A deeper look at bone health, mineral balance, stress, and the surprising truth behind modern osteoporosis care

One of the most common things I hear from women is this: “My doctor said I have osteoporosis. Now I’m scared.” That fear, confusion, and sense of fragility is something so many women carry after a DEXA scan — and it breaks my heart, because it doesn’t have to be this way.

In this episode of the Stronger Bones Lifestyle Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Susan Brown, a medical anthropologist, clinical nutritionist, and founder of Better Bones. She’s one of the most trusted voices in the bone health world, and she brings a refreshing, scientific, empowering perspective that every woman deserves to hear.

Together, we explored how bone health goes far beyond a T-score — and why the current medical narrative often misses the full picture of what actually builds, strengthens, and protects your bones.

Are Fragile Bones a “Normal” Part of Aging? Cross-Cultural Research Says No.

One of the most fascinating parts of Dr. Brown’s work is her anthropological background. She has studied communities around the world — many of which live long, active lives with no epidemic of fractures.

Why?

Because osteoporosis as we know it is largely a Western disease.

Women in other cultures are often more active, more nutritionally supported, and less chronically stressed. They move differently, eat differently, think differently, and live in a rhythm that supports bone strength.

This alone tells us something critical:

Bone loss is not inevitable.

Why DEXA Scans Don’t Tell the Whole Story

DEXA scans measure density — not bone quality, resiliency, microarchitecture, or strength.

And for many women (especially petite women, aging women, and women with naturally smaller frames) the numbers can appear much worse than their real fracture risk.

Dr. Brown explained how the very definition of “osteoporosis” was created:

• A young 30-year-old female was used as the baseline
  
  
• Anyone whose bone density fell more than 2.5 standard deviations below that was labeled “osteoporotic”
  
  

But women naturally lose bone density with age, and that doesn’t automatically mean their bones are weak or fragile.

This diagnostic model has scared millions of women unnecessarily — and it’s time we question it.

What Really Matters for Bone Strength

During our conversation, Dr. Brown highlighted several overlooked factors that determine real-world fracture risk far more accurately than a single scan:

1. Your hormone environment — especially cortisol

Stress is one of the most powerful bone-dissolving forces in the body. Chronic stress activates hormonal pathways that break down bone faster than you can rebuild it.

2. Muscle strength and function

Muscles and bones are teammates — stronger muscles mean stronger bones.

3. Nutrition that supports the entire bone remodeling cycle

Dr. Brown teaches that there are 20 essential nutrients for building bone, not just calcium and vitamin D.

4. Oxidative stress and inflammation

Chronic inflammation disrupts bone-building cells and accelerates loss.

5. Overall lifestyle patterns

Sleep, digestion, movement, mindset — they all matter.

This is good news, because these are things we can change.

Actionable Tips to Strengthen Your Bones Today

Here are some practical steps you can start implementing right away:

✔ Support your mineral balance with magnesium, vitamin K2, potassium-rich foods, and trace minerals

✔ Manage stress daily through breathing, mindfulness, yoga, walking, or grounding

✔ Eat an alkaline-leaning diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole, unprocessed foods

✔ Build muscle gradually using functional strength that feels safe and supportive for your body

✔ Improve your digestion so you can fully absorb the nutrients your bones need

✔ Reduce inflammation by lowering sugar, processed foods, and inflammatory oils

Resources Mentioned

• Better Bones: https://betterbones.com
  
  
• Medical Osteoporosis Workup (searchable on Better Bones)
  
  
• Oxidized LDL Testing via Quest Diagnostics
  
  

Final Thoughts

Dr. Susan Brown’s message is simple and empowering:

You are not your T-score.

You are not fragile.

Your bones are living, responsive, adaptable tissue — and you have the power to strengthen them.

If you’ve ever been told that your body is weak, broken, or beyond repair, I hope this episode brings you a sense of relief, clarity, and renewed confidence. You can rebuild your bones, protect your future, and feel strong again.

If you want deeper support, healing tools, and a clear plan to lower inflammation, improve digestion, and support nutrient absorption, explore my Healthy Gut, Healthy Bones program

Let’s build stronger bones — and stronger lives — together. 💛