Low weight risks

[TaupeRawMan]

I just found out some concerning medical info about myself and wanted to share it with others as it might apply to some other folks on here too.

I am a man in my 30's and have always been mindful of keeping my weight down due to succumbing to society's thinness indoctrination. Since going 100% raw (a few years ago), my weight dropped an additional 10 to 15 pounds (low range for my height) and has pretty much stayed there. When people meet me , they think I am thin ("how do you stay so thin?"), but not unhealthy looking. I have been also mindful of spending time in the sunshine and weight-bearing exercise. I learned a couple of weeks ago that I am vitamin D deficient. My doctor then sent me for a DEXA scan and the results just came back osteoporosis. My diet has lots of fruits and green veggies as well as nuts and seeds. Lots of sea veggies, green smoothies, etc. All other lab tests are fine.

I wanted to post this information as a wake-up call for anyone on here that might not be maintaining adequate weight on their frame. This is what my doctors are thinking is the biggest cause for the osteoporosis, as well as that the sun is not cutting it with the Vitamin D. I know there are others on here that are maybe not eating enough or might have some unhealthy eating habits that keep their bodies from getting enough fuel. There seems to be a lot of interest in losing weight and I just wanted to put out there that it is important to maintain a healthy weight to protect your bones. Again, I am not emaciated and thought that being thin was good (and am a man!). I am now on a weight restoration mission to help heal my body. I need to gain about 15 pounds and maintain at least that. It is going to be difficult on raw foods as they are very filling, but I believe it can be done. My doctor wants to put me on Fosamax, but I don't think that is a healthy way to go.

Anyway, thanks for listening. I hope this helps others who are possibly not eating enough (whether purposefully or not).

[gabriele]

I just found out some concerning medical info about myself and wanted to share it with others as it might apply to some other folks on here too.

I am a man in my 30's and have always been mindful of keeping my weight down due to succumbing to society's thinness indoctrination. Since going 100% raw (a few years ago), my weight dropped an additional 10 to 15 pounds (low range for my height) and has pretty much stayed there. When people meet me , they think I am thin ("how do you stay so thin?"), but not unhealthy looking. I have been also mindful of spending time in the sunshine and weight-bearing exercise. I learned a couple of weeks ago that I am vitamin D deficient. My doctor then sent me for a DEXA scan and the results just came back osteoporosis. My diet has lots of fruits and green veggies as well as nuts and seeds. Lots of sea veggies, green smoothies, etc. All other lab tests are fine.

I wanted to post this information as a wake-up call for anyone on here that might not be maintaining adequate weight on their frame. This is what my doctors are thinking is the biggest cause for the osteoporosis, as well as that the sun is not cutting it with the Vitamin D. I know there are others on here that are maybe not eating enough or might have some unhealthy eating habits that keep their bodies from getting enough fuel. There seems to be a lot of interest in losing weight and I just wanted to put out there that it is important to maintain a healthy weight to protect your bones. Again, I am not emaciated and thought that being thin was good (and am a man!). I am now on a weight restoration mission to help heal my body. I need to gain about 15 pounds and maintain at least that. It is going to be difficult on raw foods as they are very filling, but I believe it can be done. My doctor wants to put me on Fosamax, but I don't think that is a healthy way to go.

Anyway, thanks for listening. I hope this helps others who are possibly not eating enough (whether purposefully or not).

thanks for sharing this info. What are you going to do? We take Vitamin D3, which is animal derived. My husband wants to know about D2, which is plant/yeast derived, but i've read that it's not assimilated in the body as well as D3 and is not as effective for you. I do believe personally that we should be supplementing with D of some kind. Help!!

[rawmiss]

Before you take Fosamax be aware that it weakens the jaw.
http://www.yourlegalguide.com/onj/
"The most serious Fosamax side effect is the development of a bone disease called osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), or "dead jaw." Osteonecrosis of the jaw is a rare form of osteonecrosis affecting the maxillofacial region of the body."

I'm sure that there must be more to osteoporosis than low weight. Perhaps if the low weight is due to inability to absorb nutrient - including calcium - then it might be a factor, but then that would be due to inability to absorb any nutrients at all. I don't understand what it might be about simply being thin and well nourished that would cause osteoporosis. Unless your not getting enough of a certain type of fat and that fat is needed to utilize calcium.

[TaupeRawMan]

thanks for sharing this info. What are you going to do? We take Vitamin D3, which is animal derived. My husband wants to know about D2, which is plant/yeast derived, but i've read that it's not assimilated in the body as well as D3 and is not as effective for you. I do believe personally that we should be supplementing with D of some kind. Help!!

