[.ca] The Bone Density Diet: 6 Weeks to a Strong Body and Mind (ISBN 0345432843)

From Amazon.com:
More than 25 million Americans have osteoporosis, or porous bones, and another 34 million people are at risk because of their low bone density. This is preventable, says author George Kessler, an osteopathic physician. In The Bone Density Diet, he explains which risk factors can and cannot be changed. Although some risk factors are genetic or depend on past behaviors, most of them are based on choices we are making now. Kessler describes in practical detail how to make bone-healthy changes that include diet, exercise, supplements, and lifestyle. He presents a holistic program for bone protection. You learn which foods to eat and which to avoid, with menus and recipes; which nutrients are essential, and how to supplement most efficiently (and explains why taking calcium alone isn't the best tactic); which hormones you need, and when; and the best exercises to build your bones. Kessler presents a lot of vital and up-to-date information in a clear and friendly style, with plenty of interesting boxed tips and anecdotes to add variety, although calling it a six-week program is rather misleading. Kessler never intends for you to go off the plan after six weeks or see tangible results in that time; he means that you will have integrated it into a habit if you follow it for six weeks. --Joan Price

The only book on Osteoporosis you'll need to buy!:
My mother recently underwent a Bone Scan that revealed she had Osteopenia. Her diagnosis was all the prompting I needed to seek more info into Osteoporosis. I was shocked at how little attention such a devastating disorder had received over the years! I applaud Dr. Kessler for his efforts to educate not only the public on the importance of maintaining healthy bones but his colleagues as well. This book makes you aware that PREVENTION is the key to avoiding Osteoporosis....With that knowledge in hand I have drastically changed my eating habits and exercise routines. Ironically......I feel better than I have in years!

Inspiring solutions to thinning bones:
This book offers osteoporosis patients (which includes most post-menopausal women and perhaps zealous female athletes) a variety of lifestyle changes that will help them halt bone loss. Some bone loss is inevitable as one ages, but I found this book inspiring and self-empowering. The science of bone-building and destruction is not watered down, but explained clearly. Exercise cannot be overestimated in preventing bone loss. Dietary recommendations were thoughtful and practical. Most interesting were some medical tests recommended to check calcium metabolism to make sure absorption is not impeding the benefits of supplementation. The personal stories of the author's patients were inspiring and interesting to hear how each woman made changes that improved her general health as well as the health of her skeleton. I wish I could encourage more women to read this book. Read it especially, if you are diagnosed with osteo and you don't know what to do.

Good for your whole body, not just your bones:
This is a very practical book! The set of information is very up-to-date as well as easy to absorb. The author provides a good explanation of the mechanism behind bone loss, which helps readers understand why the various suggestions might be helpful. The format of the book is based on an easily-implemented 6-week plan, including recipes and menus. Each "week" the author carefully discusses one of several lifestyle changes readers might consider, including diet, exercise, prescription drugs, vitamin supplements, hormone supplements, and various natural remedies (like herbs), though the author's intent is to keep you off drugs if possible. In spite of the fact that I've read many books on osteoporosis, I learned a great deal reading this book. For instance, I had no idea that taking certain common prescription drugs (including thyroid medications, anti-convulsants, and diuretics) can increase your odds of developing osteoporosis. I am impressed by the author's knowledge of vitamins and minerals that are crucial for healthy bones. His extensive table of recommended supplements (p. 185) is similar to only one I've ever seen (in Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis by Alan Gaby). Many people, including medical doctors, still don't seem to realize that the body needs many compounds other than calcium, magnesium, and Vitamin D to build bone. If the only thing you learn from this book is that your bones need several other compounds every day, the purchase will be well worthwhile. The author gently advocates a diet that leans toward vegetarian (and organic in fact), since consuming animal proteins promotes bone loss. He points out that dairy products aren't the bone-building panaceas the marketing boards would lead us to believe. (Like meat, dairy products are very acidic, and in order for your body to process them, calcium is actually depleted from the bones.) The author doesn't go so far as to say one should avoid such foods at all costs, but he does offer menus which are friendly to readers who want to follow a strict vegetarian diet. I found this refreshing in an age when many hospital dieticians are still espousing very traditional diets in spite of strong medical evidence supporting diets that are low in (or exclude) animal products. One minor "bone" of contention I have ;) is on p. 200 where the author states that Premarin contains estradiol. In fact Premarin contains very little estradiol; its main components are compounds that are not found in humans. The rest of the author's discussion of hormone replacement is top-notch. When deemed necessary, he advocates using natural hormones (like estradiol, estrone, estriol, and progesterone) over pseudo-hormones (like Premarin, Prempro, equinone, and progestin, each of which is molecularly very different from any hormone you'll find in a human). Be aware of what your doctor prescribes; the long-term effects are yours to live with. Bottom line: This book is helpful to men and women of any age who are interested in maintaining strong bones, a healthy body, and a relaxed state of mind.

Change Your Life For Good!:
I was recently diagnosed with osteoporosis at the premenopausal age of 40. I thought a book about a "diet" would help me learn how to change my eating habits to address the situation. This book gave me a lot more than daily menus! I have learned volumes about my disease and now feel I can discuss my situation with my doctor on a much more informed level. The exercises illustrated in the book are quite helpful, but knowing I'm not disciplined enough to do them alone at home, I joined the gym. Who would have ever thought I'd enjoy weight-lifting and kick-boxing?! After reading this book, yes, I still have osteoporosis, but by incorporating the foods that were suggested into my diet, regularly exercising and taking medication (which was also explained in great detail), I feel better about my physical well-being than I did before I was diagnosed. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants information on osteoporosis and is committed to preventing and/or improving their condition.

A "must" for anyone interested in bone health:
Bone Density Diet is very thorough in covering all aspects of bone health. (It might provide more information than some people want.) Even though it is very readable, I wish it had been edited a bit. There was quite a bit of repeating points. The boxes and charts were helpful though, and nothing was too technical to understand. Also, I tried to put together the supplementation Kessler advises. It isn't easy to do without taking a lot of pills. Overall I would suggest this as an excellent book for women especially who are concerned about osteoporosis. It can inspire readers to do something about the possiblity of being hit with this disease--to take charge instead of just hoping it doesn't happen. I'm glad I read it. Even if a reader only does one or two things learned in the book, they will be better off for it.