my yearly blood work gave me a shock as I was handed a mystery medical bill for my Vitamin D and my other blood work.
For my EU and Australia clients/readers this will not be the case for you.
Medical in the US has it's own language and labyrinth.
I am on Medicare and I naively thought my blood work would have been covered. Guess what?
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.
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.
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.
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.
(more…)
