ing the ones important for fat metabolism. And the best sources of
magnesium are vegetables.
A Note on Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is usually a multifactorial problem, meaning there’s
hardly ever just one cause. We know that a lack of calcium is usually
not the cause, nor is low estrogen. Methods that are effective in treat-
ing or preventing osteoporosis in one person may have very different
results in someone else. In addition, osteoporosis may not be as much
of a problem as it has been made into, as Susan Brown, Ph.D., author
of “Better Bones, Better Body” emphasizes:
- Osteoporosis itself doesn’t cause bone fractures; half of
those with osteoporosis never get fractures. - Severely osteoporotic vertebrae are strong enough to
withstand five times the normal weight-bearing. - Menopause does not, per se, cause osteoporosis, and only
15 percent of a woman’s bones are affected by estrogen. - Zinc and magnesium may be as important as calcium for
bones. - Up to 80 percent of all hip-fracture patients may have a
vitamin D deficiency.
Iron
Most people think of anemia when the mineral iron is discussed. But
iron is an important nutrient for all areas of the body, especially the
brain and the aerobic muscles; it aids in the production of neurotrans-
mitters and other brain chemicals, is in the protective covering of
nerves and helps carry oxygen in the blood to all parts of the body.
Most people can obtain sufficient iron from a healthy diet, especially
from beef and other meats. If supplements are necessary, because a
blood test shows low levels for example, a relatively low daily dose,
such as 10 mg, for a month or two may be enough. Higher doses of
iron can be irritating to the intestine and very unhealthy for the whole
body as discussed below. If you have a continuous need for iron,
something more important may be missing.
148 • IN FITNESS AND IN HEALTH