Hi Gabriele - thanks for the response. My plan is to take D3 by Pure Encapsulations. It is in a liquid form and will allow me to tailor how much I take. I am planning to start at 2000iu per day, as that has been proposed as the new ideal. D2 was what I always took in the past and looked for because it is vegan, but, as you said, it is not assimilated as well. This took some battles with my orthorexic mind committees, as supplements are bad and animal-based is out of the question! However, I realized that the D2, although plant-based, is possibly foreign/toxic to the body and that got me on board with the D3.


Before you take Fosamax be aware that it weakens the jaw.
http://www.yourlegalguide.com/onj/
"The most serious Fosamax side effect is the development of a bone disease called osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), or "dead jaw." Osteonecrosis of the jaw is a rare form of osteonecrosis affecting the maxillofacial region of the body."

I'm sure that there must be more to osteoporosis than low weight. Perhaps if the low weight is due to inability to absorb nutrient - including calcium - then it might be a factor, but then that would be due to inability to absorb any nutrients at all. I don't understand what it might be about simply being thin and well nourished that would cause osteoporosis. Unless your not getting enough of a certain type of fat and that fat is needed to utilize calcium.

Hi Raw Miss - thanks for the thoughts. Yes, I had read about the potential for osteonecrosis of the jaw and tons of other side effects of Fosamax. It is not something I am considering at this point. The issue with the low weight is that I am undernourished. That is the issue. If one is well nourished and getting everything they need and their body is functioning well, than this is not an issue. I am undernourished. My reason for posting this and my concern with others on this board is with the quest for the ideal weight (usually lower than where people are currently and possibly constantly moving lower) and optimal health through fasting and restricting and low calorie diets. I know that rings true for some people here and not for others. This posting is for those that this resonates with. I wish I had gotten my act together years ago....

[sport]

I have the same problem. This is what I take.

http://www.algaecal.com/

I did research it and think that it is the best of what I saw. I take the supplement during the day and the strontium at bed time. I find it sad that I have to take this when it contains D3 but there does not seem to be anything I can do about that.
I also purchased a weight vest and that is something that you should consider doing.

[Dimond]

Algaecal looks good, but if it's just algae, I would think any algae supplement could work such as spirulina, chlorella, other green powders, etc.

[sport]

Algaecal looks good, but if it's just algae, I would think any algae supplement could work such as spirulina, chlorella, other green powders, etc.



What ingredients are in AlgaeCal Plus?

AlgaeCal Plus Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 4 Capsules Amount Per Serving %D.V.*
Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) 1600 IU 400%
Vitamin K2 (as MK-7) 100 mcg
**
Calcium (from Algas Calcareas) 720 mg 72%
Magnesium (from Algas Calcareas) 350 mg 54%
Trace Minerals (from Algas Calcareas) 1464 mg
**
Boron (Fruitex B(r) OsteoBoron) 3 mg
**
Vitamin C (calcium ascorbate) 50 mg 80%

* Percent Daily Value Based on a 2,000 Calorie Diet
** Percent Daily Value Not Established
Other Ingredients: Vegetarian Capsule

*This product does not contain: sugar; yeast; wheat; gluten; corn; soy; dairy; artificial color, sweeteners, flavors, or preservatives

[TaupeRawMan]

I have the same problem. This is what I take.

http://www.algaecal.com/

I did research it and think that it is the best of what I saw. I take the supplement during the day and the strontium at bed time. I find it sad that I have to take this when it contains D3 but there does not seem to be anything I can do about that.
I also purchased a weight vest and that is something that you should consider doing.

Sport - thank you! This looks great! I am going to do some more research on it, but they offer a guarantee so it looks non-risky. Where have you found the best price?

[sport]

Sport - Where have you found the best price?

To the best of my knowledge you can only buy them direct. I have them shipped to me here in Ireland and also order for one sister and one friend.

[Ocean]

Whether you do weight bearing exercises has a HUGE impact on osteoporosis.

http://www.nof.org/prevention/exercise.htm

Also consuming too much protein leaches calcium from your bones.

One more thing about DEXA scans...if you are thin or very large framed, they aren't accurate.

See here for more info:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CYD/is_21_34/ai_61621161/

Do a search for "DEXA scan inaccurate thin build" Or something to that effect.

I am very distrustful of scans and things, know WAY too many people who were told something was wrong when nothing was (and I am a Registered Nurse!).

I went in for a heart ECHO and they told me that it was technically difficult because of my thinness. So they didn't even get all the measurements.

I personally am not worrying about it. My mom has been thin all of her life, is in her 50's, doc told her not to worry about it. She runs, does weight bearing exercises, ect.

On the other hand I know several overweight people who do have osteoporosis. I think it has to do more with diet ie...eating dairy and meat is bad for your bones.

