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Dr. Rajka Galbraith explains how precision medicine may offer women more options for protecting their bones.
One of the hardest conversations I have with women is after they’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis.
Many feel afraid. Some are told medication is their only option. Others are simply told to “wait and watch.”
But what if there are more questions to ask?
In this episode of Stronger Bones Lifestyle, I spoke with functional medicine physician and longevity expert Dr. Rajka Galbraith about hormones, peptides, and precision medicine. While these therapies aren’t appropriate for everyone, understanding them can help women make more informed decisions alongside knowledgeable healthcare providers.
Bone Health Is More Than Bone Density
Dr. Galbraith shared a deeply personal story about losing her mother after years of preventable decline related to osteoporosis, frailty, and limited mobility.
That experience shaped her mission: helping women prevent fractures before they happen.
It’s a reminder that bone health isn’t just about a DEXA score—it’s about preserving independence, strength, and quality of life.
What Are Peptides?
One of the most fascinating parts of our conversation was learning about peptides. Dr. Galbraith described peptides as tiny protein messengers that deliver highly targeted signals within the body.
Because they act so specifically, they’re becoming an exciting area of functional and longevity medicine.
She also emphasized something incredibly important: peptides should only be prescribed and monitored by clinicians with specialized training using reputable compounding pharmacies. This isn’t an area for self-experimentation.
Hormones Aren’t One-Size-Fits-All
Hormones remain an important tool in functional medicine for supporting bone health. Dr. Galbraith explained that many women—even years after menopause—may still benefit from hormone therapy depending on their individual history, risk factors, and overall health.
For women with more complex medical histories, including some cancer survivors, decisions require careful evaluation and personalized testing. That’s why working with an experienced practitioner matters so much.
Precision Medicine Starts with the Basics
One of my favorite parts of our discussion was that Dr. Galbraith doesn’t begin with peptides or hormones. She begins with foundations—nutrition, digestion, stress, sleep, and inflammation.
Only after addressing those core areas does she layer on more advanced therapies when appropriate. That philosophy aligns beautifully with everything I teach.
My Takeaway
Advanced therapies can be exciting, but they never replace the foundations of health. Healthy food, restorative sleep, stress management, movement, and personalized care create the environment where every other intervention has the opportunity to work better.
Knowledge gives us options—and options create hope.
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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.