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When you’re first diagnosed with osteoporosis, it can feel like your world is falling apart. The fear, confusion, and pressure to take medication can be overwhelming — especially when you’re told there’s nothing you can do to turn things around.
But today’s episode of the Stronger Bones Lifestyle Podcast is proof that there’s so much more within your control. I had the absolute joy of sitting down with Mary, one of my incredible clients from the Healthy Gut, Healthy Bones program. Over the past 18 months, I’ve watched her transform her health, her confidence, and her entire outlook on aging.
Her journey is a powerful reminder that healing doesn’t just happen in the body—it begins in the mind and gut.
From Hopelessness to Hope
When Mary first came to me, she had already been told by multiple doctors that she had “no choice” but to start osteoporosis medications—and that without them, she’d likely fracture a hip and die within a year. Those words left her devastated.
But deep down, she knew there had to be another way. She had once stopped bone loss naturally under the guidance of her chiropractor, and she wanted to rediscover that power. So when she found my podcast, something clicked. She signed up for the Healthy Gut, Healthy Bones program, ran functional labs, and decided to commit—100%.
Finding the Root Cause: Gut Health and Inflammation
Through her stool and hormone labs, we uncovered what I see so often in women with osteoporosis:
- Poor digestion and nutrient absorption
- Inflammation and immune dysfunction in the gut
- Sensitivities to gluten and dairy
- An imbalance in beneficial bacteria
Once we had this data, we built a customized plan focused on restoring gut health, calming inflammation, and nourishing her bones from the inside out.
The biggest shift came through diet. When Mary gave up gluten, dairy, and sugar and focused on whole, anti-inflammatory foods, everything changed. Her digestion improved, her energy increased, and even her mood lifted.
Learning to Love the Process
Mary had never been a cook before. “I used to be the joke of my friends,” she told me, laughing. But through the recipes and live cooking classes in the program, she discovered a new sense of joy in preparing nourishing meals.
Now, she experiments with gluten-free breads, lentil loaves, and homemade treats with dark chocolate. She brings her own food to social gatherings without hesitation and even teaches her friends what she’s learned.
This isn’t just about food—it’s about confidence, empowerment, and reclaiming your health story.
The Power of Community and Support
One of the biggest game-changers for Mary was the Stronger Bones Lifestyle community—a space filled with women who truly understand what it’s like to walk this journey. Through daily support, shared recipes, and open conversation, she never felt alone again.
As she put it:
“I have no support with most of my friends, but in this community, I feel seen, supported, and understood.”
And that’s what this work is about—helping women realize they’re not broken, fragile, or powerless.
Eighteen Months Later: A Different Woman
Today, Mary is thriving. Her inflammation markers are near zero, she’s maintaining a healthy weight, her digestion is better than ever, and she’s sleeping deeply without medication. She practices yoga every day, has improved her balance and posture, and moves through life with confidence.
When asked what she’d say to other women newly diagnosed with osteoporosis, her words were powerful:
“There is life after osteoporosis. You can turn it around. You just start one step at a time—and before you know it, you’re stronger, healthier, and not afraid of the future.”
My Takeaway
Mary’s story is proof that it’s never too late to take control of your bone health. With the right guidance, testing, and mindset, you can uncover the why behind bone loss and make the changes that lead to true healing.
You are not your diagnosis. You are the author of your story—and you can rewrite it starting today.
Resources and Links
- Learn more about the Healthy Gut, Healthy Bones Program
- Join the Stronger Bones Lifestyle Community for recipes, support, and live classes
- Work with Debi one-on-one → Book a Consultation
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.