I would get a second opinion, I wouldn't buy it (again I was blown off my the medical profession for years when I finally found out I have had Lyme for over a decade, so am not very trusting of conventional medicine anymore, so this is my opinion only!).

:)

Ocean

[TaupeRawMan]

To the best of my knowledge you can only buy them direct. I have them shipped to me here in Ireland and also order for one sister and one friend.


Have you had any follow-up DEXA or any other signs of improvement? How long have you been taking it?

[sport]

Have you had any follow-up DEXA or any other signs of improvement? How long have you been taking it?

I have only been on it for about 3 months so it is too soon to get results.

Have you thought about the weight vest. You should get one and gradually increase the weight and the amount of time you wear it. It will give you the same effect as having more weight without the detrimental effects.

[Raw Angel Mom]

two words Weight lifting/push up!

It has been found that while doing weight lifting and our muscle getting bigger the bone density increase also.

Low vitamin D is such an issue for so many of us. Thank you for posting and sharing your experience.

Hugs

[TaupeRawMan]

Hi Sport and Raw Angel Mom -

regarding the exercise and weight....part of the problem that I was trying to emphasize in my post that I don't think I did adequately is that, in my case, low weight means not enough fuel. So the vest and exercise will be helpful after I get some added fat, organ tissue, etc. Again, I am not emaciated, but am not getting enough calories, nutrients, etc to sustain my body where it needs to be. I have read so much about the benefits of calorie restricting and "less is more" and "thin is in". Not always the case.

And I think I am going to need to limit the posts I read on this board as there are a lot of people interested in losing weight and that is not what I need to focus on. Reading how eating at night and eating too many nuts, etc, is bad adds to the messages is my head that the way I have been eating is okay. I need to boost it up quite a bit and that is going to be difficult. I need to just eat freely and substantially. Beyond fullness and beyond hunger. All raw, of course. Although that may sound like fun to some, it is very uncomfortable.

I am rambling. Sorry. Thanks again.

[ShantiLove]

I just saw the post now but it is so timely for me as it is somthing that have been on my mind lately. Im a skinny type has been all my life and been told that I have a higher risk of deveopling osteoporosis because of my low weight (specialy for a life time). My grandmother had it, not fun at all.

Well a couple of days ago I was watching this british program called Super skinny V super fat (I think it was). The skinny young woman was clearly not eating enough but had a active life as a nurse and mother. He (a doc.) told her that her bones was like a 60 year old. scary to be told when you are young. He have also in previous programes told the skinny people how thier body is eating of thire muscles and inner organs, and most important of thier heart as they have no fat to eat of :eek: I have heard before that skinny people have a bigger chance of heart problems but now I know why.
Ok I dont want to scare anyone but I feel that this is a big problem for skinny people like myself and like you said Tauperawman many in the raw community aswell. I belive that our aim should be "normal" not skinny. Skinny is not nessesary healthy.
I have mixed feeling about the calorie restricted diet aswell. My grandmother became 94 and mostly healthy on a calorie restricted diet. It was a SAD diet but she dident eat much most of her life. But people like me would loss way to much weight on this way of eating and I have heard of rawfooders who have been talking it to the extream, like being almost scared of food. I think that people who advoate calorie restricted diet should explaning it a little better so it cant be misunderstod.

Thankyou for posting this Taupe :D and keep us posted on how you are doing. There are people here who are not trying to loss weight, and are looking for information on how to gain or mantaing a healthy weight. I would be really interested in hearing what you find out :)

And thankyou Sport for posting about this amasing product. My husband has Crohn and need to take extra calcium and vit. D. But I want him to take a natural calcium as most producs and also the one the doctor recomended is a piece of chalk in a tablet form. The body cant use it for anything. Thankyou this is just what I have been looking for :D

[TaupeRawMan]

I have the same problem. This is what I take.

http://www.algaecal.com/

I did research it and think that it is the best of what I saw. I take the supplement during the day and the strontium at bed time. I find it sad that I have to take this when it contains D3 but there does not seem to be anything I can do about that.
I also purchased a weight vest and that is something that you should consider doing.


I just found out that Garden of Life is carrying Raw Calcium and it is similar (if not identical) to Algaecal (it has Algaecal as an ingredient). I think it is a lot cheaper than the Algaecal brand.

[sprouts2go]

I had my vit D checked and I was very low my 22 year old son had his done also and his was also very low. Neither of us are underweight. I watched Kevin Gianni when he explained all about Vit D3 and D2. People in New England tend to be more deficient in Vit D then others. I tried a plant based Vit D and broke out in a rash. I am now using A multi with it in it.