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When I first met Dr. Jenny Tufenkian, I knew I had to have her on the podcast. She’s a naturopathic doctor who specializes in long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)—two conditions that are quietly affecting millions of women, many of whom don’t even know why they feel so exhausted.
In our conversation, Dr. Jenny shared how long COVID and chronic fatigue aren’t just about being “tired.” They’re complex, multi-layered conditions involving inflammation, immune dysregulation, and even emotional overwhelm—all of which can directly affect bone health.
The Overlap Between Long COVID and Bone Health
When we think about osteoporosis or osteopenia, we often focus on calcium, vitamin D, or lifting weights. But after talking to Dr. Jenny, it’s clear that the body’s terrain—the environment inside us—plays a huge role in bone strength.
Conditions like long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome are rooted in inflammation, hormonal imbalance, and mitochondrial dysfunction, all of which drain our resilience. If your body is inflamed and depleted, it can’t build or maintain bone tissue effectively. As Dr. Jenny says, “You can’t have strong bones in a weak system.”
That means supporting your bones isn’t just about what you eat or how you move—it’s about restoring balance at every level: immune, hormonal, emotional, and energetic.
Root Causes: What’s Really Going On in the Body
Dr. Jenny identifies five major root causes behind long COVID and chronic fatigue:
- Viral or bacterial reactivation (such as Epstein-Barr)
- Hormonal imbalance between thyroid, adrenals, and ovaries
- Toxic overload from heavy metals, pesticides, or mold
- Mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to poor energy production
- Emotional or limbic dysregulation, when stress overwhelms the nervous system
Sound familiar? These are the same underlying factors I see in women struggling with osteoporosis, fatigue, and metabolic imbalances. The body doesn’t separate one system from another—everything is connected.
Inflammation, Acidity, and Bone Loss
Here’s something most people don’t realize: your bones act as a mineral bank. When your body becomes acidic due to stress, inflammation, or toxicity, it draws alkalizing minerals—like calcium and magnesium—out of the bones to restore balance.
As Dr. Jenny explained, chronic inflammation or exposure to toxins can silently erode your body’s foundation. Your kidneys and lungs work tirelessly to maintain your pH, but if stress and toxins keep coming, your bones pay the price.
That’s why healing from chronic fatigue or long COVID can also lead to healthier, stronger bones. When you reduce inflammation, detoxify, and manage stress, your bones finally get to rebuild.
Mind-Body Healing and Resilience
What struck me most about Dr. Jenny’s approach is how she integrates the mental, emotional, and energetic layers of healing. She reminds us that we carry emotional “toxins,” too—unprocessed grief, guilt, or fear that keep our nervous systems on high alert.
Just like your body needs detoxification, your mind and heart do, too. Rest, emotional release, breathwork, and mindfulness aren’t luxuries—they’re biological necessities.
When we let go of stress and restore safety in the body, our bones, our energy, and our vitality respond.
Steps You Can Take Today
If you suspect long COVID or chronic fatigue—or if you simply feel chronically depleted—start with these small but powerful actions:
- Prioritize deep rest and recovery without guilt. Resting is courageous.
- Drink clean water and avoid inflammatory foods and environmental toxins.
- Support detox pathways through sweating, breathwork, and movement.
- Cultivate emotional safety and practice daily stress reduction.
- Work with a practitioner who understands root-cause medicine.
My Takeaway
Healing is never one-dimensional. Whether it’s long COVID, fatigue, or bone loss, your body is always asking for balance—from the inside out.
Your bones thrive when your energy does.
Resources & Links
- Visit Dr. Jenny Tufenkian’s website for free resources and upcoming summits.
Podcast Subscribe Links - Reversing Osteoporosis
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Oxalates, also known as oxalic acid, are naturally occurring compounds found in many plants, vegetables, and fruits. They are part of a plant’s defense mechanism against predators and can be found in high concentrations in foods like spinach, rhubarb, beets, nuts, chocolate, tea, and certain beans.
Regarding bone health, oxalates can bind to minerals such as calcium in the gut, forming calcium oxalate. This compound is not easily absorbed by the body, meaning the calcium that could have been utilized for bone strengthening is instead excreted. This process can potentially lead to lower calcium availability for bone health, which can be particularly concerning for individuals at risk of osteoporosis or other bone-related issues.
However, for most women, dietary oxalates do not pose a significant threat to bone health, especially if their diet is balanced with enough calcium and they do not have a history of kidney stones.
Your gut is crucial for stronger bones for several reasons:
- Nutrient Absorption: The gut is where most nutrient absorption occurs. For bones to be healthy and strong, they need a variety of nutrients, particularly calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and vitamin D. A healthy gut efficiently absorbs these essential nutrients from your diet and facilitates their transportation to the bones.
- Gut Microbiome and Bone Health: Research has shown that the gut microbiome (the community of bacteria living in your intestines) can influence bone density. Certain gut bacteria help in producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate, which have been shown to promote bone health. SCFAs can enhance the absorption of minerals necessary for bone strength and play a role in reducing inflammation, which can negatively affect bone health.
- Hormone Regulation: The gut helps regulate hormones that are involved in bone metabolism, including insulin, thyroid hormones, and sex hormones like estrogen. For example, estrogen is vital for bone density, and gut health can influence estrogen levels through the enterohepatic circulation, where estrogens are processed in the liver and intestines.
- Reducing Inflammation: Chronic inflammation, which can stem from poor gut health, is linked to many conditions that compromise bone strength, such as osteoporosis. A healthy gut helps to reduce systemic inflammation, protecting bones from inflammatory damage.
- Immune System Modulation: The majority of the immune system is located in the gut. An imbalance in the immune system can lead to autoimmune conditions, some of which affect the bones. Maintaining gut health helps to ensure the immune system works correctly, protecting against autoimmune reactions that could impact bone health.
In essence, maintaining a healthy gut contributes significantly to stronger bones by ensuring the effective absorption of vital nutrients, regulating hormones, reducing inflammation, and supporting a healthy immune system. Therefore, a diet rich in bone-healthy nutrients, prebiotics, and probiotics, along with lifestyle factors that promote gut health, is key to maintaining strong bones.