The Gut
Because Hippocrates (the Father of Medicine) said, “All disease begins in the gut,” I believe as with the healing of any condition, this is the place to begin.
In my opinion, the biggest factor in nutrients making or not making it to their destinations is the health of the gut microbiome. The process of digestion actually begins prior to food making it to our gut, and it is critical that it is being broken down properly and completely. If you don’t have sufficient acid, along with enzymes and hormones, you cannot properly digest your food, especially certain foods that tend to ferment after leaving the stomach, which can create many issues. We’ll cover more on digestion later, but if all has gone appropriately in the stomach, the biggest factor in nutrients making or not making it to their destinations is the health of the gut microbiome.
The health and protection of your bones requires ensuring the gut microbiome is in optimal health. If the microbiome of the gut is not optimal, it will prevent complete nutrient absorption. Without a well-balanced microbiome and proper foods for nutrition, most other efforts will be futile. As stated above, in the mentioned PMC study, Leaky Gut and intestinal dysbiosis are major influences on the health of your bones. Without the proper balance of good bacteria in your gut, you can lose many of the nutrients your body and bones need for health and healing because they never make it to your bloodstream to be taken in and used.
While the bad or opportunistic bacteria work to overthrow the whole system and wreak havoc on your body, the good bacteria in a healthy gut work to synthesize nutrients like vitamins and enhance the absorption of minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, and others. These good bacteria also break down toxins, making them less threatening. Though some say as much as 4/5 of your immune system is in the gut lining, 1 most make it at least 70 to 75%. An interesting note is from Anne McIntrye, author of The Herbal Tutor, who says, “The use of contraceptive pills and HRT, together with poor digestion and stress, can lead to the proliferation of pathogenic yeasts and bacteria in the gut which create toxins, destroy vitamins, inactivate enzymes and lead to the formation of chemicals which are carcinogenic. Unfriendly microorganisms in the gut can lead to leaky gut.” It is, therefore, imperative to keep the bad bacteria outnumbered by good bacteria at all times to aid healing and maintain the majority of the immune system.
Leaky Gut and/or an improperly balanced gut microbiome is one of the first places to look at nutrient loss. It is estimated that close to 80% of the population has Leaky Gut or at least a major imbalance of the microbiota of the gut. More than suspected likely have dysbiosis. Since all nutrient absorption begins here, it only makes sense to look here first to ensure one is getting all the nutrients needed, or complete healing cannot take place. For more on Leaky Gut, healing it, and being tested, see “Leaky Gut and How Does It Affect Our Health.” (A)
To make sure you have a proper balance in the gut microbiome, fermented foods and daily Probiotics are key. You can learn more about Probiotics in general in Natural and Produced Probiotics(B); however, 7 strains have been proven to be most beneficial for the bones, which are discussed in detail in Probiotics For the Bones, either to help heal or maintain your microbiome with balance.
There are many things that can affect the gut and nutrient absorption. Having proper stomach acid levels is one of these. Many people with Osteo (my term here refers to anyone with Osteopenia or Osteoporosis) take medications as well as calcium supplements that diminish stomach acid either in volume or pH levels. For food to be properly broken down, sufficient acid levels (as well as enzymes and hormones) are required. Many do not have proper levels of gastric acid; therefore, some foods ferment in the stomach, causing many of the nutrients to be lost before they are ever taken into your bloodstream, as they remain in that state throughout the entire intestinal tract. If you take antacids or calcium supplements, you need to know that calcium is alkaline, and many medications for excess stomach acid contain calcium or acid-neutralizing agents that counter stomach acid. These neutralize the acid needed for you to fully break down the food you eat, and because of the lack, can cause fermentation, which decreases nutrient absorption and eventually can lead to acid reflux, which in turn, causes Leaky Gut and/or dysbiosis. Knowing you have proper stomach acid levels is the first way to ensure you’re getting all the nutrients from your food and supplements. Miss this, and most other efforts may be in vain. If you do not have the right levels of acid, your efforts to heal may be in vain. There are natural ways, however, to ensure you have adequate levels, as covered in the linked article above on having proper levels. (2)
Naturally Better Bones 