129. Osteoporosis & Bone Density: Why Your Bone Density Test Isn't Telling the Whole Story (with Dr. John)

Did you know a woman is just as likely to break a bone in her lifetime as she is to get breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer?! Yet bone health rarely makes it onto a busy mom's radar until it's too late...

In this episode, Brooke sits down with Dr. John Neustadt, naturopathic physician, founder of Nutritional Biochemistry Inc., and bestselling author of Fracture Proof Your Bones, to unpack what really predicts fracture risk, what's silently working against your bones, and what you can start doing today, even in your 30s and 40s.

What You'll Learn

• Bone density tests don't tell the whole story. They only predict fracture risk in 44% of women and 21% of men. Bone strength depends on collagen and protein, not just minerals, and that's what most tests miss.
• Common medications can quietly destroy bone. SSRIs, proton pump inhibitors, prednisone, and some blood pressure medications increase fracture risk, often without doctors or patients realizing it.
• Protein and collagen matter more than most women think. Under-eating protein is common, and adequate intake (plus hydrolyzed collagen) supports bone density and strength.
• Gait and balance predict fractures better than any test. Simple daily habits, like balance exercises and walking, lower fall risk more than people expect.
• The Mediterranean diet pattern works. A plants-and-protein approach is linked to a 20% reduction in osteoporosis risk and a 21% reduction in fracture risk.
• A diagnosis isn't an emergency. There's time to ask the right questions, get the right labs, and build a holistic plan before jumping straight to medication.

Bone loss is silent, common, and largely preventable. A bone density number isn't destiny. Protein, movement, medication awareness, and the right labs give you real control over your bone health, starting now, not just after menopause.

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